This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is a family favorite recipe. Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork with sauce on the side if you like. Pile on buns, stuff into baked potatoes or top a bowl of creamy mac and cheese. We use this pulled pork to make so many different recipes like these Honey Mustard Pulled Pork Taquitos. Or try stirring in cheese and barbecue sauce to make Cheesy BBQ Pulled Pork.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe is really tough to beat. It’s perfectly seasoned, super tender and really, everyone loves it.
- Pleases Everyone: Our pulled pork recipe doesn’t have barbecue sauce mixed in, but you can certainly add it. We love the flavor of this pork, seasoned with a perfect dry rub and lots of sweet onions. But do serve it with sauce on the side for those who want it.
- Feeds A Crowd: This recipe will feed at least 10 adults, if not more. Perfect for holidays, BBQ’s or any gathering. It’s also a great recipe to meal prep with for easy lunches and dinners.
- Easy To Prepare: Don’t be afraid of the pork butt! All there is to do is make a homemade dry rub seasoning, rub it all over the pork and get it into a slow cooker. We add lots of sliced onion and garlic for additional flavor.
How To Make Pulled Pork In A Slow Cooker
There’s only a few steps for this recipe, just allow at least 8 hours of cooking time. For complete instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Prepare the Pork: Make the dry rub and use it to season the pork all over, pressing into the meat. Add sliced onions and garlic to the bottom of a slow cooker and then place the pork butt on top.
- Cook And Shred: Slow cook the pork on low for 8-10 hours until fork tender. You can also use the high heat setting to cut down on the cooking time, but we do prefer the low and slow method for the best flavor. Remove the pork butt from the slow cooker and shred the meat, discarding any bones and fat. Add the meat back to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the juices and onions.
What Kind Of Pork Should I Use?
The best cut of pork for making pulled pork is a pork shoulder, either bone-in or boneless. The bone in pork shoulder will take a little less time to cook than the boneless and also will be a little juicier than a boneless pork shoulder.
Or you can use what’s called a Boston butt, a pork butt. A Boston butt is half of a pork shoulder, the other half is called a Picnic Shoulder.
I’ve seen a lot of recipes for pulled pork that use pork tenderloins, but those aren’t my favorite. You’re definitely not going to get the flavor from a pork tenderloin that you will from a pork shoulder or pork butt.
Ways To Serve
Typically, we’re piling this pulled pork onto buns, with or without bbq sauce. However, there are so many more ways that we use this delicious pork, if not just enjoying it on its own.
- Pile on baked potatoes
- Use in quesadillas
- Add to nachos
- BBQ pulled pork pizza
- Add to grilled cheese sandwiches
- Make a burrito bowl
- Top a bowl of macaroni and cheese
Sides That Go With Pulled Pork
Whether you’re serving this meal for a party or just dinner at home with the family, sides are always welcome! Try one or two or more of these popular side dishes.
- Steak Fries
- Super Creamy Coleslaw
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans
- Cheesy Crock Pot Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
Looking For More Pork Recipes?
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Nutty Asian Pork
- Crock Pot Applessauce Pulled Pork
- Thai Coconut Pork Kabobs
- Pork Egg Roll Soup
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeOur Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is flavored with our homemade dry rub and sweet onions. So delicious, it doesn’t even need BBQ sauce but you can add it if you want!
Ingredients
- 5–6 pound pork butt, bone in
- 1/2 cup apple juice
- 2 medium red onions, peeled and sliced
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 4 tablespoons All Purpose Rub (you might need a little more depending on the size of your pork butt)
Instructions
- Sprinkle the seasoning on all sides of the pork, it will seem like a lot but the dry rub flavors the pork as well as the juice when the pork is done.
- Add the pork to your slow cooker along with the apple juice, onions and garlic.
- Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Since slow cookers cook at different temperatures, check the pork after 6 hours to see if it shreds easily with a fork, if not let it go for another hour or two.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker to a board to cool slightly. Drain the juices from the slow cooker into a bowl, discarding the garlic cloves.
- Shred the pork with two forks or meat claws and add back to the slow cooker. Add the onions (if using) and up to a cup of the reserved juices. You don’t want the pulled pork to have too much liquid so add the juices a little at a time and stir until you have the right consistency.
Recipe Notes
You can also use a boneless pork shoulder, the cooking time might be closer to 8 hours.
Keep this pulled pork on the warm setting until you are ready to serve and also to keep warm during your party if needed.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: American
Very good I have made this many times, but I wish it hadn’t been changed. I could’ve sworn there used to be ground ginger in this. Am I wrong about that? Is there a way to access the old recipe? Thanks
There was 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger in the rub when we first posted it. We tried to simplify the rub with ingredients that most people had, but you can add the 1/2 teaspoon back in! We do that sometimes, too.