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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is a set-it-and-forget-it meal so easy that it practically makes itself.
Crock Pot pulled pork cooks a pork roast to tender perfection with just minutes of prep.
Spoon it over mac and cheese or into a roll with a scoop of coleslaw.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: This pulled pork has lots of flavor, with a homemade sauce that’s deliciously tangy and not too sweet.
- Difficulty: This recipe is easy to make.
- Technique: Once the pork is cooked, I use a gravy separator to separate the fat.
- Cooking tip: This recipe can be cooked on high or low – I find cooking on low makes it more tender. If the pork is not tender, it likely needs more time.
- Slow cooker tip: Try not to open the lid of the slow cooker; each time you open it, it takes quite a while to get back to temperature, increasing the cooking time.
- Freezing: Pulled pork freezes perfectly.
Ingredient Tips For Pulled Pork
- Pork: Look for a marbled pork roast such as boneless or bone-in pork shoulder, blade roast, pork butt, or Boston butt.
- Chili sauce (my secret ingredient): Chili sauce is one of my favorite ingredients, and it is not spicy. It’s similar to a very zesty ketchup with less sweetness. Most grocery stores have it, or you can find it on Amazon. I also use it in my meatloaf topping and on ribs.
- Dry mustard: This adds flavor, you can replace it with a teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
- Coleslaw: If possible, homemade coleslaw adds a great tangy crunch to this sweet and savory pulled pork recipe.
Variations
This pulled pork slow cooker recipe is amazingly versatile!
Spice: Have fun with zesting up the sauce. Try alternate spices like smoked paprika, liquid smoke, Tabasco, or cayenne pepper.
How to Make Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Place the seared pork in a slow cooker and pour the sauce over the top (full recipe below).
- Cover & cook until tender. Meanwhile, prepare the coleslaw.
- Shred the pork and strain the juices.
- Return shredded meat to the pot, stir in the sauce & keep it warm.
Make it once and enjoy it all week in wraps, mac and cheese, nachos, or on baked potatoes.
Storing and Reheating Pulled Pork
- Store leftover slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches separate from coleslaw in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop, oven, or in the microwave.
- Store coleslaw in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze pulled pork in zippered bags for up to 4 months.
Leftovers and Storage
- Keep leftover Crock Pot pulled pork separate from coleslaw in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Keep coleslaw refrigerated for up to 4 days
- Leftovers can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Did you love these Pulled Pork Sandwiches? Leave a rating and a comment below.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
This is the best pulled pork recipe for pleasing a crowd. Shredded pork roast is simmered in a tangy sauce and piled high on sandwich buns.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast
- 8 to 12 hamburger buns for serving
- barbecue sauce for serving, optional
Homemade Sauce
- 1 medium onion chopped
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup chili sauce like Heinz, or additional ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar firmly packed
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Coleslaw
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 5 cups coleslaw mix or finely shredded cabbage
Instructions
To Make the Pork
- For the sauce, in a medium bowl, combine onion, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, chili sauce, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard powder, and pepper in a bowl.
- Cut the pork shoulder in half and season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the pork on all sides.
- Place the seared pork in a 6-quart slow cooker and pour the prepared sauce over it, ensuring it's well coated.
- Cook the pork on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours or until it's fork-tender (to quickly check it, pull a little piece of pork, it should be very tender). If the pork is not tender, it likely needs more time, cover and cook 1 hour more. While the pork is cooking, prepare the coleslaw below.
- Remove pork from the slow cooker, discard any large pieces of fat. Remove the liquid from the slow cooker and skim any fat off the top, strain the sauce if desired.
- Shred the pork using two forks and return it to the Crockpot. Add the sauce a bit at a time to reach desired consistency.
- Drizzle with a little bit of barbecue sauce if desired.
To Make the Coleslaw
- Stir together the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. Add cabbage and toss to combine. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
To Serve
- Place slaw on rolls and pile high with pulled pork.
Video
Notes
- Avoid opening the slow cooker often. It lets heat out and will increase the cooking time.
- Bone in pork works well in this recipe, no changes in cooking times are needed.
- Check the pork quickly, if the pork is not tender, cover and cook 1 hour more and check it again.
- If the pork is ready early, turn the slow cooker to warm. The pork can rest for a few hours at warm either before or after shredding.
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon white vinegar
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon celery seeds
⅛ teaspoon salt
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 537 | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 851mg | Potassium: 930mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 257IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Entree, Pork, Slow Cooker
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Where do you use the onions? Thank you
Sorry for the confusion Grace, the onion is added to the sauce.
I cannot find molasses to save my life lol what can I use as a replacement?
I have only made this recipe as listed but using Honey or dark corn syrup in it’s place should work. I would love to hear how it turns out for you!
This is only my third time of making this recipe, so I’m not sufficiently familiar with it to remember all the components. The biggest blessing? That there were check boxes to tick as I added ingredients. Phew! Helped me realise how much time I usually waste checking I’ve added everything correctly….now I need to put check boxes on my grocery list! Note: I cut the pork loin in half and cooked each half in a separate slow cooker. What we don’t use tonight, will go in the freezer and be served to company at a later date! Thanks for the great recipes (I just froze your sautéed mushrooms and onions, also for company).
So glad you enjoyed it, Bessie!
This was yummy. I didn’t have chili sauce but, I used guava BBQ sauce and it was delicious.
Did any put both pieces of the roast in the slow cooker or was it one piece
Can I buy a pork 2x/size and would I have to double the sauce?
I would double the sauce too Eileen!
Does it matter if you don’t use light molasses. I think mine is dark.
That should work just fine!
I used this recipe with a 5 pound roast. Should I be worried that the sauce won’t be enough? What should I do?
There should be plenty of sauce. :)
If you wanted extra you could stir in some extra BBQ sauce but I don’t think you’ll need it.
I forgot celery seed at the store. Do you think I can skip it?
You can skip the celery seed although it does add nice flavor! If you happen to have celery salt on hand you could add a little bit and omit the salt. (You definitely don’t want to add the full 1/2 teaspoon of celery salt).
Thanks! I decided to buy the seeds. I actually have my roast cooking right now! :)
Enjoy! This is my bff’s favorite recipe! :)
Do I have to use yogurt , can this be left out. Not a fan
Thanks, Janet
You can certainly leave it out. You may need to add a little bit of extra mayo if you find your slaw is drier than you’d like.
Made this tonight. It was delicious! Was a hit :)
Pulled pork looks delicious, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning.
Your Pulled Pork looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you have a great week.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
A family favorite dinner for sure! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
This looks ah-MAZE-ing!!! I just ate dinner, but now I’m hungry from reading this post – haha! :) Thank you for linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!
Thank you Mary! :)
Oh my goodness, that is one seriously delicious looking sandwich!!! YUM!!!! The pulled pork looks AMAZING!!!! I love all the recipes that your share, and your photography is always just stunning!!! Love visiting your blog! :)
<3 Aw thank you so much Maria!!
Love that you can make this in the slow cooker. I love the idea of using chili sauce. Sounds delicious.
This is a must try! Love the chili sauce idea.
Love the chili sauce tips! Can’t wait to try this.
I would love to try this , but the cut of pork I have is a Pork Tenderloin. Does anyone know if this can be prepared this way with this cut? I’m unsure about the shredding.
I have made this with pork tenderloin before. If you do make it with tenderloin, keep in mind that pork tenderloin is very lean so the end result, although delicious, will not be as moist.