Description
Pulled pork in the slow cooker captures Southern comfort with ease. Cooked until tender in a spiced sauce, it’s perfect for sandwiches or piled over rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 3/4 pound (340 grams) pork shoulder, trimmed
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Sauce and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Serving (Optional):
- Buns
- Coleslaw
Instructions
- Combine diced onions, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and aromatic spices in the slow cooker, whisking until thoroughly blended.
- Place pork roast into the seasoned sauce, ensuring complete coverage and generously seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Set slow cooker to HIGH temperature and allow meat to cook for 5-6 hours, or alternatively use LOW setting for 8-10 hours until meat becomes tender and easily pulls apart.
- Take the pork out of the slow cooker and set it on a cutting board. Shred the meat with two forks into thin strands.
- Return shredded meat back into the rich, flavorful cooking liquid, gently stirring to distribute sauce evenly and enhance overall taste and moisture.
- Serve on warm hamburger buns and, if you like, top with coleslaw or your favorite extras for a hearty meal.
Notes
- Test meat tenderness by gently pulling with forks; it should easily fall apart when fully cooked.
- Trim excess fat before cooking to reduce greasiness and create leaner pulled pork.
- For gluten-free option, use gluten-free ketchup and serve on lettuce wraps or gluten-free buns.
- Refrigerate leftovers in sauce to maintain moisture and enhance flavor for next-day meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours (on LOW) or 5-6 hours (on HIGH)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 366 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg