Air Fryer Pork Steak
October 5, 2024
Pork Cube Steak in the Crock Pot
November 1, 2024Crock Pot Pulled Pork is a tender and flavorful pork shoulder recipe made with a basic sweet rub that makes excellent sandwiches and great leftovers.
We love to make Pulled Pork Nachos or Pulled Pork Chili with the leftovers.
Pulled Pork in the Crock Pot is so versatile
This pork shoulder recipes makes such tender, flavorful pork that practically melts in your mouth. It uses simple spices that work well in a variety of dishes.
Place it in the crock pot with a splash of cola, and let it cook on low for several hours for an easy slow cooker meal everyone will enjoy. We also love Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot.
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With minimal prep and a lot of flavor, this is a hit for family dinners, gatherings, or meal prepping for the week. We love eating pulled pork in sandwiches, tacos, Pulled Pork Enchiladas or in Pulled Pork Quesadillas.
Ingredients
- Pork shoulder roast, bone-in
- Cola (not diet): Try apple cider vinegar or apple juice as an alternative to cola.
- Olive oil
- Brown sugar
- Chili powder
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Salt & pepper
How to make Perfect Crock Pot pulled pork
Measure and mix dry ingredients. Rub the spice mixture over the pork, covering all sides.
Complete this step the night before and cover the pork, then place it in the refrigerator to allow time for the spices to fuse.
In a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed skillet, warm olive oil using medium heat. Place the pork in heated skillet and sear each side until golden brown. This process should take around 2-3 minutes per side.
Transfer the seared pork and any drippings to slow cooker. Pour soda around the pork roast and place the lid on the crock pot.
Cook for 8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high setting. Pork will be tender and easily shredded with a fork when ready.
Can I cook this overnight?
Yes, this recipe will allow for slow cooking overnight. Use the low setting on the Crock Pot and set a timer for 8 hours. You don’t want to overcook your pork accidentally! Warning: You will wake up to an amazing pork aroma wafting from the kitchen.
What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in?
For this pork shoulder recipe we suggest using a can of regular Coke. Or the equivalent of 1 1/2 cups of cola. Diet cola uses an artificial sweetner that tend to cause a slightly different taste.
If you don’t have a can of Coke on hand, Dr. Pepper, apple cider vinegar or apple juice both work as flavorful substitutes.
Do you put barbecue sauce on pulled pork before or after cooking?
For this recipe, apply barbecue sauce to each serving after cooking. In other recipes, we suggest applying barbecue sauce after cooking to achieve a well-rounded flavor and avoid burning the sugars in the sauce during cooking.
Can you cook pulled pork too long in the slow cooker?
Yes, it is possible to cook pulled pork for too long in the slow cooker. Even on the low setting, too much time will cause the meat to dry out and possibly burn to the bottom of the slow cooker. To avoid this, maintain a layer of liquid on the bottom of the slow cooker throughout the cooking process.
Can I make pulled pork the day before and reheat?
Refrigerated pulled pork can be reheated using a slow cooker or stove top. If you plan on cooking pulled pork ahead of time and reheating it in the slow cooker, allow approximately 1 to 2 hours for the meat to gradually warm. You may add a few tablespoons of water to keep the meat moist.
Other slow cooker recipes
This Sweet Southern Slow Cooker Ham is juicy and tender, with a touch of sweetness. It’s the perfect recipe to free up your oven for holiday special occasions and is convenient enough to serve during the week.
For easy weeknight dinners, Slow Cooker Pork Ribeye Roast or Crock Pot Pork Chops with Mushrooms tend to be our go-to.
This tender and flavorful Slow Cooker Root Beer Ribs recipe is an easy-to-follow crock pot favorite with a can of root beer.
Perfect Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb. pork shoulder roast bone-in
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 oz. Coke (not diet)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork.
- Measure and mix dry ingredients.
- Rub the spice mixture over the pork covering all sides.
- In a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed skillet, warm olive oil using medium heat.
- Place the pork in the heated skillet and sear each side 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown.
- Transfer seared pork and any drippings to crock pot.
- Pour soda around the pork roast and add crock pot lid.
- Cook for 8 hours on low, or 4-5 hours on high setting. Pork will be tender and easily shredded with a fork when ready.
