Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Slow cooker pulled pork is my favorite way to serve a crowd! This pork is coated in a homemade spice rub, then simmered in the crockpot until tender. Shred the meat, then dinner is ready to serve! Crockpot pulled pork is easy, tender, delicious and everyone always loves it!
With just about 10 minutes of prep, this recipe is perfect to add to the slow cooker before heading out for the day. You’ll come home to a crockpot full of tender, juicy pulled pork, perfect for sandwiches.
On busy days when I know I won’t have much time to prepare dinner, I love to use my slow cooker. My family absolutely loves this simple, yet satisfying pulled pork. It’s so delicious, I personally think it’s the best slow cooker pulled pork. And it makes for such an easy and versatile dinner option – it can be used in so many different ways. It’s a great option for a huge family dinner, for game day or even parties. I make this recipe at least once a month!
Let the slow cooker do all of the work, and then pile this pulled pork on toasted buns and top with some fresh homemade coleslaw for a meal that’s always a hit! We also love this slow cooker pulled pork piled on baked potatoes or served with Cauliflower Au Gratin or Mac and Cheese.
How To Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork?
- Rub the pork with a homemade seasoning blend.
- To give the pork even more flavor, brown the outside of the meat in a pan with some oil.
- Add the pork to the slow cooker and cook it until tender.
- Once cooked, shred with 2 forks and stir back into the juices.
- If you’d like, you can add BBQ sauce to the meat. Serve on buns or rolls!
Video Tutorial for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork:
What Cut Of Meat Is Best For Pulled Pork?
For juicy, tender pulled pork, you want a cut of meat with some marbling for flavor and to keep the pork from drying out. The best cut of meat for pulled pork is pork shoulder. Pork butt and pork shoulder both come from the shoulder of the hog and either will work great. Either part of the pork shoulder will result in a wonderful taste and texture. However, if you have a choice between the top of the pork shoulder (the Boston butt) or the bottom of the pork shoulder (the picnic roast), choose the Boston butt. It will be the most juicy, tender, and super flavorful!
Tips For Crockpot Pulled Pork
- Browning the meat before adding it to the slow cooker is optional. If I have the extra time, I like to brown it because it brings out a lot of extra flavor to the pulled pork.
- The spice rub listed in the recipe card, below, is very tasty and so easy. However, you can use a store bought spice mix, if preferred.
- You can use bone in or boneless pork shoulder. If you use bone in pork shoulder, simply remove the meat from the bone before you shred it.
- For the best results and most tender meat, I recommend slow cooking the pork on low for 8 hours. I would NOT turn the setting to high and only cook the pork for 4-6 hours.
- If you prefer saucy pulled pork, simply add about 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce to the meat once it is shredded.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Serving Suggestions
- My favorite way to serve pulled pork is piled high on a toasted bun and topped with fresh, creamy, crisp coleslaw! Use my easy homemade coleslaw recipe that is absolutely delicious. I give instructions for shredding your own cabbage or using a bag mix.
- Pulled pork is also wonderful spooned over baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes or even baked macaroni and cheese.
- Use pulled pork in tortillas topped with avocado, sour cream and cheese for taco night.
- To use up leftover pulled pork use it as a pizza topping, for nachos or add it to soup or salad.
Slow cooker pulled pork is honestly one of my favorite meals. It always comes out so tender, flavorful and delicious. It’s amazing in a sandwich, on pizza, for tacos, or to simply eat as-is with some chips and potato salad. Using a crockpot makes it such an easy meal too! This one is definitely a crowd pleaser!
More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
If you try this slow cooker pulled pork recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Slow cooker pulled pork is my favorite way to serve a crowd! This pork is coated in a homemade spice rub, then simmered in the crockpot until tender. Shred the meat, then dinner is ready to serve! Crockpot pulled pork is easy, tender, delicious and everyone always loves it!
- 3-4 pounds pork shoulder, bone in or boneless, can also use country style pork ribs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 onion chopped
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In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt and brown sugar. Rub this all over the pork shoulder.
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Heat a large pot with about 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat. Brown the pork shoulder on all sides about 3-4 minutes per side. on the stove.
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Place pork shoulder in the slow cooker with the onions and cook on the low setting for 8 hours. After 8 hours, shred the pork with two forks and mix it all up with the "pan sauce" that's inside the slow cooker.
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Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw.
For BBQ pulled pork: After pork is shredded, stir in about 1 cup BBQ sauce, then serve.
Leftover pulled pork can be stored in the fridge for up to four days, or in the freezer for up to four months.
Make ahead: The pork can be made a day or two in advance.
Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats.
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I made this and it was delicious!! I made pulled pork tacos topped with cilantro and guacamole. This is a good idea for a quick dinner meal since it’s in the crock pot. I used the leftovers to make breakfast tacos with a fried egg on top! So good!!
This pulled pork recipe was so delicious! Loved the flavor!
Just made this for dinner tonight. So easy and super yummy. The family loved it. Will be adding this to our family menu =)
Thank you, Kim, for this delicious recipe! Made it for Sunday dinner and my entire family loved it! The pork was so tender and flavorful.
Excellent recipe. Super easy and tasty! It’s an instant hit with my family. So versatile too! Can make tacos, salads, sandwiches. Thank you Kim! Super yummy go-to recipe!
I made this recipe yesterday for dinner and my family LOVED it! My husband especially!
Hello! The pork came out delicious but I did add 1 c of beef broth to the recipe. Also, do you know how much pulled pork makes up one serving?
Glad you enjoyed! I only divided the recipe into 8 equal servings for calculating nutrition but I’m not sure how many grams or cups each serving is.
Looks like a great recipe and I’m going to try it. I need to know how many pounds of boston butt should I buy for 12 servings?
Thanks
Hi Karen! I would buy at least 6 pounds. Enjoy!
Hello, would you change the cooking time for a 10 lb shoulder? Should I cook it all in one slow cooker, or cut in half and cook in 2 separate slow cookers? Thank you so much!
I haven’t tried cooking one that large, so I can’t say for sure, but I’m thinking it would need a little more cooking time. If you have the availability and it’s not too much hassle, I would cut it in half and cook in two separate slow cookers. Hope you enjoy!
Asking this tonight. I’ll let you know how it comes out. I have chosen it because there is no tomato in the recipe. I can’t eat tomato anymore.
Hi. Was hoping to make today, but I’ll only have 5-6 hours to cook it in crock pot….you don’t specify whether it’s 8 hours on high or low so I’m wondering if you meant low, then may it will take less time on high and I can get it done on time?
Yes, I would do high for 5-6 hours. I think that will be just fine. Enjoy!
Do you think if I cut a 15lb pork in half that the cook times would be the same?
I think that would work fine.
Dont you need to add some fluid for the crockpot? Or should I just follow this recipe as it says?
No, you don’t. The pork will release a lot of juices as it cooks.
Okay, thanks for the fast reply!
Thank you for the recipe. Can’t wait to see how it turns out. The smallest roast I could find was 7 lbs. You said in your comments not to cook on high but I’m not sure it will be done in time given it’s size. Is it am absolute no no to cook on high?
I think you’ll be fine to cook on high. Let me know how it turns out.
I have a 7 1/2 lb bone in Boston butt. How much time do you think I will need in slow cooker? Thank you.
It will depend on your slow cooker, but I think cooked on low for 12 hours would be good. Hope it turns out great!
Turned out sooo good. First time making pulled pork and this will be my go to recipe. I also did add a little beef broth. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
So happy to hear that you enjoyed, Lisa! Thanks so much for your comment!
This was amazing!Great flavor! I put the rub on the roast and let it sit for 30 minutes at room temp. Then browned each side. Definitely making again!
Oh that makes me so happy! Thanks so much for taking time to comment!