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Delicious slow cooker pulled pork, ready to serve

Classic Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

This recipe delivers tender, flavorful pulled pork with minimal effort, perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or as a main dish. The slow cooking process ensures juicy results every time.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Paper towels
  • Small bowl
  • Large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven
  • Slow cooker
  • Cutting board
  • Foil
  • Two forks

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 3-4 pounds Pork Shoulder (Boston Butt) bone-in or boneless
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar light or dark
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce your favorite brand
  • 1 onion roughly chopped
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil for searing

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Pat the pork shoulder dry and combine all dry rub ingredients in a bowl.
  • Rub the spice mixture generously all over the pork, ensuring it is fully coated.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the pork for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.

Slow Cooking

  • Place chopped onion and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Transfer the seared pork to the slow cooker, placing it on top of the onions and garlic.
  • Whisk together apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, and BBQ sauce; pour over the pork until it is about halfway submerged.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until pork is fork-tender.

Finishing

  • Remove the cooked pork from the slow cooker, transfer to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 15-20 minutes.
  • Shred the pork with two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat or bone.
  • Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid, then return shredded pork to the slow cooker and toss with the pan juices and sauce.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can marinate the pork shoulder in the dry rub overnight in the refrigerator. Adjust cayenne pepper to your spice preference. This pulled pork is excellent on slider buns with coleslaw, in tacos, or as a topping for nachos.