Weeknight Dinner: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Creating mouthwatering pulled pork for your family is as easy as turning on your slow cooker!
Photo: Lindsey Paris
Pulled pork is a staple of the South. Being from Georgia, I've grown up on delectable selections of barbecue and nothing is better than a slow-cooked pork butt (also called Boston butt or pork shoulder) drizzled with sauce and served up with Southern sides like mac 'n cheese, fried okra, or collards.
While smoking or roasting pork can be labor-intensive, utilizing a slow cooker makes pulled pork effortless!
Combine just a few ingredients with your trimmed butt in the slow cooker, and let it sit for 8-10 hours. The long cook time ensures the most tender meat and peak flavor. It's the perfect weeknight dinner!
When your pork is done, all you do is remove it from the slow cooker and shred. (Pro Tip! Meat shredding claws are a fantastic, easy way to shred the meat to the perfect texture in seconds. They're inexpensive and can also be used to shred chicken, toss salads, and remove items from hot trays.)
If you're unsure how much pork to purchase, plan on each dinner guest eating a 1/3 pound. Double the recipe as needed, using extra slow cookers. (Game day, anyone?)
Note: Changing any of the ingredients will drastically change the flavor and tenderness of the pork! With this simple recipe, you can enjoy pulled pork barbecue at a fraction of the restaurant price, but with all of the flavor and Southern tradition of home!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
3-4 pound boneless pork butt (also called a Boston butt or a pork shoulder)
Several ounces Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1 24-ounce bottle Pepsi Soda
1 18-ounce bottle Sweet Baby Ray's Original BBQ Sauce
1 18-ounce bottle Sticky Fingers Carolina Sweet BBQ Sauce
Trim the excess fat from the pork butt.
Rub all sides of the butt liberally with Lawry's Seasoned Salt so that all surfaces are completely covered.
Place the pork in your slow cooker, either sprayed with cooking spray or lined with a slow cooker liner. (This makes clean up a snap!)
Photo: Lindsey Paris
Pour the entire 18 ounce bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's sauce over the butt. Follow with the entire 24 ounce bottle of Pepsi, taking care not to over-foam the soda.
Turn the slow cooker on low, and cook for 8 to 10 hours, not exceeding 10 hours.
After cooking time has completed, remove the butt from the slow cooker and drain. Discard all juices. Shred the butt on a cutting board or platter.
Serve the pulled pork with generously drizzled Sticky Finger's Sweet Carolina sauce.
Want more slow cooker recipes perfect for weeknight dinners? See these three totally different, totally delicious recipes:
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Recipe »
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Noodle Soup »
Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta Recipe »
