Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork is easy to make with the help of your crock pot! It’s full of flavor, tender and perfect for all your summer BBQs.

close up shot of two forks shredding slow cooker BBQ pulled pork

This is the slow cooker BBQ pulled pork recipe I have been raving about — it is absolutely a keeper! Summer seems to be on hold again here in Colorado. It’s raining like crazy right now and is supposed to turn to snow. But I can still pretend it’s summer with this pulled pork thanks to my handy dandy Crockpot!

Don’t forget the dry rub:

To be clear, slow cooker BBQ pulled pork is not going to be quite the same as a smoked pulled pork — but it’s still darn good! I use my homemade pork rub, which not super bold. I wanted to keep my rub mild so that it can also be used for smoking meat. So, if you like a lot of smokiness, then just add a little more paprika to your rub.

Key Ingredients for Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork:

  • Dry Rub: Here’s my Homemade Pork Dry Spice Rub that I love to use! It has has smoked paprika in it to create a slightly smokey flavor.
  • Pork: I generally use about 3½-4 pounds of pork shoulder. Depending on how many people you’re serving (or how many leftovers you want) you can always change the amount of pork you’re cooking. Remember though, you don’t want to overload your Crockpot.
  • BBQ Sauce: I used my Texas Style BBQ Sauce to toss the meat in after I shredded it, but you can use any of your favorite store-bought BBQ sauces. One of my personal favorite store-bought brands is Stubb’s BBQ Sauce.
one shredded meat sandwich on tissue paper on wooden table

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork:

SEASON THE PORK: First, liberally sprinkle the pork shoulder with the dry rub, then gently pat to help the rub adhere. After that, tightly wrap the shoulder in plastic wrap and then place it in the refrigerator overnight.

PLACE PORK IN SLOW COOKER: In the morning, unwrap the pork and then place it in the slow cooker. Next, add in the chicken broth, then cover and cook on low for 8 hours. I don’t recommend cooking on high.

SHRED THE PORK: When cooking time is done, remove the pork and shred. Save some of the cooking liquid and stir it back into the shredded meat. I usually use anywhere from ½ to 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

ADD BBQ SAUCE: Finally, stir in as much or as little BBQ sauce to suit your tastes, then serve.

DON’T FORGET THE SIDES: And of course, you can’t have a good BBQ without some traditional sides! So here are a few of my favorites: Old Fashioned Potato Salad, Broccoli Bacon and Grape Salad, Bacon Baked Beans, and for dessert this Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake.

two pulled pork BBQ sandwiches with chips in white paper basket

FAQs

What can I do with leftovers?

Cooked meat can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Leftover slow cooker BBQ pulled pork goes great on salads, nachos, and sandwiches.

Do you need liquid in slow cooker for pulled pork?

Definitely. My recipe calls for 1 cup of chicken broth, but you can use a different broth or water, as well. This amount is specifically for a 3½-4 pound pork shoulder, however. If you are cooking more or less meat, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid you’re adding to the slow cooker.

Can you cook pulled pork too long in the slow cooker?

Yes, but it would be really hard to do so! It’s actually pretty hard to overcook pork shoulder in the slow cooker. You’ll know your meat is ready when it easily separates and falls away with a fork. Overcooked pork will become mushy and much less appetizing.

Can I put raw pork in a slow cooker?

Yes – you can add the pork shoulder to the slow cooker completely raw. It will still soak up all of the flavors, and as long as you cook for the right amount of time, will be perfectly juicy and tender!

How long do I slow cook BBQ pulled pork?

I cook my pork shoulder on low for 8 hours. You can speed up the process by adjusting the temperature on your slow cooker.

You may also like to try these other BBQ recipes:

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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Prep Time
10 hrs
Cook Time
8 hrs
Total Time
18 hrs
 

Perfect for your next backyard BBQ, this tender slow cooker BBQ pulled pork is full of flavor and perfect for sandwiches, nachos and more!

Course: barbecue, BBQ, Main, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: barbecue, BBQ, pulled pork, slow cooker
Servings: 6 + servings
Calories: 398 kcal
Author: Malinda Linnebur
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Liberally sprinkle the pork shoulder with the dry rub and gently pat to help the rub adhere.

  2. Tightly wrap the shoulder in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.

  3. In the morning, unwrap the pork and place in the slow cooker. Add in the chicken broth, cover and cook on low for 8 hours. I don't recommend cooking on high.

  4. When cooking time is done, remove pork and shred.

  5. Save some of the cooking liquid and stir it back into the shredded meat. I usually use anywhere from ½ to 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

  6. Stir in as much or as little BBQ sauce to suit your tastes, and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes
  1. STORAGE: Cooked meat can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
  2. FREEZER FRIENDLY: Place cooled meat in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. 
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Amount Per Serving
Calories 398 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 177mg59%
Sodium 213mg9%
Potassium 936mg27%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 53g106%
Vitamin A 16IU0%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 39mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate.

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