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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Welcome to the world of pulled pork! Delicious, tender, and oh-so flavorful, this slow-cooked classic is sure to please any crowd. Whether you cook it in a slow cooker or crockpot for a few hours or simmer it on the stovetop – pulled pork always delivers mouthwatering results.

The shredded pork plated with baked vegetables. there is also a platter of pork in the background along with a baking dish of veggies

One thing that I love is my slow cooker.  I love it because it helps me make this flavorful and tasty recipe. I know that it makes other delicious meals but it does an awesome job with pork. Especially with a great cut of meat and a flavorful rub

My favorite meat is, and always has been, smoked pork shoulder, especially in a boiled dinner. But why bring that up now? Only to say that this pulled pork recipe has been elevated in rank to become very close to my favorite.

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One of the things that I don’t really like about some pulled pork recipes is although I like the pork, I do NOT like the sweet sauce everyone seems to want to serve with it.

So I came up with a savory sauce with my pulled pork and this recipe delivers in spades!!

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Helpful tips

  • This is a savory pulled pork recipe, so I don’t use brown sugar like I do with a smoked shoulder roast.
  • If you do like sweet pork and you need to add bbq sauce, wait until after the pork is done and add barbecue sauce to your dish.
  • I eat this alone with vegetables or as a pork sandwich on buns, but if you haven’t tried a brioche bun slathered with this pulled pork, you are missing out.
  • I also like to use the pork meat in tacos.
  • I don’t use a thermometer only because I check the doneness by sticking a fork in the meat to see if it pulls apart easily.

How to make pulled pork

Pre-step

Get your crock pot (a.k.a. slow cooker.)

Step one

Gather the ingredients – bone-in pork butt (or pork shoulder), garlic cloves, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, kosher salt, and smoked paprika.

Spices measured in a white dish along with the bottles, raw pork and garlic in the background

Step two

Start with the rub. In a small bowl add the herbs and spices and use a whisk to combine them.

Close up of herbs and spices mixed in a small white dish

Step three

I usually add the rub to the pork in the insert but wanted you to see it better.

I take the rub and pat it on the butt. (That didn’t sound good, but you get the drift.)

I make sure to put it on the bottom of the pork too.

All the spices for the rub patted on the pork shoulder with broth and paprika in the background

Step four

Place the meat in the crock pot insert if you already haven’t. Sprinkle on extra paprika. (This is optional.)

Add cloves of garlic and a liquid like chicken broth.

Pork shoulder in the insert for the crockpot with the rub on it, garlic cloves and broth

Step five

Place the lid on and set the slow cooker to high and the timer for 4.5 hours.

Step six

Once the timer goes off, take the meat out of the cooker and put it on a platter and tent it with a few pieces of aluminum foil over the meat. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before pulling it apart.

Here is the meat after it rests. Look at that steam.

The pork steaming on the blue platter resting before it gets shredded and a baking dish of veggies

Perfect!

Step seven

Take two forks and start pulling the pork apart.

I made some baked vegetables and poured the juice from the slow cooker into a pourer.

A big blue platter with the pork, shredded and some pork sauce in a pitcher and veggies in a baking dish in the background

Time to plate it.

And I pour some juice/gravy over the pork on my plate.

Close up of the pork on a blue plate with onion and carrots

I hope you enjoyed this slow cooker pulled pork recipe.  I certainly enjoyed eating it.

Feel free to leave me a comment do you like your pulled pork savory like I do, or sweet?

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Close up of pork with gravy and carrots and onion on a plate with it

Pulled Pork – Perfectly Delectable

This delicious pulled pork recipe is great as is or in a sandwich with the sauce or on a salad! So versatile and easy. Your slow cooker does most of the work for you.
5 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Pork
Keyword: pulled pork
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Servings: 6 cups
Calories: 374kcal

Ingredients

  • 3.6 pound pork butt or other appropriate pork, Mine was 3.6 pounds, bone in
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cloves garlic whole

Instructions

  • Combine chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika and salt.
    1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoons kosher salt
  • De-fat the pork, leaving some for flavor.
    3.6 pound pork butt
  • Apply rub to pork butt covering it evenly on all sides.
  • Place in slow cooker and sprinkle some paprika on the pork.
  • Pour in chicken broth (I didn't pour it over the pork) and add garlic.
    1 1/2 cups chicken broth, 4 cloves garlic
  • Set slow cooker on high for 4.5 hours.
  • Take out pork butt and put on platter and tent two pieces of foil over it and let sit for 15 minutes.
  • Take two forks and pull apart the pork into some big chunks as well as shreds.
  • Plate
  • Pour small amount of juice from slow cooker on pork.
  • Serve
  • Enjoy
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Notes

Helpful tips
  • This is a savory pulled pork recipe, so I don’t use brown sugar like I do with a smoked shoulder roast.
  • If you do like sweet pork and you need to add bbq sauce, wait until after the pork is done and add barbecue sauce to your dish.
  • I eat this alone with vegetables or as a pork sandwich on buns, but if you haven’t tried a brioche bun slathered with this pulled pork, you are missing out.
  • I also like to use the pork meat in tacos.
  • I don’t use a thermometer only because I check the doneness by sticking a fork in the meat to see if it pulls apart easily.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 1562mg | Potassium: 1013mg | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 4.7mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 4mg
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From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

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40 Comments

  1. Nice looking pulled pork. I usually do mine in my smoker but it is minus 10 here now so a slow cooker recipe is looking good.

    The Old Fat Guy

    1. Thank you OFG. (I can’t seem to call you by your handle). 🙂 I’ve never used a smoker. Hmmmm. Wheels are turning!!

      Take care,
      Elaine

    1. Hi Michael!

      Thanks! It was delicious! If I do say so myself. 😉

      21 Days of vegan. How did it go? I was vegan for a few years. I found it hard!

      Elaine

  2. Mouthwatering here! I want to lick my screen 🙂 The best recipe for pulled pork I have seen, love the rub, love that it is not sweet, totally agree with you about that!

  3. Oh I love how crusty and spicy that looks! I can’t wait to try this. My hubby and son love pulled pork but we usually do a barbecue so this would be a nice change.

  4. YES…pulled pork. You can never go wrong with pulled pork. So many delicious ways to enjoy it too.

  5. I love pulled pork Elaine and your recipe sounds delicious! I could happily make it every week as there’s so much you can do with the pork after it’s made.

  6. I’m a southerner, so I love pulled pork, but I’ve never made my own before. Your recipe looks delicious!

  7. I LOVE anything with pulled pork! Not only is it the easiest thing in the world to make but it tastes over the top delicious! I make Kahlua pork a lot but adding your addition of spices sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to give this a try!

  8. Oh, I”m with you – the whole reason I have a large slow cooker for just the two of us is that I need it to hold a pork butt! And I don’t like sweet sauces either… I’ll have to try your spice blend!

  9. Pulled pork is one of those things I love so much, but I just never make myself. We always do elaborate tacos for New Year’s Eve (with margaritas, of course) – I’m going to add these to our menu of toppings!

  10. Pulled pork is my favorite “feed a really big crowd” option. I usually go for the BBQ sauce route, but I like the idea of serving it with a simple gravy instead.

  11. Rubbing spices into meat is one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen! ;D I wish I could could cook more often with pork, it’s difficult to get it here in stores. I would make your delicious looking pulled pork first thing!

  12. I bookmarked this to make… we make ours in the oven, but keep saying I should try one in the crockpot… Your spices sound a bit different than mine… and I can’t wait to give it a whirl! (Im so into cumin at the moment, why didn’t I think of that!

  13. I always forget to put a rub on my pulled pork (probably because I’m making it in a rush and not giving it the time or attention it deserves!), so I can’t wait to give this a shot! I’m sure it will bring it to a whole new level!

  14. Yum I love pulled pork…just had way too much yesterday at a party! And I’m totally with you on the sauce. I cant’ figure out why people want such sweet sauce on their pulled pork. All that does is hide the gorgeous pork

  15. The slow cooker is the way to go when it comes to pulled pork. Looks fantastic!

  16. So pulled pork is my go-to meat now, but I haven’t made it with your delicious rub. I can’t wait to try it.

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