Making slow cooker pulled pork might sound daunting but it really isn’t. It’s actually super simple to put together and it only takes 4 ingredients. I even have a surprise recipe included to make this pulled pork recipe even better…but you have to keep reading to find out what it is!
I’ll be honest. I have been completely avoiding perfecting a pulled pork recipe in the slow cooker for some time now.
I really don’t know why but I thought cooking a whole pork butt in the crockpot was a lot of work with a great chance of it coming out tough and nothing like the shredded piece of delicious meat I am used to eating at barbecue joints… Boy, was I wrong!
Not only was this pork recipe really easy to make but I only need 4 ingredients to make it! Now, I don’t have to go out and find me some mediocre pulled pork sandwich- I can make it myself!
Video: How to Make Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ready to see how to make this yummy meal? Watch this quick video and learn how to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pulled Pork
Before I share my slow cooker shredded pulled pork recipe, here are a few questions I have gotten from our readers that I wanted to share:
What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?
For this recipe, I have found that the two best cuts of meat to use is either the pork butt or the pork shoulder. These two pieces of meat are often mistaken to be the same cut of meat but actually they are not.
While they both come from a pig, the pork butt can actually be found just above the pork shoulder. Both are fatty and delicious and work perfectly for this dish. You can’t go wrong with either!
How do you keep pulled pork moist?
After shredding the pork, I always place it back into the crockpot with all the leftover juices and let it marinate for a few minutes so the shreds can soak up some of the moisture.
What kind of buns are best with pulled pork?
In my opinion, I love to serve this bbq pulled pork on three different types of bread:
- Sesame bun
- Hawaiian bread
- Brioche bun
They each give the pork a little something different but they are all equally delicious!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Guess what? I have a surprise… two recipes in one! Not only do I have a recipe to make the pulled pork in the slow cooker but I also have a recipe to make your own homemade pork dry rub!
First, here is the list of ingredients you need to make the pulled pork:
- Boneless pork butt
- Chicken broth
- White vinegar
- Dry rub (enough to evenly coat all side of pork butt)
Yup, I’m serious… it only 4 ingredients to make slow cooker pulled pork. It’s that simple!
How To Make Your Own Dry Rub At Home
While it might a quicker solution to grab some premade dry rub at the store next to the BBQ sauce, this quick and simple homemade dry rub is too delicious to pass up! There’s just something about a freshly made dry rub that just really elevates the flavor of pork butt.
You probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry already!
Here are the spices you will need to out this dry rub together:
- Light brown sugar
- Sea salt
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Cumin
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
To make this rub, mix everything well with a whisk and store it in an airtight container. I prefer to use small mason jars when making this recipe. You can adjust this recipe for the dry according to your own flavor profile!
It will store for approximately 4 months!
How To Make Pulled Pork for Sandwiches
With a sharp knife, create diagonal lines on pork butt (non-fatty side).
Cover and rub the dry rub seasoning all over the pork butt until it is well coated.
Don’t be shy, use a lot of rub into the pork! This will probably just under a cup of rub.
Add the chicken broth and white vinegar to the slow cooker. Place the pork butt into the crockpot while placing the side of the fattier side of the pork facing down.
Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for approximately 10 hours.
Remove pork from slow cooker into a big bowl or a cutting board. Shred the pork with forks and remove any excess fat pieces you don’t want.
Return pork back to slow cooker and allow it to marinate for 20 minutes before serving.
Drizzle your favorite BBQ sauce and serve it up on some toasty buns!
Cooking Tip
Place the pork butt with the fattier side on the bottom. This helps to render the fat from the pork and to cook the pork in it to create more flavor.
What To Serve With BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
While I could easily enjoy this BBQ pulled pork sandwich on its own, I also love to serve this meat dish with some:
- Pickles
- Coleslaw
- Potato chips
- Veggies
- Mac and cheese
Other Ways To Serve Pulled Pork
If pulled pork sandwiches aren’t for you, that’s okay!
You can easily take the delicious marinated pork and serve it as:
- Stuffed baked potato– Replace the chicken for the pork in this recipe and finish it off with all of your favorite baked potato toppings (cheese, sour cream, etc.).
- Nachos– I LOVE to spread some of this pulled pork over some tortillas and drizzle (okay, pour) some of my slow cooker queso dip… WOW! It’s so good!
- Fries– Don’t want to eat tortilla chips? Swap them out for crispy french fries!
Whichever one you decide, the pulled pork will really shine and explode with flavor.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
If you loved these Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches, check out some of our best recipes from The Slow Cooking Club:
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
Dry Rub for Pork Butt
- 1 cup Light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Sea salt
- 4 tablespoons Smoked paprika
- 1/2 tablespoons Black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Ingredients for Pulled Pork
- 4 ½ pound Boneless pork butt
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon White vinegar
- Dry rub (enough to evenly coat all side of pork butt)
Instructions
- With a sharp knife, create diagonal lines on the pork butt.
- Cover and rub the dry rub seasoning all over the pork butt until it is well coated. Don’t be shy, use a lot of rub into the pork. This will probably just under a cup of rub.
- Add chicken broth and white vinegar to slow cooker, and place the pork butt into it while placing the side of the fattier side of the pork facing down.
- Cover and cook on low for approximately 10 hours.
- Remove pork from slow cooker into a big bowl or a cutting board. Shred pork with forks, and remove any excess fat pieces you don’t want. Return pork back to slow cooker and allow to marinate for 20 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Notes
- Place the pork butt with the fattier side at the bottom to help render the fat from the pork, and to cook the pork in it to create more flavor.
How much of each ingredient to make the dry rub?