This crock pot pulled pork recipe makes the best tender and flavorful BBQ pulled pork, perfect for sandwiches, nachos, and more. This easy recipe is a favorite for busy days or for feeding a crowd.
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Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
This pulled pork recipe is one of our favorite family-friendly dinners because it’s so incredibly easy and so delicious. It’s one of those recipes that you’ll want to have in your collection for busy days because it requires so little prep time.
This crock pot pulled pork is a dump and go slow cooker recipe, meaning there’s no pre-cooking (or even chopping) needed. You just put all of the ingredients in the crock pot, turn it on, and that’s it! The pulled pork cooks low and slow all day and you come home to a flavorful home-cooked meal.
After slow cooking, the pork shreds so easily and you won’t believe how tender and flavorful it is. I always have to sneak a few bites straight from the crock pot! We like to serve it in pulled pork sandwiches the first day, and then use the leftovers to make tacos, quesadillas or nachos.
If you’re craving pulled pork and forget to plan ahead for your slow cooker, try this Instant Pot Pulled Pork recipe.
Ingredients
You’ll need just 5 ingredients, plus salt and pepper, to make this pulled pork recipe.
- Pork Shoulder/Pork Butt. You can make this pulled pork recipe with pork shoulder or pork butt. Pork shoulder/Boston butt make a flavorful pulled pork because they are a fattier cut of meat. They are also typically budget-friendly and perfect for feeding a crowd.
- BBQ Sauce. Use your favorite BBQ sauce since the flavor will really impact the flavor of the final dish. I like to look for a BBQ sauce with lower sugar and a short ingredient list. If you have five extra minutes I highly recommend making my Homemade BBQ Sauce. You can just dump all of the BBQ sauce ingredients in your slow cooker and stir (no need to simmer on the stove).
- Apple Cider Vinegar. This helps to tenderize the meat and adds extra flavor.
- Pulled Pork Rub. For this recipe, I keep the spice rub simple with chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. You can also use my Pork Rub recipe, which is delicious on pulled pork.
How to Make Crock Pot Pulled Pork
This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is so simple to make! You don’t need to sear or brown the meat before adding it to your slow cooker. You won’t notice much difference in the flavor of the pulled pork if you do brown the meat, so save yourself a step and some time.
To prep this recipe, start by putting the pork in the slow cooker. Sprinkle on the seasonings and then add the BBQ sauce and apple cider vinegar. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 5-6 hours. This is the perfect crockpot meal to make if you are going to be out all day, since it can cook all day on low.
The pulled pork is done when it shreds easily with a fork. Before shredding, let the meat rest in the slow cooker or on a cutting board for 10 minutes. This will help the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, for juicier shredded pork.
You can return the shredded pork to the sauce in the slow cooker, or, if you want it less saucy, add back your desired amount of juices to the pork in a serving bowl.
I made this for a group of friends we had come over. It was absolutely amazing. I made homemade coleslaw, macaroni salad and potato salad for the sides. This recipe was a huge hit. Everybody raved about it. I served the pork on brioche buns with the kicked up slaw on top. It was so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I will definitely be making this again.
Erin
What to do with Leftover Pulled Pork
I like to make a batch of pulled pork at the beginning of the week because I can serve it a couple of different ways throughout the week. It makes delicious leftovers! Our favorite way to serve it is in classic BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. Serve the pork on toasted burger buns (try these Brioche Buns) or rolls, with extra BBQ sauce and this homemade Coleslaw Recipe or Apple Slaw.
This crock pot pulled pork recipe also makes great tacos, nachos, quesadillas and lettuce wraps. It’s also delicious in a salad. Try it in place of the chicken in this BBQ Chicken Salad.
What to Serve with Pulled Pork
Wondering what to serve on the side? Here are some of our favorite side dishes for pulled pork to round out the meal.
- These Sweet Potato Fries are our favorite with this pulled pork recipe.
- You can’t beat a side of Macaroni Salad or Potato Salad.
- Fruit Salad is perfect for a family dinner or a barbecue.
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob is an easy side dish.
Storage Tips
Freezing Pulled Pork
Leftover pulled pork freezes well. Cool the shredded pork completely, seal it in an airtight container with the cooking sauce, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw, heat and serve when you are ready.
Reheating Tips
You can reheat pulled pork in the microwave, but for best results reheat it on the stove. Place your pulled pork in a small saucepan and add a little BBQ sauce, water or broth. Cover the pot and heat over low until warmed through, stirring occasionally. If your pulled pork is frozen, it’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Delicious Pork Recipes
- Slow Cooker Carnitas
- Instant Pot Carnitas
- Crock Pot Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Ribs
- Pork Loin Roast
Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 2.5-3 pound boneless pork shoulder or pork butt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place pork in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper over the meat. Pour the BBQ sauce over the pork and add the apple cider vinegar to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 5-6 hours, until the pork shreds easily.
- Remove pork to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Shred pork, discarding excess fat. Return shredded pork to the sauce in the slow cooker. Or, if you want it less saucy, add your desired amount of juices from the slow cooker to the pork in a serving bowl.
- Serve on toasted burger buns or rolls for sandwiches, with extra BBQ sauce if desired. Or serve in tacos, quesadillas, nachos, salads or lettuce wraps.
Notes
- Leftover pulled pork freezes well. Cool the shredded pork completely, seal it in an airtight container with the cooking sauce, and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
- You can reheat pulled pork in the microwave, but for best results reheat it on the stove. Put the pulled pork in a small saucepan and add some BBQ sauce, water or broth. Cover the pot and heat over low until warmed through, stirring occasionally. If your pulled pork is frozen, it’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Mmmm pulled pork. I love bbq. Love. I’ve made pulled chicken bbq in my slow cooker but never pork – I’ll have to give this a try!
I love your Blog, Kristine! I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to learn of it.
Your pictures are gorgeous and professional-looking.
I can’t wait to try making the vanilla wafers with Hazel.
Nancy
Thank you, Nancy! I hope you and Hazel have fun making the vanilla wafers. 🙂
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Delicious, and incredibly easy to fix!
Great recipe Kristine! It’s versatile and tasty. Leftover pulled pork can also be into Italian style pork ragu to serve with pasta or simply converted into a breakfast casserole with cheese, salsa and chilli peppers.
This was really easy and had such a good flavor! After shredding the pork do you add back in any of the cooking juice?
Yes, I usually do. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made this for a group of friends we had come over. It was absolutely amazing. I made homemade coleslaw, macaroni salad and potato salad for the sides. This recipe was a huge hit. Everybody raved about it. I served the pork on brioche buns with the kicked up slaw on top. It was so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I will definitely be making this again.
I’d like to make enough for 16. The recipe adjusts to 5 lbs of pork. Would I need to cook this longer? Can I use a combination of pork tenderloin and pork butt?
Hi Pat, First, make sure your slow cooker is large enough to hold the amount of meat that you are hoping to cook. You may need to cook it longer when doubling the recipe. I’d plan for 1-2 hours longer, but I have only tested the recipe as written. I would recommend using just pork butt, rather than a combination. Good luck!
I’d give this 6 stars out of 5 if possible. Consider:
– simple to make recipe, with only a few common ingredients on hand in any kitchen;
– fast to make, with minimal clean-up after;
– absolutely delicious crowd pleaser;
– even better left over;
– can be frozen – yet leftover never make it to the freezer since it’s all gone in sandwiches or nachos after a day or two.
– economical.
What’s not to love?
My daughter included this recipe in her handwritten “All Time Favorlurites” recipe book. I can give this no better recommendation than that.
Thanks for posting this recipe.
MP
Torbay, NL, Canada
Enjoy trying new recipes
Hi,
If I am using your spice rub, should I skip the seasonings in the recipe since the rub has already provided a alot of seasoning?
Julie
Yes, that’s what I would do. Just don’t skip the BBQ sauce. 🙂
Absolutely fabulous. Loved it!
First time making this recipe, I made exactly the way it’s written and everyone in my family liked it. My 15 yr old daughter don’t like much and she made sure to tell me several times that she really liked it. We will definitely be making it again.
Hi Kristine, This recipe sounds amazing and I plan to use it. My only concern is putting the BBQ sauce in at the start. I’m always afraid of it getting greasy. Should I trim the roast 1st? Or can I add the BBQ sauce after I pull the pork and heat it up? Thank you!
Hi Patty,
I haven’t had a problem with the BBQ sauce getting greasy. You can trim the roast first to minimize grease. If you want to add the BBQ sauce after cooking, I’d recommend adding a small amount of chicken broth or water (just 1/4-1/2 cup) before cooking the pork. Enjoy!
I didn’t read the recipe properly to add the bbq into the slow cookr. After I cooked the pork with the rub spices and cider vinegar (which shredded nicely and was very tender) I put the bbq sauce over the shredded port with some of the juices from the slow cooker and put it in the oven covered for about 20 minutes. I probaby should of put the bbq sauce in the slow cooker bc it wasn’t juicy enough for me and also probaby shouldn’t of covered it in the oven with foil but put in uncovered to get a bit crisp. Otherwise the meat was really nice and tender.
Do you just cook the pork in the slow cooker with bbq sauce? No water or other liquid? Thanks!
Yes, that’s correct. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Easy to put together!! Will definitely make it again.
I just made your bbq pulled pork for tomorrow. It tasted wonderful. Used a little less vinegar. I put the pork in a baking dish after slow cooking it. Mixed in the cooked onion mixture and poured some sauce on it. Tomorrow I’ll add more bbq sauce and heat in the oven.
1st time I’ve bravely made this.
Thank you!
Sue from Corona, CA
Wonderful! Thank you for trying the recipe!
Looking forward to your recipes.
Hello, planning to make this today. Looks great! Have you ever tried this recipe using Picnic cut Pork?
Wondering if it will shred the same?
Hi Courtney,
That cut of pork is also called pork shoulder, and it will work well in this recipe.