Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder or pulled pork BBQ is one of those amazing dishes that just become better with a low and slow cooking process. If you’re looking to wow your family and friends this summer, give this recipe a try! It just might become the most coveted recipe in your recipe box too!
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Why this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe is a Keeper
Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder (Pulled Pork BBQ) is what summer is all about. This recipe is packed with so much flavor and melt in your mouth pulled pork your family will be begging for more! While it may take a lot of ingredients, the end result is worth the effort.
- 10 Minute Prep: Really, it takes only 10 minutes to prepare the slow cooker pork butt.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry, a combination of so many flavors to create an amazing slow cooker barbecued pulled pork.
- Family Friendly: A pulled pork sandwich full of juice and flavor is always a winner.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Serve the crock pot slow cooker pulled pork on salad, pork tacos, potatoes or on it’s own.
If you’re looking for more pork recipes, try these Pulled Pork Tacos, Shredded Pork Sliders and Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy.
What cut of Pork is best for Pulled Pork?
Pork shoulder is undeniably the best cut for pulled pork. It’s also commonly known as Boston butt.
- Why it’s the best: Pork shoulder has a higher fat content than other cuts, which breaks down during the long cooking process, resulting in incredibly tender and juicy pulled pork.
- Don’t be fooled by the name: Despite the name, the Boston butt is actually part of the shoulder, not the pig’s rear. Pork butt is the best to roast.
Ingredient Notes for Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder
Rich thick bbq sauce and an amazing barbecue rub will make this pork shoulder fall off the bone tender and delicious. The best part is the crockpot really does all the hard work.
- Good Pork Roast: You will need a Bone-in pork shoulder or a similar cut of meat.
- Spice Rub: A mix of seasoning, Paprika, Chili Powder, Ground Ginger etc. for the pork rub.
- Spicy BBQ Sauce: Onion, tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and other spicy and flavor ingredients.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Crock Pot Pork Roast
Cook the pork with many different flavorings and methods for the perfect pork roast recipe. The crock pot pork butt is easy and delicious.
- Instant Pot: Make pulled pork in an instant pot if you do not have a crock pot. But cook on low for best results when you make this slow cooked pork recipe.
- Different spices: Add honey or different spices to make the slow cooker pork a little hotter or a little sweeter for this simple slow cooker pork shoulder roast recipe.
- Jarred BBQ Sauce: You can use your own recipe for the sauce or use a bottle of your favorite for this easy recipe for crock pot pork shoulder.
Special Equipment Needed for Pork Shoulder in Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker: Place the pork in the cooker and let it do all the work. Then remove the pork and shred.
Pork Shoulder Roast Pro Tip
The fat cap bastes the pork as it cooks, infusing it with incredible flavor and keeping it moist. While some fat can be removed for health reasons, a thin layer left behind is your secret weapon for juicy pulled pork.
How to Make Slow Cooker for Pork Shoulder
These are the basic steps for making crock pot pork shoulder. Cooked low and slow and served with your favorite barbecue sauce. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Spice Rub
First, combine all the ingredients for the spice rub in a small bowl.
2. Place Pork in the Slow Cooker and Pork BBQ Cook Time
Then rub entire pork roast with the rub and place fat side up in the slow cooker and then pour beef bouillon into the slow cooker and then add vinegar. Cover and cook for 7 to 8 hours.
3: Shred
Next, remove pork roast from slow cooker and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. Use two forks and shred the chunks. Spoon on a bun and top with spicy BBQ sauce.
4. Spicy BBQ Sauce
While the pork is cooking, in a large pot, saute onion in vegetable oil over medium heat until softened but not browned. Finally, add all other ingredients to the shredded pork and cook for 10-20 minutes, or until sauce thickens to desired consistency.
Delicious Pulled Pork Recipe FAQs
Of course, you can use a boneless roast, pork loin or a pork tenderloin for this recipe.
This recipe has to be made in advance, you need to cook it for at least 8 hours. The rub can be made and stored in a jar and used any time on anything you like, also the barbecue sauce can be made and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
This BBQ Pork recipe can be frozen in a freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to four months.
Expert Tips for Making The Best Slow Cooker Pork Recipe
Everyone I know loves this recipe. Everyone will ask you to make pork for parties etc.
- Add Heat: A little hot sauce changes the complexity of this recipe.
- Chicken Broth: Try using a low sodium chicken broth to lighten the pork recipe.
- Variation tip: You can use pork nachos, on top of baked potatoes or other excellent dinner ideas for this tender pork shoulder.
- Alternate ingredient: Replace some of the bouillon with beer. A dark beer works great.
- Alternate cooking method tip: Cook in the oven at 300 degrees for 5 to six hours, when it reaches 145 degrees with a meat thermometer.
What to Serve with the Best Pork Recipe
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Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder (Pulled Pork BBQ)
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Ingredients
Pork BBQ
- 1-7 pound bone-in pork butt
- Spice rub, recipe below
- 5 cups beef boullion
- 1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 8 sandwich rolls
- Spicy BBQ Sauce, recipe below
Spice Rub
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon salt
Spicy BBQ Sauce
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 12 ounces tomato paste
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4 tablespoons molasses
- 4 teaspoons prepared mustard
- 2 cups ketchup
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon all spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 teaspoons liquid smoke
Instructions
Spice Rub
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix to combine.
Pork BBQ
- Rub entire roast with spice rub and place fat side up in slow cooker.
- Pour beef boullion into slow cooker and add vinegar.
- Cover and cook on high for 7-8 hours or until meat falls off the bone.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and place on a large rimmed baking sheet.
- Using two forks, shred pork, removing excess fat and bone.
- Place a helping of pork on roll and top with Spicy BBQ Sauce.
Spicy BBQ Sauce
- In a large pot, saute onion in vegetable oil over medium heat until softened but not browned.
- Add all other ingredients and cook for 10-20 minutes, or until sauce thickens to desired consistency.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Heat: A little hot sauce changes the complexity of this recipe.
- Chicken Broth: Try using a low sodium chicken broth to lighten the pork recipe.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add as many tips as you need in this section
- Alternate ingredient: Replace some of the bouillon with beer. A dark beer works great.
- Alternate cooking method tip: Cook in the oven at 300 degrees for 5 to six hours, when it reaches 145 degrees with a meat thermometer.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
This Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder sounds absolutely incredible for summer gatherings!
Looks delicious! Just bookmarked. Please feel free to share with our G+ community, The Crock Pot Crowd. We welcome posts from bloggers. 🙂 http://bit.ly/Zmy5vZ
I will do that! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
My future brother in law is a HUGE pulled pork lover, so this might be a good one to make the next time he & my sister are coming over for dinner!