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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes:
For those busy days, try some of our other crock-pot meals:
- BBQ Chicken – Great with coconut coleslaw.
- Bolognese Sauce – Prepped in the morning, ready when you come home.
- Crockpot Lasagna – Just as good as the classic recipe, but easier.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili – A tasty twist on a traditional favorite.
- Shredded Chicken Tacos – A quick, fun dinner party idea.
- Shredded Beef Sandwiches – great for meal prep!
Watch How to Make Pulled Pork:
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Pulled Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large onion
- 6 lbs boneless Pork Shoulder Chuck Roast, (or 2 smaller roasts totalling 6-7 lbs)
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ Sauce
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke, optional but nice
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 large garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
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
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Hi Natasha in your video you say to put 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke. But in the recipe you have one tablespoon. I put like in video.
Hi Josee, the written recipe is correct. We reduced it to 1 Tbsp as we found 2 to be overpowering with some brands.
Hello Natasha, what type of salt do you use? I’m looking forward to trying this recipe!
Hi Elaine, I use fine sea salt for most everything. Sometimes I use kosher salt, but I will always specify if I use something besides a fine sea salt.
Hi! Can you make this with pork tenderloin? I have two in the freezer I need to cook. If so, how long and high or low? Thank you!
Hi Tiffany, I think that would work but start checking it at 4 hours on low because it is a thinner cut of meat and it doesn’t have as much fat so you don’t want to overcook it. P.S. have you tried our roasted pork tenderloin? It’s literally one of the top 3 recipes on my blog (out of about 700) and has excellent reviews. I hope you give it a try!?
Hello Natasha, what type of salt do you use?
Hi Elaine, I use fine sea salt for most everything. Sometimes I use kosher salt, but I will always specify if I use something besides a fine sea salt.
Can you make this in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours in stead of 8?
Hi Julie, 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.
Hi there, we dont eat pork but I’m looking for a good bbq pulled chicken recipe. Can I use chicken instead on this recipe?
Hello Katie, you can check my Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Hi Natasha,
Does bone in change cooking time?
Hi Judy, I haven’t tested this recipe with bone-in, but I would probably let it go 8-10 hours or until very tender.
I woke up to a wonderful smell coming from my kitchen. Took a tiny taste, so tender and flavorful. Now, I need to find some ideas to use this 7.5 lb deliciousness. No bread limits us, so I think we’ll be having lots of salads and lettuce wraps! 🙂
Yum! I know that smell, so so good! Thank you for sharing that wonderful review, Linda! I’m glad you enjoyed it, and don’t you just love how versatile this recipe is.
Made this last night, came out phenomenal. Kids asked for it for lunch . Didn’t change a thing. Great recipe
That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great!
This was amazing and SO tender! My husband, who is not a pulled pro fan, loved it. He put it on some nachos he made.
Hello Sarah, that sounds perfect. This is definitely great with nachos, I’m glad you and your husband enjoyed this recipe!
Can you make half of this recipe and how long to put in crockpot?
Hi Starr, we have the slow cooker version HERE. Yes, you can halve this recipe. I hope this is helpful.
Hey Natasha, I would love to see some kind of hibachi steak filet with bacon fried rice!! I get it at my favorite Japanese restaurant but I always love your recipes so if you had a version I would attempt it myself!!
That sounds good! Thanks for your suggestion, Shannon. I’ll try if it’s something that we can do in the future.
Would this work with a 7 pound bone in pork?
Hi Angelina, I haven’t tested this recipe with bone-in but I would probably let it go 8-10 hours or until very tender.
Would love to see this in an “Instant Pot” version. Has anyone substituted smoked paprika?
I haven’t tried that yet to advise, maybe others can comment and share!
Would a pork loin work well in this recipe?
Hi Karen, someone commented and shared this “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!” I hope that helps!
We really enjoyed this, including my kids! And it was so easy to make. I used a boneless pork loin (because that’s what I had on hand) and it turned out great! Will definitely make this again.
So wonderful to hear that, Erin. I am so glad you and your kids enjoyed this pulled pork recipe!
Can you use pork sirloin roast?
Hi Debi, Pork sirloin? It might be a little dry for this, but it may still work. I’d probably cut the meat in half if using a sirloin to make sure it cooks through well.
Prepping this now, it it ok to leave rub in pork overnight and prep marinade and put in the fridge to use tomorrow morning. Have a morning appointment so can’t waste time.
Great idea! I hope you love this recipe John!
Can I use minced garlic instead of pressed garlic clove?
Hi Lauren, that should work!
Amazing recipe! Definetly a HIT!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Just made this yesterday and I was surprised how BOMB this recipe is. Had to come back to write a comment. It’s perfect with your coleslaw recipe! Thank you for all that you do! You’re my ‘go to’ for all of my meal plans!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Viktoriya! Thank you for that amazing review!
I made this yesterday, it was so delicious. I will definitly be making it again. Thank you from Australia
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed this dish!