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Crock Pot Pulled Pork

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updated: 04/20/26

5 from 1 vote
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.

Overhead view of a slow cooker with seasoned pork shoulder for Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe

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

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.

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

Tips and Tricks

  • Choose the right cut of meat. This recipe calls for pork shoulder but pork butt or Boston butt will also work perfectly.
  • Season the meat and let it rest overnight. This is called dry brining. It helped boost flavor and tenderize the meat, resulting in juicier pulled pork. Make sure you refrigerate the meat during this process.
  • Cook the meat low and slow. I do not recommend cutting the time in half and cooking this recipe on high. Cooking on the low setting for 7 to 8 hours creates the best results.
  • Use BBQ sauce liberally. These sandwiches are the best with a big dollop of bbq sauce and a heaping scoop of coleslaw.

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.

slow cooker of Crock Pot Pulled Pork

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
5 from 1 vote

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Author: Lisa Longley
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.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Side view of a Crock Pot Pulled Pork sandwich garnished with bbq sauce

did you make this

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Lisa is the founder of Simple Joy. Lisa, is a self taught cook and avid lover of all things food, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the last 10 years Lisa has been reading cookbooks, experimenting in the kitchen, and learning everything she possibly can about cooking. The result has been the ability to create recipes, both classics and new twists, that readers fall in love with and make with ease. Lisa loves not only providing delicious and easy recipes, but also giving the why behind what we are doing in the kitchen. She gets such great joy in sharing my love for food.

Lisa has been featured in many media outlets. These outlets include Country Living, Real Simple, Today, Parade, Good Housekeeping, Buzzfeed, Delish, Elle, and many others.

Prior to becoming a food creator, Lisa was a social worker. She received her master’s in social work from the University of Milwaukee and worked in child welfare.

Lisa is the mom to four amazing kids: Gavin, Elliot, Quinn, and Piper. Gavin, Quinn, and Piper are happy, amazing kids she loves spending time with.

Her husband, Nathan, is her partner in life and in business. He is her rock in more ways than one and supports all of her crazy dreams.

Lisa and Nathan lost their second child, Elliot, when he was 8 days old. If you want to know more about Elliot, you can read it here. If you want to read more of Lisa’s experience of grief, you can read this post.

Reader Interactions

    5 from 1 vote

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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!

  2. Bryson says

    5 stars
    Delicious, and simple. The meat has loads of flavor and is pull apart tender. BBQ is smoky and sweet!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you liked it!

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