This southern style Slow Cooker Pulled Pork couldn’t be easier! With just 5 minutes of prep time, this foolproof recipe is a great way to feed a crowd or to take care of dinner while you’re busy doing other things.
When I think of barbecue, pulled pork is at the top of my list. It’s a genuine staple in the South. If you’re ever invited to a Southerner’s home for a get-together, you’re likely to encounter a slow cooker full of this shredded pork goodness!
There’s nothing else quite like Southern BBQ pulled pork shoulder. It’s slow-cooked all day long with the fat side up, infusing itself with wonderful flavors. My mouth is watering just writing about it. And here’s the clincher — it’s super simple!
All you need is a pork shoulder (Boston butt), a slow cooker or instant pot with a slow cooker setting, and six simple ingredients, four of which barely even count.
— This post was originally published on November 29, 2010. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
Recipe Snapshot
Cuisine: Southern
Cooking Method: Slow Cooker
Total Time: 8 Hours, 15 Minutes
Servings: 16
Primary Ingredient(s): Boston Butt (Pork Shoulder Roast), Garlic Powder, Barbecue Sauce
Skill Level: Easy
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is the best pulled pork recipe out there! I took it to work and everyone loved it!”
— Ginger
“I made this yesterday and it was delicious! Yes, the prep time was right on for me, which was another plus. Thanks for the reheating tip because I ate this again today and it was so good. The tenderness and flavor stood out.”
— Robbie
What Makes This Recipe Special
This is a recipe you’ll come to rely on because it does exactly what it promises. You season the pork, set it in the slow cooker, and let time do the work. There’s no babysitting and no complicated technique involved.
The pork cooks low and slow until it’s tender enough to shred easily, with plenty of flavor built in. Once it’s done, you can finish it with your favorite barbecue sauce and serve it however you like.
It’s dependable, flexible, easy to fit into real life, and delivers consistent results without making extra work for you.
What is Pulled Pork?
Pulled pork is simply a slow-cooked pork roast that has spent a day basting in its own juices (remember, put the fat side up!) It becomes so tender that the meat literally falls apart.
If it sounds really simple, that’s because it is! And when you make your BBQ pulled pork in a slow cooker, it’s almost child’s play. Just pop that big roast in the cooker, set it, and forget it.
You could start this before you leave for work and have dinner ready when you walk back in the door. It’s also great on a busy Saturday when you have lots of errands to run. It’s wonderful for no special reason at all…just because you want some smoky southern BBQ pulled pork :-)
Ingredient Notes
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- Pork Shoulder Roast (Boston Butt) – You can cook as large a roast as your crockpot will hold. When purchasing, keep in mind that one pound of uncooked pork should feed about 2-3 people, depending, of course, on portion sizes. Pork shoulder loses a good bit of weight during cooking, so one pound of raw, uncooked pork shoulder will cook down to just over one-half pound after the fat has rendered.
- Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder – The spices are kept simple so the barbecue’s flavor shines through!
- Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite recipe or bottled barbecue sauce. I always make my own, but I know that Sweet Baby Ray’s is a popular purchased sauce.
- Water
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
You’ll also find this recipe in my cookbook!
You can see this recipe on page 197 of my cookbook, My Southern Table! Get your signed copy today.
How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Pro Tip
You’ll want a three to four-pound pork shoulder roast (or Boston Butt) for this. One side of the roast will have a cap of fat all over it – don’t remove the fat cap! The fat gives great flavor to the pork while it continually bastes the roast as it melts and drips down, preventing it from drying out while it cooks.
- Place the pork roast in a crockpot with the fatty side up.
- Sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add just 1/4 cup of water around the roast. Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours.
- Remove the roast from the slow cooker and discard any large, visible pieces of fat.
- Pour the cooking juices into a fat separator cup and set it aside while you pull the pork. (Notice how the fat has separated and risen to the top, making it easy to strain off.)
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- Using two forks or “meat shredding claws,” pull the pork into shreds. If you do this on a plastic cutting board, it can go straight into the dishwasher to make your life a little easier.
- Return the pulled meat to the cooker along with the de-fatted cooking juices and barbecue sauce. Stir it together to coat the shredded pork well.
- Cook for an additional hour. Serve on toasted buns for the perfect Southern BBQ pulled pork sandwich!
Recipe Tips
- Put the pork in the slow cooker fat side up. It bastes the meat as it cooks and keeps everything moist.
- Stick with low heat and give it the full cook time.
- When the roast is done, remove any big pieces of fat before you start shredding.
- After shredding, stir the pork with the defatted juices and barbecue sauce, then let it cook that extra hour for the best flavor.
Serving Suggestions
To serve the pulled pork as sandwiches, you can make sliders or just a big pulled pork sandwich with dill pickles and plenty of barbecue sauce on a toasted hamburger bun.
To make it into a meal, you can always go with the traditional sides of baked beans and potato salad. Or try fresh corn, KFC copycat coleslaw, fire and ice tomatoes, or sweet and sour cucumber salad.
You can also make a delicious dinner plate with crispy fried okra, homemade macaroni and cheese, potato salad, sour cream and onion cornbread, and a slice of chocolate cake for dessert… YUM!
Storing and Reheating
Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container for about four days. It’s also great to freeze for nights when you’re just too busy to cook. Transfer any leftover meat with its liquid to a freezer safe, ziptop bag. Be sure to remove as much air as possible. Freeze for 4-6 months. Then simply thaw, reheat, and serve!
To reheat, I recommend placing it in the oven or slow cooker. Microwaving can cause the pork to dry out and become tough. Before reheating, allow the meat to come to room temperature. Heat in a slow cooker for about an hour, or in the oven at 250°F for about 30 minutes.
Questions About Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This is one recipe where I would not recommend substituting any other cut of meat. The cut really does make all the difference. You want a pork shoulder roast, also known as a Boston butt. Note that barbecue restaurants typically use the entire shoulder, but that’s hard to find at a retail grocery store. Pork shoulder roast (Boston butt) is widely available.
Fat side up ALWAYS on any meat that you are slow roasting, whether in a slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the oven. Placing the fat side up provides a steady source of moisture and evenly bastes the roast all during the cooking time.
A pork shoulder with a nice thick cap of fat, cooked low and slow, will take care of itself. The fat slowly melts as the roast cooks, providing a source of constant basting to the meat underneath. I can’t imagine how anyone could wind up with a dry shoulder roast cooked by this method 😊
More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Like
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
Slow Cooker Bread Pudding
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Slow Cooker Asian Style Wings
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 4 pound pork shoulder roast (Boston Butt)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Put the pork roast into the slow cooker with the fatty side up.4 pound pork shoulder roast
- Sprinkle the roast liberally with salt, pepper and garlic powder.Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
- Add just 1/4 cup of water around the roast. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours.¼ cup water
- Remove the roast from the cooker and discard the visible pieces of fat.
- Pour the cooking juices into a fat separator cup and set it aside while you pull the pork.
- Using two forks, “pull” the pork into shreds.
- Return the pulled meat to the cooker along with the de-fatted cooking juices and barbecue sauce.1 cup barbecue sauce
- Cook for an additional hour.
Notes
- One side of the roast will have a cap of fat all over it – don’t remove that, it gives great flavor to the pork. It also continually bastes the roast as it melts and drips down preventing it from drying out while you cook it.
- Keep leftovers refrigerated in a tightly sealed container for about four days. To freeze, transfer meat with its liquid to a freezer safe, ziptop bag or other container. Freeze for 4-6 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
Sounds marvelous! I make mine in the slow cooker too :)
Okay, here’s a hint, I need one of those fat separator cups for Christmas. Of course, if you could manage a way to separate fat from my thighs, that would be better…….
Miss P
If I could work out how to keep the fat off our thighs, I’d be a wealthy woman.
Hi,
Do you have a favorite BBQ sauce? The sandwich looks delicious. :) -Tien
Hi Tien. I use only my homemade barbecue sauce. Most of the commercial ones are just too sweet for me.
it’s not lunchtime yet Lana but boy howdy, do i want one of those!!!
Wish I could wrap one up and transport it right over to you, Debra! Did you want chips and a pickle with that?
One of my favorites too for sure!
It’s a favorite at our house, too! Thanks for stopping by, Mary.
My favorite BBQ meal is pulled pork. This looks delicious! And I love the ease and peace of mind using my slow cooker. Excellent!!
This looks delicious…and so simple! I love slow cooker recipes!
looks pretty darn tasty! I would loke to sink my teeth into some of that right this instant. Can you make that happen, please?
Meet you halfway between here and there with a couple of sandwiches :-)
pulled pork is a southern tradition and anyone with a drawl in their gabble ought to have a handful of great recipes just like this one….
Well, well. Proof that great minds really do think alike :-) Had no idea you’d just posted pulled pork yesterday! Love your combination of spices.
lovely and awesome, I love the way the pork being pulled gorgeous! :)
Love the simplicity of this recipe. This is a favorite in my household- need to make it soon!
Hi Liz – Hope you will make it and your family enjoys it as much as ours!
Pulled pork is one of my all-time favorite main courses, but I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never actually cooked it. Rather, I always buy it as take-out from my favorite local smokehouse. You’ve really inspired me here to get with the program, finally buy a crock pot, and make it myself. Many thanks for this excellent recipe, Lana!
You’re quite welcome, Barbara. Hope you’ll give it a try!
This looks delish! I will have to make something similar (Grumpy has stopped eating pork!) I love your recipe!
Thanks, Shelby! You could also use this same recipe with boneless, skinless chicken to make pulled bbq chicken.
There is nothing better than knowing that there is a pork roast cooking in the crockpot, ready to full apart and eat by dinner time. Perfect recipe for these cold evenings.
Isn’t it nice to come home to something ready in the slow cooker after a long, cold day?
Looks great! That’s how I like it too, maybe just a splash of vinegar-dinner is served:@)
What’s great about this kind of recipe is that you can add spices and seasonings to suit your personal tastes. Add a little vinegar, use a different sauce…whatever you like!
Thanx for this recipe … Got my shoulder roast in the crock pot as we speak.
I really hope you enjoy it, Cheri!
it doesnt say cook on high or cook on low? any one?
It depends somewhat on your brand of slow cooker, but I cook it on low for 7 hours with one additional hour in the slow cooker after pulling.