Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is our favorite way to make shredded pork because the meat is so juicy and tender. The sweet and smoky barbecue flavor makes it perfect for pulled pork sandwiches.

This is an easy, crowd-pleasing crockpot recipe everyone will love. Watch the video tutorial and it will make your mouth water! P.S. You can even freeze leftover pork for another busy weeknight.

BBQ pulled pork and coleslaw on a bun

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe:

My sister Svetlana is a natural cook; someone who throws lots of ingredients together and it turns out amazing. This is her recipe and as the story goes, she had planned to make a pot roast and purchased the wrong kind of meat! This crockpot bbq pork turned out to be the best kind of mistake and is now a family and reader favorite.

This pork is easy to prepare; just toss everything into the slow cooker and it does all of the work. You can use all of that free time for making some delicious sides to go along with your meal. We love serving this with our favorite coleslaw (pictured above). This would also be delicious with a side of our smashed potatoes or crispy baked potato wedges.

Shredded BBQ pork in a crockpot

Ingredients for Pulled Pork:

Here are the things you will need to make pulled pork in a slow cooker: a large onion, 6-7 lbs of boneless Pork Shoulder Chuck Roast, and a simple homemade pork rub with salt, black pepper, and paprika.

For the marinade, you’ll need chicken broth, BBQ Sauce (use homemade Barbecue Sauce or Stubb’s Sticky Sweet storebought), liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, fresh garlic, and brown sugar. The liquid smoke is optional but does add great smoked pulled pork flavor.

Ingredients for slow cooker pulled pork with bbq sauce

How to Make Pulled Pork:

Shredded Pork in the crockpot doesn’t get any easier. There is no pre-cooking or searing required. Watch the video tutorial below.

1. Add diced onion to the bottom of the slow cooker.

2. To make the Pulled Pork Rub, combine 1 Tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and 1 tsp paprika. Sprinkle seasonings over the meat and massage to rub the seasoning into the meat. Place meat in the slow cooker.

3. For the marinade, combine: 1 cup chicken broth, 1 cup BBQ sauce, 1 Tbsp liquid smoke, 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp brown sugar and 3 pressed garlic cloves then stir to combine. Pour the marinade over the pork.

4. Cover and set the crockpot on low for 8 hours if using 2 smaller roasts or 8-10 hours for 1 large roast. Remove the meat to a large bowl and remove any fat. Shred with two forks. Pour some of the remaining sauce in the slow cooker over the pork, adding it to taste. Brush the shredded pork with more BBQ Sauce.

Step by step how to make crockpot pulled pork

How to Serve Pulled Pork:

The great thing about crockpot cooking is it’s easy to take along and serve other places outside your home while still keeping things hot and fresh. Here are a few ideas of other ways to use this great crockpot recipe. Pulled pork leftovers are the best kind of leftovers!

  • BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches on a soft potato bun is our favorite way to serve shredded pork.
  • Pulled Pork Tacos are a fun twist to Taco Tuesday!
  • Shredded Pork Nachos served with tortilla chips, cheese, and all the fixings are great for parties.
  • Pork Wraps are delicious with some corn and black beans.
  • Pork Salad is a smart and lighter meal option, adding pork for protein.
  • Pulled Pork Sliders are so good in homemade dinner rolls.

Shredded pork with coleslaw on a bun on top of a blue plate.

More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes:

For those busy days, try some of our other crock-pot meals:

Watch How to Make Pulled Pork:

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Pulled Pork Recipe

4.98 from 195 votes
This meat for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is fall-apart tender. The marinade enhances the natural flavors of the pork. It's a delicious staple that works great on sandwiches, salads, or wraps.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people for pulled pork sandwiches

Instructions

  • Chop 1 large onion and place it into the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Combine 1 Tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and 1 tsp paprika and generously sprinkle the pork roast. Massage the roast to rub the seasoning into the meat. Place meat over the onions.
  • For the marinade, combine: 1 cup chicken broth, 1 cup BBQ sauce, 1 Tbsp liquid smoke, 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, and 3 pressed garlic cloves. Stir to combine. Pour the marinade over the pork.
  • Cover and set on low for 8 hours for 2 smaller roasts or 8-10 hours for a single large roast. It's ready when easily pulled apart with forks. Remove the meat to a large bowl and remove any fat. Shred with forks. Pour any drippings from the crockpot over the meat to taste then brush meat with warm barbecue sauce to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

397kcal Calories21g Carbs42g Protein15g Fat5g Saturated Fat139mg Cholesterol1453mg Sodium880mg Potassium1g Fiber16g Sugar216IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C53mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Pulled Pork Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
397
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
15
g
23
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Cholesterol
 
139
mg
46
%
Sodium
 
1453
mg
63
%
Potassium
 
880
mg
25
%
Carbohydrates
 
21
g
7
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
16
g
18
%
Protein
 
42
g
84
%
Vitamin A
 
216
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
53
mg
5
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword: pulled pork
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 397
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork - Easy recipe and the pulled pork is so juicy and flavorful!
4.98 from 195 votes (116 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Kris
    March 31, 2020

    Hey Natasha I was wondering if I can use this recipe but put it in the insta pot?
    How long would you recommend to pressurize it for?

    Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      March 31, 2020

      HI Kris, I haven’t tested that yet but it would be a great experiment and I will add it to my list. If you test it out before me, please let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  • ilya Shokur
    March 3, 2020

    Made this easy pulled pork at my firehouse last rotation, the guys loved it… very easy to make and very delicious! (Firefighters are usually outstanding cooks).
    Thanks Natasha

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 3, 2020

      That’s so awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that with us Ilya!

      Reply

  • Jamie Gibbs
    February 11, 2020

    Big fan of your recipes. I am trying to make this in my instant pot on slow cook mode, it only has 2-3 hours left and it’s still uncooked. Do you know what I did wrong?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 11, 2020

      Hi Jamie, it should cook in that time but I’m more than happy to troubleshoot. Did you substitute anything or alter the time or heat level by chance?

      Reply

      • Kathy
        December 6, 2020

        Could you use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika?

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          December 7, 2020

          Hi Kathy, I saw someone commented on this ” I made this yesterday using smoked bbq sauce and smoked paprika because I couldn’t find liquid smoke in Australia. It tasted sooo good!” Hope that helps.

          Reply

    • Wei Han
      February 26, 2020

      The “slow cook” option on the instant pot is at a lower temperature than regular slow cooker.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        February 26, 2020

        Thank you for sharing that with us.

        Reply

  • Dustin
    February 1, 2020

    I had to cook it for 9 hrs in low. So the second time I did 2 hours on high than turned it to 8 hrs on low. Great recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 1, 2020

      That’s so great, Dustin!

      Reply

  • Allyson Zea
    January 29, 2020

    This turned out fabulous! Thank you for the easy recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 29, 2020

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Allyson! Isn’t the flavor amazing!

      Reply

  • Rachael Yerkes
    January 29, 2020

    one of our favorites!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 29, 2020

      One of our favorites also! That’s so great, Rachael!

      Reply

  • Julia F
    January 29, 2020

    What an easy and delicious recipe! I also love all the suggestions for using up pulled pork in case of leftovers. My favourite is to top nachos!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 29, 2020

      I bet this is so good over nachos! Great idea, Julia!

      Reply

  • Billy
    January 29, 2020

    This is seriously the easiest to follow most delicious pulled pork recipe I’ve ever made. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 29, 2020

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Brandy
    November 25, 2019

    This is definitely a winner. I have a picky family and it got their approval, which is no easy task. Thank you

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 25, 2019

      That’s just awesome! Sounds like you found a new favorite, Brandy!

      Reply

      • eleanor brown
        February 4, 2020

        Can this recipe be made in a dutch oven instead of a slow cooker?

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          February 4, 2020

          Hi Eleanor, It would probably work well in a dutch oven, using a cooking method like this (Martha Stewart’s). I would prepare everything the same as for the slow cooker except put it in the dutch oven at the end instead of the slow cooker.

          Reply

  • Ann Marie
    August 26, 2019

    Is there honey in this? The one picture looks like honey going into the marinade.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 26, 2019

      Hi Ann, are you referring to the photo with the liquid smoke being poured in? This recipe does not call for honey bit it does have brown sugar. I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • susan
    August 16, 2019

    I make this with boneless pork loin, have made 3 or 4 times and I love it! I finally found my permanent BBQ recipe. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 16, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Susan!

      Reply

  • Holly Foshee
    July 25, 2019

    I accidentally bought pork loin roast boneless instead of pork shoulder and went ahead made it. It’s cooking now. I hope it’ll still work pulled pork. Will it?

    Thank you, Holly

    Reply

    • Natasha
      July 25, 2019

      Hi Holly, pork loin roast is a very lean meat and not generally recommended for use in pulled pork, but I have had a couple of readers report good results using pork loin. I hope it works well for you!

      Reply

  • Jocelyne
    June 18, 2019

    Hi! just wondering if this would work on high for 4-5 hours?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 18, 2019

      Hi Jocelyne, I haven’t tried cooking this on high, but if I did, I’d put it on high for 4 hours then turn to low for 2 more hours or until it pulls apart easily to be sure it’s done.

      Reply

  • Olga
    May 19, 2019

    Amazing!! It was definitely worth the wait. My family loved it. Thanks for recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 19, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

    • Maria
      September 12, 2019

      Can I use a bone in pork

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        September 12, 2019

        Hi Maria, I haven’t tested this recipe with bone-in but I would probably let it go 8-10 hours or until very tender.

        Reply

  • Amy Dodson
    May 9, 2019

    Hi, I have not made this just yet but plan on making it for my son’s graduation party this month. I am cooking for 30+ people. I will need to make several of these. Do you have any tips for making larger amount? I will be making in the oven or a larger roaster. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 10, 2019

      Hi Amy, my 2 pieces of meat were 6-7 lbs together. If you have a large enough crockpot and wanted to make a double batch, that would work to put both of them in. For 30+ people you may need 2 crock pots.

      Reply

  • Garrett
    May 4, 2019

    This recipe looks delicious! I plan to use it tomorrow. How do you think adding 1-4tbsp of bourbon would work in this? I’ve never really cooked with bourbon (other than adding it to buttercream frostings and stuff), but I’ve seen a few other recipes adding it to their pulled pork. I have no idea of the amount needed, but I imagine the flavor could work in this?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 6, 2019

      Hi Garrett! I honestly haven’t tested that so I cannot advise. If you experiment please let me know how you like that!

      Reply

  • Janine
    April 12, 2019

    Can you use a pork butt for this recipe?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 12, 2019

      Hi Janine, yes I think that would work fine, to use the butt cut.

      Reply

  • Lilly White
    March 18, 2019

    Just wondering if this can be made with a boneless pork loin?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 19, 2019

      Hi Lilly, We used boneless pork for this recipe.

      Reply

  • Pat hagmann
    March 14, 2019

    Would like coleslaw recipe!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 14, 2019

      Hi Pat! You may find a couples versions following this link here! I hope you enjoy that!

      Reply

  • Trisha
    January 20, 2019

    This recipe is the best pulled pork recipe I’ve tried, and I’ve tried quite a few. Definitely do not omit the liquid smoke as this added such a depth of flavor. Also do not omit the onions. I had so much pork I had to split it in two separate slow cookers, one of which did not have onions. The batch with onions was better. This will be my go to recipe for pulled pork going forward! Thanks so much for this awesome recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 20, 2019

      You’re welcome, Trisha! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

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