Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
If you love my #1 post, The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, then you’ll love this BBQ pulled pork version too! With simple seasoning, this recipe takes only minutes to prepare and cooks all day for fall apart tender, juicy pork oozing with tangy sweet sauce.
For all of you lovers of BBQ I’ve got a recipe for you! Perfect for a family dinner that you know your kids will devour and equally as perfect for taking along to a pot luck, this Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork is quick and easy and comes out perfectly every time.
You only need 5 ingredients and less than 10 minutes to assemble this meal in your slow cooker. So much easier than smoking a grill all day and the results are just as amazing.
Cook on low for at least 8 hours until the pork becomes fall apart tender.
You can serve this up as sandwiches, wraps, salads and more for a versatile meal your family and friends will love.
Ingredients Needed
- pork shoulder, also known as pork butt – can be bone-in or boneless
- herb and garlic seasoning (check the ingredients, if yours does not contain salt, add 1/2 teaspoon to recipe)
- chicken broth or stock
- apple cider vinegar
- your favorite BBQ sauce (I love Sweet Baby Ray’s because it has great flavor and is nice and thick)
How to Make Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker
- remove packaging and any netting from the pork – if there is a large amount of fat you can trim a little off if desired
- season well with herb and garlic seasoning
- Place in slow cooker
- Whisk together sauce ingredients
- Pour all of sauce over pork, cover and cook
Cooking Notes
This will produce a lot of liquid as it cooks, no need to add any extra other than the sauce
If you are cooking a very large piece of pork and need it to cook more quickly, you can cut it into 2-4 smaller chunks
If using a pork shoulder with bone, carefully remove all bone pieces before shredding
What temperature to cook pulled pork?
- pulled pork, whether made in the oven, on the grill, or in the slow cooker, is best cooked on a low and slow temperature
- somewhere in the range of 190 to 250 degrees F depending on the method used
- another important temperature to note is the internal temp of the pork shoulder
- to shred easily pork should reach an internal temperature of 205 degrees F (I use an Instant Read Thermometer)
How to Shred a Pork Shoulder
When the pork is done it should almost be falling apart. Use tongs to remove it to a separate bowl.
Use forks or meat claws to shred by starting in the middle and pulling apart until fully shredded.
Use a ladle to add back a little of the juice left over from cooking, but not too much or it will become soggy.
If the pork does not shred easily, it likely is not cooked enough. Return to slow cooker until it reaches an internal temp of 205 degrees F.
What can you make with pulled pork?
So many things!!
- regular sandwiches like these (I love to top them with coleslaw!)
- Mac & Cheese
- tacos
- nachos
There are so many possibilities!
Do you let pork rest before pulling?
yes! It’s really best to let it rest for 15-20 minutes to let the juices redistribute before cutting or pulling the meat. You can cover loosely with butcher paper or foil.
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 pound boneless pork shoulder
- 2 tablespoons herb and garlic seasoning
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Rub pork shoulder with seasoning and place in slow cooker
- Mix together bbq sauce, vinegar and broth and add to slow cooker
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 until pork reaches internal temperature of 205 degrees
- Remove pork and shred
- Add about 1/4 - 1/2 cup of the juices back to pork and discard the rest
- Add additional BBQ sauce if desired
Notes
- you can use bone-in or boneless pork shoulder (pork butt)
- if the herb and garlic seasoning you use does not contain salt, add 1/2 teaspoon to recipe
- cook pork to an internal temp of 205 degrees F
- pork should shred easily when fully cooked
- remove all bones (if applicable) before shredding
Do you shred the pork in all of the liquid from the slow cooker? Or do you remove the pork from the slow cooker and dispose of the extra liquid?
I remove it, shred it and then add a bit of the juice back to the pork (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) and discard the rest.
This is the easiest, yummiest pulled pork recipe. I like to add some smoked paprika to my dry rub before throwing the pork in the crock pot–I like the added smokiness. Lol.
But thank you! This is the best recipe 🙂
Thank you so much your comment Kaeli! I am so happy to hear you enjoy it.
I’m making pulled pork for a family reunion this coming Sunday. Which of your slow cooker BBQ pork recipes would you recommend? I’m leaning toward your #1 slow cooker pork recipe.
Yes I know you’ll love the Slow Cooker Pork Recipe! Let me know how it turns out.
Made this tonight! It was excellent. I will definitely make it again. My family also loved it!
Thank you so much for your comment, happy to hear your family enjoyed it!
I haven’t tried this yet, but just checking do you remove the fat from the pork first?
If there is a large amount of fat you can trim a little off if desired
can you make this in a Dutch oven on the stove top?
I’m sure it is possible although I haven’t tested it to be able to provide you the proper instructions! Be sure to let us know if you give it a try!
This is a fantastic recipe. I have it saved in my “go-to” recipe file, that’s how much I love it. You can experiment with different bbq sauces and seasonings too which makes it fun. I like adding diced onion and garlic to the slow cooker as well. My husband and I like our pulled pork sandwiches spicy so I used Stubb’s Sweat Heat bbq sauce which I highly recommend. Yummm. Thank you for this amazing recipe.
I am so happy to hear that this is one of your new “go-to” recipes! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
If I use a 6# pork butt do I need to alter cooking times?
Yes, could either cut it in half or plan on a longer cooking time. It won’t be double but it will take longer. Best to monitor internal temp with a meat thermometer to ensure it’s cooked to 200 – 205 degrees F.
do you remove the fat from the pork before cooking?
Not necessarily, but I will remove any large pieces when shredding it. The fat helps to flavor the meat as it cooks.
just commenting again, a year later, to say this is a tried & true never-fail recipe! i always look forward to dumping this in the crock pot. i have it going today so i can catch up on cleaning and enjoy a hassle free movie night with my family tonight. thank you so much for sharing! i have 5 kids so i use a 5lb pork shoulder and just do a little more of everything. shredding is the most time consuming part, and it only takes like 7 minutes tops.
This recipe is amazing! My sister made it and my kids who previously HATED pulled pork devoured it. It’s now a staple in our house. It’s so easy and tastes amazing. I love that I can just put it in the crock pot for the day and come home to the warmest yummiest dinner. I pick up the pork shoulder when it’s on sale and get an extra to freeze for later.
I love to experiement with different BBQ sauces and flavores of sauces as a way to change it up a little. We eat the pulled pork on mini sub buns. It’s been a great meal when we have family over to eat too. It’s an easy recipe to double if you have a large crock pot or own two. This is a great year-round meal.
Thank you so much for your comment, Julie! I am happy to hear the whole family enjoyed it.