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Crock Pot Pulled Pork

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updated: 03/11/25

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Crock Pot Pulled Pork is such an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. Made with just a few simple ingredients, you will adore this delicious recipe.

Side view of a Crock Pot Pulled Pork sandwich garnished with bbq sauce

I love slow cooker recipes so much. They make life so much easier! They are even better when they come together with just a few ingredients.

This crock pot pulled pork is so simple to make, and it is absolutely delicious with my homemade BBQ sauce. You are going to love the combo of the pork and sauce. It makes for the perfect pulled pork sandwich.

Overhead view of raw pork shoulder and small bowls of seasonings on countertop for Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe.

How to Make Pulled Pork in the Crock Pot

Here is a brief overview of how this crock pot pulled pork recipe comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Season the pork. Mix all the ingredients for the pork rub in a small bowl. Spread it generously on all sides of the pork shoulder and refrigerate for four to eight hours (or overnight).
  • Cook the pork. Add the pork to your slow cooker and cook on low for seven to eight hours. Cooking it on low for a longer period of time keeps the pork super tender.
  • Make the BBQ sauce. Combine all the ingredients for the barbecue sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Shred the pork and enjoy! Once it’s done cooking, remove the pork from the slow cooker, discard any large pieces of fat, and shred the meat. Return the shredded meat to the crock pot to keep warm or make sandwiches topped with BBQ sauce and enjoy right away.
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The Best Slow Cooker

This crockpot is a work horse! It gets so much use in my kitchen and cooks everything from soup to pulled pork perfectly every time.
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Best Cut of Meat

In this recipe we are using a pork shoulder. It can go by other names such as pork butt or Boston butt. These are technically different cuts of pork, but come from the same general area on the pig. They work fantastic in this recipe and result in a fall apart meat, that is what you are looking for when making pulled pork.

Pork Rub

This pork dry rub, which is a blend of spices, salt, and brown sugar, not only adds a burst of flavor that enhances the overall flavor of the pork once it’s slow-cooked. Allowing the rubbed pork to rest in the refrigerator overnight gives the spices plenty of time to penetrate into the meat. This marination process also helps to tenderize the pork, breaking down fibers and resulting in a more tender and juicy pulled pork when it’s cooked low and slow in the crock pot.

Pork Rub

This four ingredient Pork Rub is made with seasonings you already have in your pantry. It is simple to throw together but brings out the flavor in pork recipes perfectly!
a small dish with paprika, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in it
Overhead view of a slow cooker with seasoned pork shoulder for Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe

Homemade BBQ Sauce

I absolutely love the flavor of my homemade BBQ sauce recipe, and it is perfect on top of pulled pork sandwiches! It comes together with simple ingredients and can be made ahead of time.

If you prefer to skip making your own sauce, you can use 2 1/2 cups of your favorite bottled BBQ sauce.

BBQ Sauce Recipe

This BBQ Sauce Recipe is easy to throw together and absolutely delicious! Fast to make and with ingredients you already have on hand, you are going to make this homemade BBQ sauce all the time.
spoon dipping into a mason jar full of easy homemade bbq sauce
slow cooker of Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Making Pulled Pork Sandwiches

We love to make pulled pork sandwiches with this BBQ pork! Add a heaping scoop of the slow cooker pulled pork to hamburger buns or brioche buns and top with BBQ sauce. Pickles or coleslaw are delicious on top.

Coleslaw Recipe

This Coleslaw is going to be your new go to. Not only is it easy to make, but it has that classic taste that is exactly what you want in a good coleslaw recipe. It is so delicious on the side or on top of a BBQ pulled pork sandwich.
overhead bowl of coleslaw recipe in a big serving bowl

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store any leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in the microwave on half power or on the stovetop over low heat until heated through. Leftover pulled pork would be delicious on nachos like my BBQ Chicken Nachos!

For best results, reheat meat with plenty of the sauce added to it. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.

Overhead view of a slow cooker of Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe

What to Serve With Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Here are a few delicious sides that pair perfectly with slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches.

If you make this BBQ pulled pork crock pot recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think and how you enjoyed it!

Side view of a Crock Pot Pulled Pork sandwich garnished with bbq sauce
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Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Serves: 8 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 8 hours
Total: 8 hours 20 minutes
Crock Pot Pulled Pork is such an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. Made with just a few simple ingredients, you will adore this delicious recipe.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds pork shoulder

Pork Rub

  • 3 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

BBQ Sauce

  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (319.5 grams) 
  • 1 1/2 cups ketchup (352.5 grams)
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (119.29 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Four to eight hours before you plan on cooking the pork, make the pork rub. Mix all the ingredients for the pork rub in a small bowl. Spread it generously on all sides of the pork. Refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours (or overnight).
    3 pounds pork shoulder, 3 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Spray the crock pot with cooking spray. Add the pork. There is no need to add any liquid. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
  • Towards the end of the cooking time, make the BBQ sauce. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups ketchup, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons paprika, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • At the end of the cooking time, remove the pork from the slow cooker. Using 2 forks, shred the meat, discarding large pieces of fat. Return the shredded meat to the crock pot to keep warm, or make sandwiches right away, topping them liberally with BBQ sauce.

Notes

We always use our homemade BBQ Sauce when we make this recipe, because we love it. It takes a total of 20 minutes to make. If you would like to skip this step, you can use 2 1/2 cups of your favorite bottled BBQ sauce.
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Side view of a Crock Pot Pulled Pork sandwich garnished with bbq sauce

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Crock Pot Pulled Pork

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Michele Engholm says

    OMGOODNESS! So much yummy here!
    Thank you so much for this…..I am going to make it tomorrow!!
    Thank you so much for all you do. You have the best website for recipes….hands down!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you love it, thank you so much for your kind words!

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