Get your party started this summer with one of my favorite slow cooker summer recipes – Dr Pepper Pulled Pork!
This past weekend was my in-law’s wedding anniversary. They’ve been married for 56 years. Amazing, right?!? To help celebrate this milestone, we had a little backyard get-together at our house.
It was actually a dual celebration. We just finished having a patio installed in our backyard. This was the perfect opportunity to show off our new patio to our family!
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Since my father-in-law loves pulled pork, I made Dr Pepper Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches with a finger-lickin’ good homemade BBQ sauce, my favorite creamy coleslaw and macaroni salad. I also had bowls of Cheeze-Its for everyone to munch on while I was putting the finishing touches on dinner. And, I served up plenty of Dr Pepper to wash everything down!
The pulled pork was easy to make. I started with my favorite pulled pork recipe — since it’s always a huge hit whenever I make it – and added a can of Dr Pepper to the slow cooker for a fun twist. You can also try this barbecue dry rub recipe for something a little different.
Then I made the homemade BBQ sauce to go on top. Again, I started with my favorite recipe and added some Dr Pepper extra flavor.
I loved how the Dr Pepper transformed the flavor and gave it a very subtle cherry flavor. This stuff is crazy-good and so easy to make yourself!
For dessert, we grilled up s’mores. My son loves to burn his marshmallows beyond recognition so the metal marshmallow sticks are perfect since they don’t burn.
My favorite way to eat pulled pork is to start with a generous helping of pork on a soft sandwich roll. Then slather it with extra BBQ sauce and place a heaping pile of coleslaw right on top! It’s the perfect texture and flavor combination — the succulent pork, the sweet and zesty sauce and the crisp and creamy coleslaw. It’s a little piece of heaven on a bun. You can easily see why it’s one of my favorite slow cooker summer recipes!
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
Slow Cooker: This is my favorite – it’s a workhorse in my kitchen!
Slow Cooker Liners: I always use these – clean up is super simple!
Meat Shredding Forks: These make shredding pulled pork a cinch!
More Recipes You Might Like
Looking for more? Check out all of the best Slow Cooker recipes on It Is a Keeper.
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Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Equipment
Ingredients
Pork
- 7 pounds bone-in pork butt
- Spice rub, recipe below
- 12 oz Dr Pepper
- 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
- 12 oz Dr Pepper
- 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 bowl.
Pork
- Rub entire roast with spice rub and place fat side up in slow cooker.
- Pour Dr Pepper into slow cooker.
- 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.
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
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
I’m going to make this recipe tomorrow! I just know it’s going to be super fire 🔥🔥❤️💯! Stay toon for my masterpiece,!
That sauce looks SO good! I need to give it a try.
I’m making this recipe this week, yum!! Pulled pork in the crock pot is one of my favorite things!ThanksChristina!!!
I’ve heard of putting Cola in with a boiled ham before – but never Dr Pepper with pulled pork. It sounds like a delicious match of flavours!
I made a dr. pepper pork recipe before and it was terrible. i think your bbq sauce is key. Thanks!
I am not a Dr.Pepper fan, but I am sure it would be good in the bbq. The pictures make it look really good.
Thanks for the tip about the metal skewers at Walmart! I need some for roasting marshmallow and doing shish kebobs (can’t spell it!)