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This delicious barbecued pulled pork is made in your crockpot, not on the grill. Slow-cook a pork roast until it's fall-apart tender, and then add your favorite barbecue sauce.
Just 5 minutes of prep in the morning and then an easy assembly at dinnertime means pulled pork is perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Easy slow cooker pulled pork
Delicious pulled pork with barbecue sauce makes a tasty dinner.
There's something so wonderful about a crockpot. I love throwing something in the crockpot in the morning and coming home in the evening to a house full of delicious smells and dinner almost ready.
This pulled pork is delicious year-round and is perfect for weeknight dinners for your family or for times when you need to serve a crowd.
Almost any type of pork roast will work, although a boneless pork shoulder roast is the standard. We raise, butcher, and process our own pork, and we often end up with some odd-sized pork roasts from various cuts. They all work great for this recipe.
Another great recipe to try is this Crockpot BBQ Chicken!
BBQ Pulled Pork Ingredients
- Pork Roast - Boneless or bone-in works fine. Choose a pork shoulder or pork butt roast. However, any cut will work. Select a roast approximately 4 pounds in weight. You can have a larger roast as long as it fits in your slow cooker.
- Liquid - Beer, apple juice, or water. I always add a bit of liquid to my slow cooker.
- BBQ sauce - make your own or use store-bought
- Hamburger buns - Select your favorite type of bun. Use buns with or without sesame seeds or select a pretzel bun.
How to make Pulled Pork (Crockpot)
- Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper
- Place the liquid at the bottom of the crockpot
- Add the roast and place the cover on the cooker
- 4. Turn on high and cook for 4-5 hours or low and cook for 7-8 hours
- Remove the roast and place it on a plate. Allow the roast to cool slightly
- Remove any fat and bone (if you used a bone-in roast)
- Shred meat with two forks, tongs, or your hands
- Remove any liquid from cooking from the crockpot
- Place the meat back in the crockpot and add BBQ sauce
- Cover and heat for 20-30 minutes until hot
- Serve on hamburger buns
Pulled Pork Recipe Tips
- Pork is done when it falls apart. If you try lifting the roast, it will break apart. Or insert a fork and twist. The meat should break apart.
- If the meat doesn't shred easily, it needs to cook longer
- Try not to open the lid of the crockpot too often. You lose a lot of heat each time it's opened.
- Cut the roast into smaller chunks for a quicker cooking time
BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe FAQs
The meat is done when it is fork-tender. If it's not falling apart, it needs to cook longer. If you've selected a bone-in roast, the meat should fall off the bone.
Yes, you can freeze pulled pork. You can freeze the pork before you've added the sauce or after the sauce has been added. Just make certain it is fully cooled prior to freezing.
The best barbecue sauce for pulled pork will vary depending on your personal preference. Look for a sauce that is a perfect balance of tangy and sweet. You can make a delicious homemade barbecue sauce or buy your favorite sauce at the store.
A slice of cheese can be added to a pulled pork sandwich. Some great options include cheddar or Monterey Jack. For a bit of zest, try using a slice of Monterey Pepper Jack cheese.
How to serve Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my delicious main dishes!
Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pound pork roast
- 1 cup of liquid (beer, apple juice or water)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 cups BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper4 pound pork roast, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
- Pour liquid into pot and then add pork roast1 cup of liquid
- Put lid on and turn on crock pot to low. Cook for 6-8 hours,
- Pork is done when a you can insert a fork and the meat pulls apart easily.
- Remove pork from crock pot onto a large baking sheet.
- Allow to cool slightly so you can handle it. Use two forks to pull meat apart into long strands.
- Remove any fat or bone
- Remove all liquid from crockpot.
- Add pulled pork back into pot.
- Add BBQ sauce and stir.2-3 cups BBQ sauce
- Turn crockpot to high for 20 minutes until pork and sauce are hot.
- Serve on a hamburger bun.
Notes
- Pork is done when it falls apart. If you try lifting the roast, it will break apart. Or insert a fork and twist. The meat should break apart.
- If the meat doesn't shred easily, it needs to cook longer
- Try not to open the lid of the crockpot too often. You lose a lot of heat each time it's opened.
- Cut the roast into smaller chunks for a quicker cooking time
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Can I use pineapple juice?
Can pork tenderloin be used in place of the pork roast?
Hi Terri,
You can use pork tenderloin, however it is a very lean piece of meat and because the tenderloins are smaller, the cook time will need to be reduced by 1-2 hours. Keep an eye on the meat. When it falls apart with a fork, it's ready!
Kathy
Looks delicious and easy!!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Could I use ginger beer?
Hi Jodi,
I've never tried it with ginger beer, but I don't see why not. I've used other liquids like apple cider and it works beautifully.
Let me know how it turns out.
Kathy 🙂
Simple, easy and tasty dinner.
Thank you!
I love my crockpot too! I always feel so accomplished when I get dinner going in the crock first thing! This pulled pork sounds wonderful!
I agree! You get it started and out of the way first thing in the morning.
Indeed crockpot meals are awesome, Kathy. This pulled pork looks fantastic, and that sandwich is making me drool. YUM!
The crock pot makes getting dinner on the table so easy!
I don't think you'd even speak to me anymore if you knew how much pulled pork I eat! It's up t 3 pounds of week. I love the stuff and we usually go out for it, we'd ordered 4 pounds of it for our 10th anniversary and ate it all in 2 days flat!!! But at $14 a pound, I need to make it instead. Will be trying this!
Laura, I think this pulled pork recipe is for you! You could make a huge batch and always have some on hand!
Pulled pork is near and dear to my heart, Kathy! I love it! In fact, I think I'm gonna have a guys night tomorrow...and pulled pork is on the menu. (We always keep some in the freezer for easy meals.) Thanks for sharing your crockpot version...I need to try the beer idea! (Of course, I'll have to try not to drink it first...hah!)
You never use a full beer....always some left for sampling 🙂
This looks so delicious. Bookmarked!
Thanks!
I will never turn away an easy crock-pot recipe, especially a BBQ pulled pork one! So delicious Kathy and definitely trying very soon.
I really need to use my crock pot more often. It makes life so much easier.
Crock pot anything rocks the house! The convenience is just the best! This bbq pulled pork looks absolutely delish, Kathy! And if I could reach through my screen, I'd steal that sammie from you!! 😉 cheers, friend!
It was a delicious sammie....full of tangy sauce and pulled pork!
This looks great! Regarding BBQ sauce, I've tried making my own at home (using similar ingredients to yours), but I never can make it taste as good as the sauce sold by Trader Joe's- maybe I should keep on trying!
Give it a try 🙂
Gimme dat sandwich Kathy!! My husband and I would be fighting over that one! And I love that you made it in the crockpot!
Luckily, this makes a huge amount so no fighting needed! You can each have your own 🙂
My husband will love this.Thanks so much, Kathy!!
I hope he does love it! 🙂
I love pork in the slow cooker! It's the absolute best! Nothing like coming home to a meal all cooked and ready to go and only one pot to clean 🙂 This looks fantastic, Kathy!
It smells so great when I enter the house and dinner is all ready!