Description
Master the art of pulled pork with this effortless slow cooker BBQ guide. Learn essential techniques for juicy, tender meat with a flavorful balance of sweetness, tang, and smoke.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–5 lb pork shoulder
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
Instructions
- Make the Rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub it liberally over the pork.
- Sear the Pork: Pat the pork shoulder dry. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear until a deep brown crust forms, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Build the Sauce: In the same skillet, whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke. Simmer briefly to combine flavors.
- Slow Cook: Place seared pork in a slow cooker and pour sauce over. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.
- Shred & Rest: Transfer the pork to a cutting board, shred with forks, return to slow cooker, and let sit for 10 minutes to absorb juices.
- Assemble & Serve: Serve the pulled pork on buns with coleslaw and pickles, if desired.
Notes
Feel free to customize the sauce and rub to match your taste preferences. This recipe is ideal for meal prepping and leftovers can be repurposed into various dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg