Saturday, December 27, 2025

Gradual Cooker Pulled Pork – Simple + Juicy

Gradual Cooker Pulled Pork is succulent, tender, and intensely versatile. Made with a handful of on a regular basis components, you need to use the pulled pork in sandwiches, bowls, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, or enchiladas. The chances are limitless!

platter of slow cooker pulled pork

I’ve had a Butcher Field subscription for a few years and totally admit to ordering boneless pork roasts solely to shove them apart within the freezer for extra quick-cooking cuts of meat like floor beef and rooster breasts when cooking dinner as an alternative.

Since this simple and unimaginable Gradual Cooker Pulled Pork recipe has come into my life, although? I can’t maintain them in inventory!

Juicy and flavorful gradual cooker pulled pork is comprised of a handful of on a regular basis components, and is tremendous versatile too. I like that I could make it as soon as then we will eat all of it week lengthy in quite a lot of alternative ways.

shredded pork in a crock pot

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  1. Lengthy-cooking. Crock pot recipes that cook dinner on low for 6-8 hours are nice in case you work outdoors the house, or gained’t be round the home all day. Let the gradual cooker work when you’re in, out, and about.
  2. Flavorful, juicy, and tender. Gradual cooking pork renders it tender, succulent, and extremely flavorful. My whole household loves this pulled pork!
  3. Few components. All you want are just a few pantry staples along with the pork roast to make this recipe.
  4. Versatile. We’ve loved gradual cooker pulled pork each which means – as BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, in candy potato bowls, and quesadillas – I’ll share extra concepts under.
  5. Freezes effectively. Shredded pork freezes exceptionally effectively to maintain available for practically on the spot meals sooner or later.

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Essential Elements Wanted

My husband makes a MEAN smoked pork butt and individuals are at all times shocked to be taught that he solely seasons his meat with salt and pepper. Pork is so flavorful by itself that it doesn’t take a lot to make it sing.

That mentioned, I do like so as to add a pair additional components when gradual cooking pork, vs smoking it. Right here’s what you’ll want:

  • Boneless pork butt: a pork “butt” really comes from the shoulder of a pig, and is effectively marbled with pork fats (ie, extraordinarily flavorful).
  • Garlic: a lot of pressed or finely minced garlic permeates the meat with craveable taste.
  • Dry rub: brown sugar, salt, and pepper season the pork to perfection.
  • Rooster broth: helps maintain the pork juicy and tender contained in the gradual cooker.
slow cooker pulled pork on a platter

Methods to Use Gradual Cooker Pulled Pork

What I like about seasoning the pork merely is which you can take it anyplace. Will you add BBQ sauce and go the southern route? Add recent taco toppings and go Tex-Mex? The selection is yours, however listed below are some concepts:

  1. BBQ Pork Sandwiches: coat the pulled pork in BBQ sauce then pile it onto buns.
  2. BBQ Pork Bowls: coat the pulled pork in BBQ sauce, place it on a mattress of dressed coleslaw, then add roasted candy potatoes and pickles.
  3. BBQ Pork Pizza: unfold BBQ sauce on a pizza crust then prime with pulled pork, shredded Mexican cheese mix, and bake. High with minced recent cilantro and crimson onions earlier than serving.
  4. BBQ Pork Quesadillas: swap the rooster for pulled pork in my BBQ Rooster Quesadillas.
  5. Cuban Quesadillas: layer pulled pork, deli ham, and sliced provolone or swiss cheese on a tortilla then cook dinner in a skillet till crisp. Open then stuff with pickles and yellow mustard earlier than slicing and serving.
  6. Common Quesadillas: layer pulled pork and shredded Mexican cheese mix on a tortilla then cook dinner in a skillet till crisp. Serve with salsa verde and/or guacamole.
  7. Tacos or Nachos: use pulled pork because the meat inside your tacos, or on prime of a platter of nachos.
  8. Enchiladas: swap the rooster for pulled pork in my reader-favorite Enchiladas recipe.
  9. Pulled Pork Hash: add pulled pork to a skillet over medium-high warmth with a drizzle of additional virgin olive oil then saute till crisp. High with a runny egg, sliced avocados, and salsa verde.

How will YOU devour this recipe for the perfect gradual cooker pulled pork of your life?!

bbq pulled pork bowl with sweet potatoes

Pair with Gluten Free Cornbread

The way to Make Pulled Pork in a Gradual Cooker

Step 1: Trim the pork butt.

Begin by trimming the boneless pork butt of extra fats. Bear in mind, pork fats = taste, so we wish to depart some fats on the roast to taste the meat whereas it cooks. Subsequent, minimize the pork into 4-6 massive items.

Recipe Tip

Some boneless pork butt roasts will include netting across the outdoors to maintain the roast collectively for the reason that bone has been eliminated. Take away then discard the netting earlier than gradual cooking.

pork shoulder on a cutting board

Step 2: Season then gradual cook dinner the pork.

Place the pork items into the underside of a 6-quart crock pot then add minced or pressed recent garlic, and a dry rub of brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Use your arms to rub the seasonings everywhere in the meat to evenly coat.

Lastly, drizzle rooster broth across the outdoors edges of the crock pot then place a lid on prime and gradual cook dinner the pork for 6-8 hours on LOW, or 3-4 hours on HIGH, or till the pork shreds very simply with a fork.

Recipe Tip

If you happen to’re round on the midway level, use tongs to flip the pork items over then proceed gradual cooking. This isn’t a required step in case you’re not in a position to!

pork shoulder pieces in a slow cooker

Step 3: Shred the pork.

Use tongs to switch the items of pork to a big plate or slicing board, then shred the meat with two forks (and take a look at to not eat ALL OF IT). Switch the shredded pork again into the crock pot, or into a big glass bowl or storage container.

shredded pork in a crock pot

Step 4: Pressure the cooking juices.

Final step is to pressure the cooking juices via a fats separator to separate the pork fats from the flavor-packed cooking juices. Alternatively you can pour the cooking juices right into a container via a positive mesh sieve then use a turkey baster to suck out and discard the fats.

fat separator with juices inside

Pour the cooking juices, minus the fats, again into the shredded pork then combine to mix. At this level, the pulled pork is prepared for use!

pulled pork in a crock pot

The way to Retailer, Reheat and Freeze

  • The way to retailer: refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic, glass container for as much as 5 days. Microwave individual-sized parts within the microwave till scorching then pressure out the juices (I take advantage of a fork to press the pulled pork in opposition to the facet of the dish) then use.
  • The way to freeze: switch the cooled pulled pork plus juices right into a Ziplock freezer bag then take away the air and freeze flat for as much as 6 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge then reheat in a pan over medium warmth till scorching.

Whether or not you utilize gradual cooker pulled pork to whip up satisfying sandwiches, crispy quesadillas, or any meal thought in between, I hope you like each delicious and succulent chunk. Take pleasure in!

bbq pulled pork bowl with sweet potatoes

Extra Crock Pot Go-Tos

  • 4 – 5 lb boneless pork butt, trimmed of extra fats then minimize into 4 – 6 massive items
  • 5 massive garlic cloves, pressed or minced
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon sea salt
  • 1/2 Tablespoon floor black pepper
  • 3/4 cup rooster broth
  • Place the pork items into the underside of a 6-quart crock pot then sprinkle the garlic, brown sugar, salt, and pepper over the tops. Rub the seasonings everywhere in the pork utilizing your arms then stream the rooster broth in across the edges of the crock pot.

  • Place a lid on prime of the gradual cooker then cook dinner on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, or till the meat shreds very simply with a fork. If you happen to’re across the crock pot on the midway level, flip the items of pork over with tongs, although this isn’t a required step.

  • Utilizing tongs, switch the items of pork to a big plate or slicing board then rigorously pour the cooking juices right into a fats separator. Shred the meat utilizing two forks then add it again into the crock pot, or a glass storage container. Pour your required quantity of cooking juices over the shredded pork, leaving the fats within the separator. Stir to mix then use as desired, see notes for serving solutions

  • Pork “butt” really comes from the higher shoulder area of the pig and is effectively marbled with fats. You’ll wish to depart some fats on the pork items — pork fats = taste! Simply take away excessively massive items previous to gradual cooking.
  • The way to retailer: refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic, glass container for as much as 5 days. Microwave individual-sized parts within the microwave till scorching then pressure out the juices (I take advantage of a fork to press the pulled pork in opposition to the facet of the dish) then use.
  • The way to freeze: switch the cooled pulled pork plus juices right into a Ziplock freezer bag then take away the air and freeze flat for as much as 6 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge then reheat in a pan over medium warmth till scorching.
  • BBQ Pork Bowls: coat the pork in BBQ sauce, place it on a mattress of dressed coleslaw, then add roasted candy potatoes and pickles.
  • BBQ Pork Sandwiches: coat the pork in BBQ sauce then pile onto buns. 
  • BBQ Pork Pizza: unfold BBQ sauce on a pizza crust then prime with pulled pork, Mexican cheese mix, and bake. High with minced recent cilantro and crimson onion earlier than serving.
  • BBQ Pork Quesadillas: swap the rooster for pulled pork in my BBQ Rooster Quesadillas.
  • Cuban Quesadillas: layer pulled pork, deli ham, and sliced provolone or swiss cheese on a tortilla then cook dinner in a skillet till crisp. Open up then stuff with pickles and yellow mustard earlier than slicing and serving. 
  • Common Quesadillas: layer pulled pork and Mexican cheese mix on a tortilla then cook dinner in a skillet till crisp. Serve with salsa verde, and guacamole.
  • Tacos or Nachos: use pulled pork because the meat inside your tacos, or on prime of a platter or nachos.
  • Enchiladas: swap the rooster for pulled pork in my reader-favorite Enchiladas recipe.
  • Pulled Pork Hash: add pulled pork to a skillet over medium-high warmth with a drizzle of additional virgin olive oil then saute till crisp. High with a runny egg and sliced avocados.

Serving: 1cup, Energy: 414kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 69g, Fats: 10g, Saturated Fats: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 4g, Trans Fats: 0.05g, Ldl cholesterol: 182mg, Sodium: 1437mg, Potassium: 1173mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 4IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 3mg

Dietary values are estimates solely. Please learn our full vitamin info disclaimer.

photo collage of slow cooker pulled pork

Pictures by Ashley McLaughlin

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