How to make the best slow cooker pulled pork that’s perfect for sandwiches, salads, and tacos. For a quicker version, we have also shared how to make this pulled pork using a pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot). Jump to the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe Show
How to Make the Best Pulled Pork Using a Slow CookerPulled pork is perfect for the slow cooker. It’s easy to do and is the ultimate make-ahead meal. Our recipe makes pork that’s tender, full of flavor, and juicy. It’s delicious served alone or add a bit of your favorite barbecue sauce. The slow cooker shines in this recipe. We start with a pork shoulder — also called pork butt or Boston butt. You May Also Like: Here’s our recipe sharing How to Make Tender Pulled Pork in the Oven It’s a relatively tough cut and does well when cooked over an extended period. It’s also well marbled with fat, which prevents the pork from drying out while cooking. As the pork cooks, the fat melts and sort of self-bastes during cooking. Making pulled pork in a slow cooker or crockpot is easy, but we still have a few tips for you, so you make it best. [If you love cooking with your slow cooker, try our Ultimate Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken, it’s delicious.]
Step 1: Season the MeatSeasoning the pork is essential, especially when using a slow cooker. Once you hit start, you don’t want to lift the lid, so taking some time to think about flavors and seasoning up front is a good idea. We’re pretty heavy handed with salt and pepper in the beginning and like to rub the pork with it, getting the salt into all the nooks of the meat. We also season 15 to 20 minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. Step 2: Cook the Pork on Low and Cook it SlowAfter seasoning the meat, we put together a mixture of cooked onions, garlic, tomato paste, and spices. That’s poured over the pork, and we’re ready to cook. When I said the slow cooker shines in this recipe, I meant it. It’s pretty tricky to overcook pork shoulder. It’s because of this that we happily cook the pork on low for many hours. In our recipe below we call for at least 8, but you really can go beyond that. The pork should be so tender that a spoon can cut through it. Doing all of this in a slow cooker makes it easy. Do it overnight or while you are away from the house. Step 3: Skim the Cooking Liquid then Save itWhen the pork is finished, you have juicy and tender pulled pork as well as a rich and flavorful broth. It’s pure gold. Remove the cooking liquid from the slow cooker and skim as much fat as possible — remember, pork shoulder is well marbled with fat, so that’s all going to melt into the liquid. Discard the excess fat (which will float to the top) and then stir the liquid back into the pork to keep it extra moist and flavorful. Another alternative is to refrigerate the pork in its cooking liquid. When it’s cold, the fat will have solidified, making it easy to scrape off with a spoon. Step 4: Shred the Pork and Combine with Skimmed Cooking LiquidAfter skimming the cooking liquid, place it back into the slow cooker. Then simply shred the pork — I just use two forks to do it. Since it’s so tender, the pork literally will fall apart on you. Place the shredded pork back into the slow cooker with the skimmed cooking liquid then serve! What to Serve With Pulled PorkWe love pulled pork since it’s perfect for so many occasions. Here are some of our favorite sides to go alongside the tender, tasty pork: Homemade Coleslaw — I love the crunch of coleslaw with pulled pork. If you don’t like mayo-based salads, try our mayo-free coleslaw. Herb Potato Salad — This mayo-free potato salad is perfect served cold or warm. Here’s our classic creamy potato salad if that is more your style. Quick and Easy Pasta Salad — This fresh and easy pasta salad packed with crisp vegetables, fresh mozzarella, and tossed with a simple homemade dressing. Ultra Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese — You’ll love this ultra creamy mac and cheese recipe! With the perfect ratio of milk to cheese to sauce, this macaroni and cheese is at the top of my favorites list! More Easy Pork Recipes
Ultimate Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is perfect for the slow cooker. Cooking the pork low and very slow is the secret to the juiciest and most tender pulled pork. Serve the pork as is or feel free to stir in your favorite barbecue or other sauces at the end of cooking. Makes approximately 3 1/2 pounds, 10 servings Watch Us Make the RecipeYou Will Need1 (4 1/2 to 5 pound) boneless or bone-in pork shoulder (also known as pork butt), twine or netting removed 2 teaspoons salt, plus more as needed 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 2 tablespoons neutral flavored oil 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped small 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon ancho or mild chili powder, see our homemade chili powder recipe 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 cup water 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon fish sauce or 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce For Serving (Optional)Bread rolls Coleslaw, see our mayonnaise based coleslaw recipe or our mayo-free coleslaw Pickles Barbecue sauce, see our bacon bourbon barbecue sauce recipe Hot Sauce Directions
Rub the pork with salt and pepper, and then set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients. (See notes below if you plan to sear the pork first). Heat oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic then cook, occasionally stirring, until they are sweet and browned around the edges. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook, stirring until the tomato paste turns from bright red to orange in color; about 3 minutes. Add the water, apple cider vinegar, and fish sauce and cook for about 1 minute, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Rest the seasoned pork in the bottom of a slow cooker then pour the onion and spice mixture on top. Wiggle the pork around the bottom of the slow cooker so that some of the onion and spice mixture slides underneath. Cover with lid and cook until the pork can be easily shredded; LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6. Turn off the slow cooker and transfer the pork to a cutting board. If the pork has a bone in it, remove and discard it. Use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any connective tissue, and large clumps of fat. Remove the cooking liquid and skim most of the fat from its surface. Discard the fat then set the cooking liquid aside. If using barbecue sauce, add it to the slow cooker and stir in the shredded pork. For even more flavor, add back some of the reserved cooking liquid. If you’re not using barbecue sauce, add the shredded pork and the cooking liquid back to the slow cooker. Taste and season with salt, additional vinegar, or hot sauce as needed. Adam and Joanne's Tips
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste Nutrition Per Serving: Serving Size 1/10 of the recipe (assumes 10 servings) / Calories 404 / Protein 28 g / Carbohydrate 2 g / Dietary Fiber 0 g / Total Sugars 1 g / Total Fat 31 g / Saturated Fat 11 g / Cholesterol 109 mg How long does it take to cook 10 lbs of pork shoulder?10 pound pork roast: Start with the heat at 450° for 20 minutes, then turn the heat down to 250°F and continue to cook for 8 1/2 to 10 1/2 hours until the middle of the roast registers 180°F.
How long does it take to cook pork on high in a slow cooker?Cover and cook on high for 6-7 hours or low for 9-10 or until meat pulls apart easily with a fork. Remove from crockpot and shred meat. Remove any large pieces of fat. Save some of the juice to spoon over pork when serving.
How long does pork shoulder take in slow cooker?Season the pork with salt and pepper then heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium to high heat. Brown the pork shoulder on all sides then transfer to a slow cooker. Add all the other ingredients, then cook on low for 6-8 hours until the meat pulls apart when pressed with two forks.
How many minutes per pound do you cook a pork shoulder in a slow cooker?On LOW you should cook the roast for 2 hours per pound and on HIGH 1 hour per pound + 1 hour. Just make sure your roast has an internal temperature of 145 degrees F tested with a meat thermometer. My family loves this pork roast!
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