How To Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Ya’lllll this recipe!!! This recipe for How To Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork has been years in the making and I can honestly say that it is now perfected. No more tweaking necessary, it’s simply perfect. Served with a side of my homemade classic creamy coleslaw (a must) and some southern baked beans, it’s SO GOOD! I usually serve it piled high on a fresh Kaiser, then throw some baked beans on and finally, finish with a dollop of coleslaw. It makes a messy, but totally worth it sandwich fit for the south. And just wait until you see how EASY it is! You’re welcome.
I LOVE southern barbecue. Anyone who knows me, even just a little bit, can attest to the fact that I’m all things southern. My wedding was Southern BBQ (and it was amazing) and I don’t think I need to remind you of my love for fried chicken and white gravy. What can I say, It’s just the way God made me. SO, when I post a recipe for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork you can feel pretty confident that it’s going to be a good one. And it is. I can’t wait for you to try it.
This pulled pork recipe has all the feels of a small town BBQ joint without the drive or the prices. It’s a feel good in your soul recipe that your family will actually love, and the rub is so simple, yet it gives you all the flavor a pork rub should. I’m even going to share with you my SECRET INGREDIENT so stay tuned for that.
How do you make slow cooker pulled pork?
I’m glad you asked. When making pulled pork, it all starts with the right cut of meat. For this recipe you will definitely want to use the pork shoulder/butt. I know it’s super confusing, but if it says pork butt, it’s actually pork shoulder. Which is weird to me but oh well. To be honest, because it’s being done in the slow cooker, you can probably get away with some other cuts of pork too but if you have the option though, 100% get the bone-in pork shoulder. It has a good amount of fat marbling which will make it oh so good, and will prevent it from drying out. I’ve also just made this recipe 100 different ways and the pork shoulder is always the best so don’t fight it.
You’ll also want to have a GOOD pork rub! Seriously, This rub has SO MUCH FLAVOUR! I love brown sugar on pork and the chili powder, onion, and garlic powder are the perfect balance for it. When you sear your pork the smells are heavenly. It might just be my favorite part.
This recipe is best made OVERNIGHT.
Which is amazing because you basically go to sleep and wake up with dinner ready. It’s the perfect, my kids have hockey, ballet, and a birthday party day recipe because you literally come home and it’s ready. I always start it after dinner and let it cook overnight. In the morning I quickly shred it, throw it back into the slow cooker with a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce (which btw is the BEST BBQ SAUCE) and away we go. We come home to dinner ready and the house smells AMAZING! Did I mention waking up to the smell of pulled pork is actually glorious!
What’s the secret ingredient?
Drum roll please…. ROOT BEER SODA! That’s right, root beer! I don’t know why but it’s SO GOOD. I’ve tried other soda’s but it’s just not the same. Of course searing the pork shoulder locks in all that flavor and having an amazing rub helps too, but slow cooking it in root beer just seals the deal. Trust me on this one. Use the root beer!
This recipe is great for a crowd and you can use slider buns and have guests make their own mini sandwiches. If you’re serving to a crowd don’t forget the corn bread!
Got leftover pulled pork? Try throwing it on top of some mac and cheese or making a pulled pork pizza! Use sweet baby rays for the base, throw on some pizza mozzarella, caramelized onion and green peppers pop it in the oven. It’s a super yummy weeknight dinner.
Alright, let’s do this!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pork shoulder bone-in (2.5 -3kg)
- 1 white onion diced
- 2 cups root beer soda
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 bottle Sweet Baby Rays, Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
The Rub
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Plug in your slow cooker and set your temp to low for for 6-8 hours
- In a small mixing bowl, mix the brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder until well combined.
- Generously rub the mixture all over the pork and massage into the meat. Get all the sides too!
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or regular frying pan to high heat. Once hot add two tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Add the pork and chopped white onion to the pan and sear each side for about 1-2 minutes while stirring the onions.
- Transfer everything from your pan into the slow cooker
- Add two cups of root beer soda and cover
- After your pork has cooked overnight or 4-6 hours on high, 8 hours on low) transfer it to a large cutting board.
- Remove and discard all the juices from the crock pot reserving about ½ cup
- Shred your pork and place it back in the slow cooker adding your ½ of reserved liquid
- Add in your bottle of sweet baby rays sauce and keep on warm until ready to serve
Now it’s your turn! make this pulled pork recipe and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you and I LOVE seeing your photo’s even more. Upload your pictures on social media using #thegoodwivesblog and invite me into your kitchen. Don’t forget to tag @thegoodwife22 
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Comments
Omg my daughter is obsessed with pulled pork and would love this! Totally trying it out tonight 🥰
This recipe sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it
Wow this looks delicious! I like your idea of pairing it with mac and cheese or making a pulled pork pizza.
I love pulled pork, and after that intro, I was SO making this But so disappointed when I read the ingredients list and saw root beer – we don’t have that in New Zealand. What could you use instead?
Oh no!! That’s so sad! I’ve also used Coca Cola in this recipe and I’ve heard (but never tried) orange pop!
I always wonder how to make pulled pork, so I will definitely try this recipe!
My husband is a BBQ fanatic 🙂 And I LOVE Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce! I don’t like root beer, but it’s worth a shot if it’s gonna make my pork tastier. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds so good. Can’t wait to try it.
Yay! I can’t wait for you give it a try! You’ll have to let me know what you think!
I love how it cooks overnight. Saving this!
I don’t eat pork, but the way you describe this kinda makes me want to! LOL
This looks so good! My hubby would definitely love this.
These sliders look awesome! Soda? Wow!!
How many people will this feed. I would like to make it for 12 folks. Looks delish
Yes this recipe would be enough 🙂 you could also just get a slightly larger cut of pork! Make sure to serve with a few sides and you should be totally fine 🙂 I always serve it with my coleslaw and baked beans!
This is delicious! The flavor is so good; we didn’t add the BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s) to the pork. Those that wanted the sauce just added it on their sandwich. I am making it again today. Definite 5 Stars.