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!
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.
More Summer fun recipes to make your mouth water.
MORE PORK RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
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What We Love About This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ Sauce Recipe
Rich thick bbq sauce and an amazing barbeque 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.
- 10 Minute Prep: Really, it takes only 10 minutes to prepare.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry, a combination of so many flavors to crate an amazing barbecue.
- Family Friendly: A pulled pork sandwich full of juice and flavor is always a winner.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Serve on salad, pork tacos, potatoes or on it’s own.
Ingredient Notes for Best Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Pork BBQ
- Bone-in pork: Pork Shoulder or Pork Butt or a similar cut of meat.
- Spice Rub: recipe below.
- Beef bouillon: Adds a deep flavor and is the cooking liquid for the pork.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Provides a much needed acid for the pork.
- Spicy BBQ Sauce: recipe below
Spice Rub
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Paprika
- Chilli Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Ground Chipotle Chili Pepper
- Ground Ginger
- Kosher Salt/ Black Pepper
Spicy BBQ Sauce
- Onion, diced
- Tomato paste
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Molasses
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Chili Powder
- Dry Mustard
- Garlic Powder
- Allspice
- Ground Red Pepper
- Liquid Smoke
Equipment Needed
How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder (Pulled Pork BBQ)
These are the basic steps for making best crock pot pulled pork. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information.
STEP 1: SPICE RUB
First, combine all the ingredients for the spice rub in a small bowl.
STEP 2:PORK BBQ
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 eight hours.
STEP 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.
STEP 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 and cook for 10-20 minutes, or until sauce thickens to desired consistency.
Prep and Storage Tips
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
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.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
This BBQ Pork recipe can be frozen in a freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to four months.
HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then rewarm on the stovetop in a sauce pan or warm in the crockpot.
Frequently Asked Questions
A gluten free bun or serve on a salad.
Indeed, onion powder, oregano or whatever your family likes can be used.
Of course, this recipe can be adjusted for the amount that you need.
Truly, all are great protein for barbecue. Here are the basic differences between these cuts of meat.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- 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.
What to Side Dishes to Serve with Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ
Ingredients
Pork BBQ
- 1-7 pound bone-in pork butt
- Spice rub, recipe below
- 5 cups beef boullion
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 8 sandwich rolls
- Spicy BBQ Sauce, recipe below
Spice Rub
- 2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground chipotle chili pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp salt
Spicy BBQ Sauce
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 12 oz tomato paste
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 6 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 Tbsp molasses
- 4 tsp prepared mustard
- 2 cups ketchup
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp all spice
- 1/4 tsp ground red pepper
- 2 tsp salt
- 3 tsp 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.
Expert Tips
- 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.
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!