Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork is perfect for tacos, burritos, rice bowls, sandwiches, or by itself. The melt-in-your-mouth texture comes with minimal effort and doesn't require hours of smoking or oven time.
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This BBQ slow cooker pulled pork is a recipe I come back to over and over again because of how easy it is to make. Cooked low and slow in the Crock Pot, the meat is fork-tender without even trying. You'll wow the whole family with this one!
If you like BBQ Beef Sandwiches, Hawaiian Pulled Pork, BBQ Rib Sandwiches, and Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin, don't miss this recipe!
Why You'll Love Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Makes Succulent, Fall-Apart Pulled Pork: The Crock Pot does all the work here! Even a pit master would never guess this recipe was made with only 5 minutes of prep.
- Great for Meal Prep: Just cover it and store in the fridge or freezer then serve different ways throughout the week: as a bowl, as a bun, or even on top of a fresh salad.
- Easy-to-Find Ingredients: I had almost everything on hand already, including the simple and delicious spice blend. Shopping is a breeze- that's why it's one of my favorite Crock Pot pork recipes!
Ingredients
- Boneless Pork Shoulder: I prefer pork shoulder over pork butt for this recipe because it has the right amount of fat to create tender meat without it being too greasy. Cooked low and slow in the slow cooker, it won't dry out, either.
- BBQ Sauce: You can use any kind of store bought BBQ sauce you love or make your own. I love BBQ sauce with a mix of sweet and smoky flavor but not tons of added sugar. Keep in mind you can always toss on more sauce at the end after it's done cooking, too!
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This pairs well with pork and gives great acidity and a little tanginess to the sauce.
- Chicken Broth: A quarter cup is all you need! This liquid adds some flavor and also helps keep the meat moist. In a pinch, you can just use water here and it will work just fine.
- Dry Rub Seasoning Mix: The simple dry rub blend of seasonings is what gives this slow cooker pulled pork bbq its incredible flavor. I use salt, pepper, onion powder, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, but you can customize it how you like or even use a store-bought seasoning blend.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Vary the Meat: Pork butt can also be used. The shoulder is usually divided into 2 different cuts: the Boston butt (or Boston roast) and the picnic roast. Look for a piece that has a good balance of fat to meat and don't be afraid to ask your local butcher for a recommendation.
- Change the Spices: Paprika, light brown sugar, chili powder, and dried thyme are other popular spices to try.
- Use Different BBQ Sauces: Some barbecue sauces have more or less vinegar, tomato paste, smokiness, onion powder, and sweeteners like sugar or molasses. Change it up between the different styles from North Carolina, Memphis, Texas, and other BBQ sauce flavors.
How to Make BBQ Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker
For the easiest cleanup ever, use a Crock Pot liner before adding all your ingredients to make this BBQ pulled pork slow cooker recipe.
- Step 1: Rub the Pork Shoulder. Grab the onion powder, pepper, garlic, salt, and Italian seasoning and make your spice rub. Season the pork shoulder generously and throw it in the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Pour in the Sauce. Mix together the BBQ sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth and pour it over the meat. So easy, right?
- Step 3: Cover and Cook. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Shred the Meat. This step will go quickly because of how juicy the meat is after cooking in the Crock Pot. Use two forks to pull the pork apart right in the slow cooker or you can remove it and shred it on a plate.
- Step 5: Mix Back In with the Juices. Drain some of the juice if there's too much in the pot before adding the meat back in.
- Step 6: Serve with Even More Sauce! You can make sandwiches or have it on its own because it's that good.
Hint: Shred the Meat
Shred the meat while it's still warm. After it cools all the way down, it's a little harder to do. You can use two forks, a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or even a food processor to do the shredding.
Tips For The Best Results
- Only Cook on Low: Using the high heat setting of the Crock Pot isn't ideal for this recipe. Cook the pork low and slow to get that melty, fork-tender texture.
- Add More Sauce When Serving: You can decide how saucy you want the final result to be but I definitely recommend putting more barbecue sauce on if you're making a sandwich, especially if you're using crusty bread.
- Storing: This dish keeps really well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through. You can also reheat it on the stove top too. If it seems a bit dry you can add some broth or water to rehydrate it a bit.
Serving Suggestions
I love this honey BBQ pulled pork made in the slow cooker as sliders for a weeknight dinner and then the next day as lunch leftovers served over mashed potatoes. It feeds a crowd and goes over well at parties and potlucks, too!
- Serve it with classic southern sides like my creamy crockpot mac and cheese, homemade cornbread, and creamy cabbage coleslaw.
- Put it on Hawaiian rolls to make unforgettable sliders the whole family will crave, then serve alongside crockpot collard greens, roasted potatoes, or roasted broccoli.
- You can also make sliders to bring as a game-day appetizer along with slow cooker Velveeta cheese dip with tortilla chips, and toothpick-skewered crockpot honey garlic meatballs.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! That's a great method and is actually the best way to reheat it. Add the pork to a slow cooker along with a ¼ cup of chicken broth or water. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through.
You don't have to for this recipe! I like to keep thing simple and let the slow cooker handle all the heavy lifting.
More Slow Cooker Pork Recipes
This is the best bbq pulled pork recipe for the slow cooker, but it's not my only slow cooker pork recipe! Here are some other family favorites.
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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ⅔ cup bbq sauce
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Add onion powder, pepper, garlic, salt, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Whisk until well combined. Rub seasoning on pork shoulder and place in the slow cooker.
- Add bbq sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth in a medium bowl. Mix until well combined and pour into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 - 8 hours or high for 3 - 4 or until pork reaches an internal temperature of 195 degrees.
- Remove pork from the slow cooker and shred. Drain juices except for ¾ cup and mix the shredded pork back into the juices.
- For extra flavor, add additional BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- Only Cook on Low: Using the high heat setting of the Crock Pot isn't ideal for this recipe. Cook the pork low and slow to get that melty, fork-tender texture.
- Add More Sauce When Serving: You can decide how saucy you want the final result to be but I definitely recommend putting more barbecue sauce on if you're making a sandwich, especially if you're using crusty bread.
- Storing: This dish keeps really well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through. You can also reheat it on the stove top too. If it seems a bit dry you can add some broth or water to rehydrate it a bit.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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