Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

March 8, 2023

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Saucy and sloppy BBQ pulled pork is always a great weeknight dinner! My recipe is a set-and-forget recipe, and it just so happens to be the greatest one yet! It only takes minutes to prepare and cooks all day for a fall-apart, tender, juicy pork smothered with tangy and sweet BBQ sauce.

I love making set-and-forget recipes for the slow cooker. Quicker and easier recipes tend to be the best ones, but there are a select few we don’t talk about (I’m looking at you, TikTok, with some of your…questionable recipe videos). Since I’ve been making more pork recipes than other proteins, I decided to go with something that’s so simple that the worst cook in America can’t mess it up: BBQ Pulled Pork! It’s perfect for a family dinner that your kids will devour, then ask for more. It’s also easy to take this along to a potluck with your friends. It takes less than 10 minutes to completely assemble this meal, then the rest is set and forget for at least 8 hours! Isn’t that the easiest thing that you’ve ever heard—making busy weeknights easier when all you need to do is toast some sandwich buns and load them up with the pork!

For my slow cooker recipes, not only do I use a slow cooker, but a pressure cooker, an air fryer, sous vide appliance, and so many more! The Ninja Foodi Pro 11-in-1 is the best appliance I have in my kitchen, and you can have it too! No need to have so many appliances when one machine can do it all! I may make a commission on all purchases.

Hot to make Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe. You can serve this as a sandwich with a soft potato or brioche bun, in a wrap, on top of a salad, or over mashed potatoes. (Full ingredient amounts and complete instructions are available in the recipe card down below).

Pork Shoulder: This is the cut to use for pulled pork, since it falls apart easily when cooked for a long period of time. It also stays tender, which is another plus!
A Bottle of BBQ Sauce: I used Sweet Baby Ray’s since that’s the one I like (and also my job uses), but feel free to use whichever bottle you like!
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Ground Dry Yellow Mustard, Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika: Used for the spice rub.
Yellow Mustard, Apple Cider Vinegar, Brown Sugar & Worcestershire Sauce: Gives a slight flavor boost to the BBQ sauce.

Combine the seasonings together in a small bowl and set aside. Whisk together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in another bowl and set aside. Pat the pork dry, then rub with 1/2 of the seasoning. Place the pork in the slow cooker. Mix the remaining spice rub with the BBQ sauce mixture, then pour the sauce over the pork. Flip the pork a few times to coat it evenly. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours. Cook time can vary depending on the size of the pork. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and let it rest for 15-20 minutes. Shred the pork. Serve immediately.

Tips & FAQs

Storage: Keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Allow the pork to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe ziploc or container. Freeze up to 3 months.
What can I use this BBQ pulled pork for? There are plenty of options in terms of what to serve this pork over!
- Mac & Cheese
- Nachos
- Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos)
- As a Sandwich
- With Baked Beans
- With Coleslaw
- And so much more!

Want the recipe? Click print below! Let me know how it came out for you by tagging me on Instagram (@missravenskitchen) and using #missravenskitchen! Follow my Facebook page for updates as well! Let me know if I need to tweak anything.

Servings 10-12 servings

Author Dani Bayer

Prep time

5 Min

Cook time

10 Hour

Total time

10 H & 5 M

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