Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is made with just 7 ingredients, including 5 basic pantry spices. It’s easy to prep and cooks low and slow until the pork is tender and juicy. Use it for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, enchiladas, rice bowls, and more.
Today it’s all about slow cooker pulled pork! Seasoned pork shoulder cooks for several hours in the crockpot until it’s tender and juicy. It’s so easy and so delicious – a must-make!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You only need 7 ingredients to make it, including 5 basic pantry spices.
- The slow cooker does most of the work, making it an easy dinner or meal prep recipe.
- The pork cooks until perfectly tender and juicy, making it easy to shred.
- You can use the pulled pork in so many ways, including sandwiches, tacos, enchiladas, rice bowls, and more.
- The seasoning blend gives the pork lots of flavor without needing bottled sauce or complicated ingredients.
Ingredients
- Boneless pork shoulder – I use a picnic roast which is around three pounds. It’s a good size if you’re not serving a bunch of people. You can also use a bigger pork shoulder and double the amount of spices for the rub., but it will take longer to cook. You can use a pork butt, too. Both options have enough fat, so you don’t end up with dry pork.
- Taco seasoning – Pick your favorite brand. I love to use it as the base for the spice rub because it has a great mix of flavors all in one packet so you don’t have to measure anything.
- Brown sugar
- Ground mustard
- Minced garlic
- Kosher salt and black pepper
How to Make It
- Make the spice rub: Mix the taco seasoning, sugar, ground mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Season the pork: Place the pork in the slow cooker fat-side down and coat the top with some of the spice mix. Turn the pork over, coat the sides with the seasonings, and then sprinkle the rest of the mix over the top. The pork should be fat-side-up when you cook it.
- Cook the pork: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook the pork on low for six to eight hours or until the internal temperature is between 185 and 190°F. Be sure to insert the thermometer in the thickest part of the pork when you check the temperature.
- Shred the meat: Use two forks to shred the meat once it’s done cooking, and stir it with the liquid in the bottom of the pot. Once you shred the meat, pull out any pieces of fat or tough parts before serving it.
Recipe Tips
- When you coat the pork in the spice rub there will be extra seasoning that won’t stick to the pork – that’s fine. The excess seasoning that ends up in the bottom of the slow cooker will flavor the juices as the pork cooks.
- The pork will release juices as it cooks, so I don’t add anything extra to keep it easy. But feel free to add some chicken broth, beer, or apple cider vinegar for extra flavor when you cook the meat. You won’t need a lot – just enough to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
- I don’t recommend cooking the pork on high for less time because the meat won’t be as tender. Cooking it on low allows the fat to melt slowly, which will tenderize the meat and add tons of flavor. As I mentioned, I use a boneless picnic roast which is around three pounds and takes about sixish hours to cook. If you use a larger pork shoulder, you will need to add more time. A bone-in pork shoulder will also take longer to cook.
- Checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer takes all of the guesswork away. Without it, it’s hard to tell if it’s fully cooked in the middle.
- Pulled pork is great for meal prep because it keeps in the refrigerator for three to four days. Just store it in an airtight container.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Easy Chicken Verde – easy shredded chicken for tacos, burritos, and bowls
- Bolognese Sauce – rich and hearty sauce for pasta night
- Shredded Beef Sandwiches – tender beef, fresh peppers, and cheese
- BBQ Pulled Chicken – easy shredded chicken with smoky BBQ flavor
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Tender slow cooker pulled pork made with simple ingredients and pantry spices. Great for sandwiches, tacos, enchiladas, rice bowls, and easy meal prep.
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Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 (1-oz) packet taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 pound boneless pork shoulder (picnic roast)
Instructions
- Mix the taco seasoning, sugar, and the rest of the seasonings in a small bowl.
- Place the pork in the slow cooker and rub the seasoning mix all over it. It’s fine if some of the seasonings end up in the bottom of the slow cooker. Make sure the pork is fat-side-up once you’ve seasoned it.
- Secure the lid and cook the pork on low for six to eight hours or until the internal temperature reaches 185 to 190°F.
- Shred the pork with two forks and remove any pieces of fat or grisly bits. Mix to coat the meat in the juices for serving.
Notes
I don’t recommend cooking the pork on high for less time because the meat won’t be as tender. Cooking it on low allows the fat to melt slowly, which will tenderize the meat. I use a boneless picnic roast which is around three pounds and takes about sixish hours to cook. If you use a larger pork shoulder or pork butt, you will need to add more time. A bone-in pork shoulder will also take longer to cook.
Pulled pork will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days. Just store it in an airtight container.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 892mg | Potassium: 876mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 445IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 3mg
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More Recipes with Pork
- BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches – saucy sandwiches made with slow cooker pulled pork
- Pulled Pork Enchiladas – cheesy enchiladas made with leftover pulled pork
- BBQ Pork Tenderloin Tacos – easy tacos with a jicama slaw
- Roasted Pork Chops with Mustard Sauce – easy pork chop dinner with lots of flavor
I really love this slow cooker pulled pork – I hope you do, too!
Happy slow cooking,
This post was updated from the archives. It was first published in April 2023.
Yummy, great cooking tips!
We’re not fans of pork, can I use beef brisket instead? Thanks.
I haven’t tried it – sorry!