Crock Pot Barbecue Pulled Pork
Tender, juicy, and bursting with smoky-sweet flavor, this Crock Pot Barbecue Pulled Pork recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for your next family dinner or backyard gathering. Made with a perfectly seasoned pork shoulder that's slow-cooked to fork-tender perfection, this recipe features a mouthwatering blend of bold barbecue sauce, a touch of brown sugar, and a hint of apple cider vinegar for balance. The pork is seared for added richness and then slow-cooked for hours with diced onions and savory spices, resulting in succulent meat that practically melts in your mouth. Serve it piled high on soft hamburger buns or alongside classic sides like coleslaw and baked beans. With minimal prep and the ease of your crock pot, this pulled pork is an effortless way to deliver all the flavors of a barbecue feast right from your kitchen!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder (Boston butt)
- 2 cups barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 6 pieces hamburger buns (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder, but leave some for flavor and cooking.
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to create a dry rub.
Rub the spice mixture evenly all over the pork shoulder to coat.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. This step adds flavor but is optional if you're short on time.
Place the diced onion at the bottom of the crock pot. Lay the seared pork shoulder on top of the onions.
In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup of barbecue sauce. Pour the mixture over the pork in the crock pot.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and easily pulls apart.
Remove the cooked pork from the crock pot and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the pork into small pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat.
Return the shredded pork to the crock pot. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of barbecue sauce and mix well with the juices in the pot.
Cover and let the pork warm through on low for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Serve the barbecue pulled pork on hamburger buns if desired or alongside traditional sides like coleslaw, cornbread, or baked beans.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
6076 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 351.0 g | 450% | |
| Saturated Fat | 117.9 g | 590% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1204 mg | 401% | |
| Sodium | 10877 mg | 473% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 413.0 g | 150% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.5 g | 52% | |
| Total Sugars | 227.6 g | ||
| Protein | 323.1 g | 646% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 725 mg | 56% | |
| Iron | 33.9 mg | 188% | |
| Potassium | 6572 mg | 140% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
