Log In / Sign Up

Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe

Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
Difficulty: Easy | Total Time: | Makes: 6 servings

The whole point of using a slow cooker is to get the ingredients into the cooker quickly and then be able to walk away. For this easy pulled pork recipe, just coat the pork shoulder with a spice rub of dark brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, and cinnamon, then cook it on a bed of garlic and onions covered with chicken broth. When you come back six to ten hours later, you’ll have juicy pork that’s ready to be shredded and served atop nachos, alongside cornbread, or in a sandwich with your favorite barbecue sauce. This no-fuss, versatile recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, and the leftovers—should you have any—freeze well.

Watch CHOW.com Associate Food Editor Christine Gallary make this slow-cooker pulled pork in our Easiest Way video series.

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 (4-1/2- to 5-pound) boneless or bone-in pork shoulder (also known as pork butt), twine or netting removed
  • 2 cups barbecue sauce (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Place the onions and garlic in an even layer in the slow cooker and pour in the stock or broth. Combine the sugar, chili powder, measured salt, cumin, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Pat the pork dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork and place the meat on top of the onions and garlic. Cover and cook until the pork is fork tender, about 6 to 8 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.
  2. Turn off the slow cooker and remove the pork to a cutting board. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium heatproof bowl. Pour the onion mixture from the slow cooker through the strainer and return the solids to the slow cooker. Set the strained liquid aside.
  3. If the pork has a bone, remove and discard it. Using 2 forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker, add the barbecue sauce, if using, and mix to combine. If you’re not using barbecue sauce, use a spoon to skim and discard the fat from the surface of the strained cooking liquid, and then add 1/4 cup of the liquid at a time to the slow cooker until the pork is just moistened. Taste and season with salt as needed.
    Write a review | 22 Reviews
  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    My god, please don't waste your's or the pig's time on this recipe. While I certainly didn't expect pit cooked BBQ with a nice bark, I did expect better than this. If crock pot pulled pork is what you think you want, then go down to the nearest hospital cafeteria, or join your kid for a school lunch. Trust me, if you know what good pulled pork is ( and I've cooked my share) then invest in an inexpensive grill and learn how to use long, slow, indirect heat. Or better yet, get yourself a smoker and do it right. More salt, and almost two bottles of Sweet Baby Ray's could barely make this more appealing than pink slime.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    I made this today and it's so fantastic I had to review. So easy, so incredibly delicious! Have I been living under a rock? I didn't know pork shoulder could be so fall apart, melt in your mouth delicious! When I took it out of my slow cooker, my son swooped in on me stealing pieces while I was shredding meat that was falling apart, begging for me to pile it on his plate. Forget the sauce, forget the bun - just eat it! And that's what we did. Piled it on our plates with a splooch of bbq sauce on the side. Took others advice and doubled cinnamon and cumin. Phenomenal.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    Great, easy recipe. This is our main course for the Super Bowl and it turned out phenomenal! I will say that I changed the recipe a little. My wife bought me a gift pack of J. Wilbur barbeque products for Christmas, and I used their spice rub instead of the recommended spices and mixed in their hickory smoke sauce, which we thinned out 3 parts sauce to 1 part apple cider vinegar. YUM!

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    I've made an even simpler version of this in the winter when it's too cold to brave our Green Egg. I just rub the shoulder with a good southern bbq mix of dry spices..be sure to include Smoked Paprika - it does add to the BBQ feel...and then put it in with maybe just a splash of water and cider vinegar..I add sauce later..works wonderfully. Same is true for side or back ribs - slather them with your spice rub, stand 'em up in the slow cooker and cook til they're falling apart delicious.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    I made this yesterday and my boyfriend said it was one of the best meals he's ever eaten which is huge coming from him! I cooked a 4lb pork shoulder on high for 6-7 hours. I didn't add the cumin because I don't care for it and the flavor was still great. I also didn't put the pork back in the crock with the onions because my boyfriend didn't "want to risk ruining the pork" after he snuck a taste. I just served with a little BBQ sauce and baked beans. No bun needed. Awesome flavor and super easy! Definitely making this again soon!!

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    Write a review

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    I'm cooking it now and excited to try it. On the picture above, what is above the pork on the sandwich?

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    I made this and really enjoyed it! I would recommend leaving the spices as is when making it for the first time. I listened to the reviews and doubled the cinnamon and it was a bit too sweet for me. I would definitely make it again though :) http://pinterestprojects.blog.com/2013/01/03/slow-cooker-pulled-pork/

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    This turned out amazing! I put the pork in the slow cooker for 6.5 hours on high. I doubled the cinnamon and the chile anmount. It came out amazing. I also added a simple coleslaw on top and served with corn. Highly recommend this recipe, very simple to make.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    This is the first time I cooked pulled pork using a dry rub, and I must say - it turned out awesome. I doubled up on the cinnamon and cumin and applied the dry rub the day before, stored in the fridge to let the flavors really set. I chose not to add the BBQ sauce directly to the pot. Instead I grabbed a couple different sauces so everyone could mix and match. Highly recommend using Sticky Fingers Carolina Sweet Barbecue Sauce, matches up perfect with the spices.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    Good stuff! I let mine cook 10 hours on low, and substituted real root beer for the stock. I would use milder onions next time. It was a big hit!

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    Wow, this is my first time making pulled pork and using a slow cooker and I'm kicking myself for not buying a slow-cooker sooner! It's amazing! I doubled up on the cinnamon and cumin though, I found the amounts to be too small for 5lbs of meat and it turned out great! I cooked it for 10 hours on low and it's the most tender pork I've ever had! I also only used 1 cup of bbq sauce and 1 cup of broth and it's just right. I'll definitely be making this again!

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    Made this a couple of times. It is always a crowd pleaser. I used Virgil's BBQ sauce.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    4

    This was quite good! I used a bone-in pork shoulder (I think it adds to the taste), and added 1 tsp of chipotle chile powder to the rub. Cooked for almost 10 hours on low. The meat was tender, juicy and delicious. We ate it with some cole slaw, pickles, and bbq sauce.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    4

    Not the best I've made but it's tasty and EASY for a weeknight. After 6.5 hours on high in my slow cooker (no peeking!), it was extremely tender. I liked it better with BBQ sauce than without. Will make again.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    1

    Without a doubt one of the worst pulled pork recipes I have ever tried. Was optimistic at first but does not cook evenly and it turns out tough . I wouldn't even bother

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    yummy that looks real good

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    4

    @DST, any vinegar based Carolina cole slaw recipe will do. Here's a good one: http://southernfood.about.com/od/coleslawcabbagesalads/r/bl90612a.htm You don't want to overdo it on the BBQ sauce - the sandwich will be too sloppy. Barely moisten the pork. BTW those buns are Super food porn :-). EDIT - save time by prepping the ingredients and marinating in a zip top bag overnight.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    Just finished eating this. By far, the best pulled pork I've ever had. I served it up without the BBQ sauce on homemade yeast buns. Can't wait to make grilled cheese sandwiches with the leftovers tomorrow.

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    3

    what is the coleslaw type stuff on top of the pork? looks delish. recipe please

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    IT CAME OUT TENDER AND i MADE A SANDWICH. Smoothed in Cattleman's Kansas City BBQ Sauce. Yummm Cooked at 250 covered in the oven for 7 hours, flavor is through out the meat. Gonna have to get a slow cooker to save on energy for such a meal. Went to work and returned and the house smelled so inviting!

  • Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
    5

    OK, but what is a great bbq sauce recipe for this ? Thanx. Mine was not so great. But the pork turned out ok.

Share with your friendsX