A spice-rubbed pork shoulder that cooks all day in the slow cooker and shreds with a fork.
Prep15 min
Cook8 hr
Total8 hr 15 min
Serves8
LevelEasy
What makes it special
Pork shoulder
Smoked paprika
Brown sugar
BBQ sauce
This slow cooker pulled pork is the easy dinner you start in the morning and forget until the house smells amazing. A pork shoulder with a simple spice rub cooks slowly over onions until it falls apart.
Shred it, stir in barbecue sauce and a splash of vinegar and you have a big batch for sandwiches, tacos or rice bowls.
Serve it on soft buns with coleslaw, or freeze the extra for a busy week.
Fall-apart tender slow cooker pulled pork with a simple spice rub and barbecue sauce. Serves 8 with 15 minutes of prep.
Pork Easy American
Prep
15 min
Cook
8 hr
Total
8 hr 15 min
Servings
8
Ingredients 12 items
Tap to check off as you go
For the pork
For the rub
To finish
Instructions 6 steps
1
Make the rub
Mix the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper in a small bowl.
2
Rub the pork
Pat the pork dry and rub the spice mix all over it.
3
Fill the slow cooker
Spread the onion slices on the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker, pour in the broth and set the pork on top.
4
Cook low and slow
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours, until the pork shreds easily.
5
Shred
Move the pork to a board and shred it with two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat.
6
Add the sauce
Stir the barbecue sauce and vinegar into the juices, return the pork to the slow cooker and toss for 10 minutes on warm. Serve on soft buns with coleslaw.
Nutrition per serving
Calories
380
Protein
34g
Carbs
22g
Fat
17g
Sugar
17g
Fiber
1g
Sodium
920mg
Questions, answered
Can I use a bone-in shoulder?
Yes. Cook it the same way and remove the bone before shredding.
Can I cook it from frozen?
Thaw it first for safe, even cooking.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It reheats well and tastes even better the next day.
How do I store leftovers?
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Recipe by
Denise
Home cook, baker and serial recipe tweaker. I share the dishes my family asks for most, written step by step so they turn out right in your kitchen too.
