Imagine tender, juicy pulled pork so delicious it falls apart with just a gentle touch of your fork, infused with a perfect blend of spices and smoky BBQ sauce. This crockpot pulled pork recipe is your ticket to becoming the ultimate home chef, transforming a simple pork shoulder into a crowd-pleasing masterpiece that'll have everyone begging for seconds. Whether you're hosting a weekend barbecue or craving a comforting meal that requires minimal effort, this recipe is about to become your new go-to culinary sensation!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 15 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Begin by preparing your ingredients. Slice the onion and mince the garlic cloves. Set them aside for later use.
- Take the 4 lbs of pork shoulder and trim any excess fat if desired. This will help reduce the greasiness of the final dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. This will serve as your dry rub for the pork.
- Rub the spice mixture evenly over the entire surface of the pork shoulder, ensuring that all sides are well coated.
- Place the sliced onion at the bottom of the crockpot. This will create a flavorful base for the pork to sit on while it cooks.
- Next, add the minced garlic on top of the onions in the crockpot.
- Carefully place the seasoned pork shoulder on top of the onions and garlic in the crockpot.
- Pour 1 cup of BBQ sauce over the pork shoulder, ensuring it is well covered. You can reserve a little sauce for serving later if desired.
- Cover the crockpot with its lid and set it to cook on low for 8 hours. This slow cooking will allow the pork to become tender and easy to pull apart.
- After 8 hours, check the pork for tenderness. It should easily shred with a fork. If it’s not tender enough, you can cook it for an additional hour.
- Once the pork is ready, remove it from the crockpot and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded pork to the crockpot and mix it with the remaining juices and onions. If desired, add more BBQ sauce to taste.
- Serve the pulled pork on buns, in tacos, or on its own with your favorite sides. Enjoy your delicious pulled pork!
Tips
- Choose the right cut: Pork shoulder (also called pork butt) is ideal due to its high fat content, which ensures maximum tenderness and flavor.
- Don't skip the dry rub: Massaging the spice mixture thoroughly ensures deep flavor penetration throughout the meat.
- Low and slow is the key: Cooking on low heat for 8 hours breaks down tough muscle fibers, creating that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Save some sauce: Reserve extra BBQ sauce for serving, allowing guests to customize their pulled pork's moisture and flavor.
- Make ahead friendly: This recipe freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, making meal prep a breeze.
- Bonus serving suggestions: Try pulled pork in sandwiches, tacos, nachos, or over a crisp salad for versatile meal options.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 420kcal
Carbohydrates: 12g
Protein: 38g
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 135mg
