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–+ servings
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Pork shoulder rubbed with brown sugar and spices, slow cooked until it falls apart. Set it in the morning, shred it at dinner. Works on sandwiches, in bowls, or straight from the pot.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

Meat & Protein

  • 3 lb pork shoulder bone-in or boneless also sold as pork butt

Seasonings & Spices

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper

Pantry & Canned Goods

  • 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 0.25 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce store-bought
  • 6 brioche buns

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then rub the spice mixture all over every surface of the meat.
  • Pour the apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the rubbed pork shoulder on top, fat side up.
  • Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours. The pork is done when it shreds easily with two forks and has pulled away from the bone if bone-in.
  • Transfer the pork to a cutting board or large bowl. Shred using two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat or bone. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the cooking liquid.
  • Stir in the BBQ sauce. Let sit on WARM for 10 minutes to absorb. Serve on brioche buns.

Notes

Pork shoulder is also sold as pork butt — same cut, different label depending on the store. Either works identically here.
Fat side up is not optional. As the pork cooks, the fat cap renders down through the meat and bastes it from above. Flip it and you lose that.
This recipe makes 6 servings intentionally. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 4 days — store them in the cooking liquid so the meat stays moist. Cold pulled pork on a brioche bun with a bag of coleslaw mix is dinner the next night with zero additional work.
Keyword crock pot pulled pork, easy pulled pork, set it and forget it dinner, slow cooker pork shoulder, slow cooker pulled pork
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