This Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe makes tender pulled pork that’s packed with flavor. It makes the BEST pulled pork sandwiches! This easy recipe only uses 5 ingredients and can also be made in the Instant Pot.
Looking for more recipes like this? Check out my Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja, Crockpot Ham, and this Crockpot Pot Roast!
Tender Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Who loves easy meals? Right now, the easier the better for our family, I’m sure most everyone agrees! This Pulled Pork is such an effortless dinner idea. Just five ingredients and into the crock pot it goes. I don’t always think ahead to use my crock pot, but when I do it really helps take a big weight off my shoulders.
This Crock Pot Pulled Pork is one of my family’s favorite meals and makes enough leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day! If you’re in a time crunch, it can also be made in the Instant Pot! However, I do have to admit, I find it gets a little more tender when it’s slow cooked all day in the crockpot instead.
What You’ll Need
One of the reasons I love this recipe so much is that it only uses FIVE ingredients. That’s it!
- Pork butt – You can also use pork shoulder.
- Coke
- Garlic salt
- Chili powder
- BBQ sauce – I recommend Sweet Baby Ray’s Original
What Cut Of Meat to Use
For a classic pulled pork, a pork shoulder is the go-to. You might also see it referred to as a Boston Butt or pork butt. This will provide the moistest result for your pulled pork.
I personally prefer a boneless cut of pork, in my opinion, it’s a lot easier to work with. However, I have even used pork tenderloin in the past. It shreds well, it is just a leaner cut of pork, so the final dish will be a little dryer. However, once you add bbq sauce, it’s still delicious!
My motto is to use what you’ve got, but if you can, use a pork shoulder!
Can I use a different type of soda?
You don’t have to use Coke to make this recipe! I have family members tell me they use diet coke, coke zero, dr pepper or any other dark soda! Use whichever soda you have on hand!
How to Make Pulled Pork in the Crock Pot
Seriously, I’m not kidding you when I say it is one of the easiest recipes, ever! This pulled pork is made in the crock pot and it does most of the work for you.
- Place your pork into the crock pot and season with garlic salt and chili powder.
- Pour the coke a cola into the crock pot. Try adding it to the sides to prevent losing most of the seasoning off your meat. Please note: the pork does not have to be fully submerged.
- Cover the crock pot and set it to cook on low for 8 hours.
- Remove most of the liquid. Once the pork has finished cooking, remove the pork from the crock pot and discard most of the liquid, saving some to help keep the pork moist.
- Place the pork back into the crock pot and shred using two forks.
- Add the BBQ Sauce and combine. Leave the crock pot on warm until you are ready to serve.
We love our pulled pork best when made with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and served with tons of onions, pickles and on a potato bun.
Can I Make this Recipe in the Instant Pot?
Yes! It is such a versatile recipe that it is easy to convert to the Instant Pot! Follow the standard directions, but instead of using a crock pot, cook on manual high pressure for 75 minutes with a natural pressure release!
Ways to Use Pulled Pork
If you happen to have any leftovers, there are so many ways you can use them up. My family is honestly always excited when we have leftover pulled pork, because it means some delirious dinners (or breakfast!) are coming!
- Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Added to scrambled eggs or an omelet
- Pulled Pork Crescent Ring
- Use it in tacos – top with onion and corn relish! You can also use this to make burritos or quesadillas.
- On top of homemade mac and cheese for an epic dinner
- Stuff it into popovers and top it with melty cheese. It’s like a bready taco.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Let your pulled pork come to room temperature, then store it in the fridge in an air tight container. It will keep for 4-5 days. When you’re ready to reheat, you can heat it in the microwave. I like to put the amount I want to eat in a bowl, then cover that bowl with a plate to prevent splattering and to hold in extra moisture.
Can I Freeze Extras?
Yep! You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months, for optional freshness.
This is the easiest and most delicious pulled pork recipe I have made. Trust me, I’ve tried my fair share! Please leave a review or comment below letting me know how this recipe turns out for your family! Enjoy!
Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork butt, or a pork shoulder
- 2 liter coke
- 3 tablespoons garlic salt
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 1 to 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce, I recommend Sweet Baby Ray’s Original
Instructions
- Place pork into crock pot and season entire pork with garlic salt and chili powder.
- Pour the coke in adding just enough coke to almost cover pork — you do not need to cover meat completely.
- Cook on low for 8 hours. It can cook longer, no worries if it has to sit a little longer.
- Remove pork from crock pot and discard 97% of coke mixture…leaving just a little behind to help moisten the pork.
- Place the pork back into the crockpot (or in a large bowl) and then use two large forks to shred the meat.
- Add BBQ sauce and combine (above it says 1 to 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, which just means add as much, or as little, as you like).
- Leave slow cooker on low, or warm, to keep things hot until you are ready to serve.
- Store leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight conatiner, for up to 5 days.
- INSTANT POT: Cook on manual high pressure for 75 minutes. Do a natural pressure release. Then follow directions from #4 down.
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The sugar in the Coke is what helps break down and tenderize the meat. For additional flavor and tenderizer action… use a large can of condensed frozen orange juice combined with the Coke. Also, be sure to give the shoulder or butt a healthy rub and then braise the meat in a cast iron skillet before slow cooking.
Made this for my family tonight. I was so nervous about using the coke, but I figured worst case we can just make something else. This recipe was so delicious I was calling people in from different rooms to try it while I was still dishing it up.
This looks delish! I moved to Florida a little over 10 years ago from Chicago. Since moving here I’ve found that Florida doesn’t have the best food scene. I’m use to some of the most delicious food and amazing restaurants being in my backyard. It’s not the same here. There are good restaurants here, but they are definitely harder to come by. Luckily, I go back to Chicago a couple times a year to see my Dad and stepmom so I get as many of my fave restaurants in as possible. Since the food is hit or miss here in Florida I’m always looking for amazing recipes online. I’ve found so many great ones here on your blog. Thank you for the delish recipes and great inspiration.
OH my gosh! I made this last night and it was AMAZING!!! Your recipes are amazing and great for people who don’t cook a lot (like me). Thank You and I will definitely be trying many more!!!
I made this today and it was super easy! Popped into the crock pot this morning before work, came home 10 hours later and took it out. Was super tender and easy to shred, put BBQ sauce on it and let it heat up a little more while I made some corn to go with it. Didn’t taste any coke at all, but it was still delicious! TFTR!
So glad you liked it! It’s one of my all time favorite tailgate dinners! And no, the coke is to help cook and tenderize the meat…not as much for flavor. :-)
Made this tonight, delicious! Sweet Baby Rays was definitely a great choice. I now have a very satisfied (and stuffed!) husband!
I am so making this soon! I have a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s in the pantry just begging to be used up. I love love love barbecue (yes, pulled pork is barbecue to me, I’m from Florida!) and this sandwich looks fabulous!
Almost forgot – Your crock pot pulled pork looks delicious! I’m with you on the Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce. I prefer to mix the sweet brown sugar and the spicy one together.
Not sure where you are in Florida but if you are anywhere near my area head over to Goldrush BBQ in Venice – they serve a delicious BBQ beef brisket! :-)
all hail the mighty brisket….I’m Texan so I know brisket, and Sweet Baby Rays we buy this sauce all the time, great recipe…we also love a good brisket taco…
sweetlife
that looks so good!
Oh man, I have got to make this!!
I love brisket and have eaten it several times – once even in Texas!! I do love pulled pork, though, and this recipe sounds wonderful!
NOBODY knows brisket/BBQ the way TX does. Sad fact!
I love the idea of using Coke with this! I’m sure it really helps out the flavor and the breakdown to get it nice and tender!
How funny, I’m making this as well this weekend for my little cousin’s graduation party. I’m using good ole root beer or BEER as my soaking solution. hehe
This looks pretty tasty!
I always wanted to make this! My Dad would love it. This looks delicious! Nice and tender and flavorful.
This looks so yum and awesome!
pulled pork is something near and dear to my heart, and i’m OH-so-picky about it. i like lots and lots of sauce (sweet baby ray’s is a favorite of mine, too!), some crisp, cool slaw on top, and a beefy kaiser roll to hold everything together. gadzooks–is 7 am too early for barbecue? :)
lovely photo…with professional touch…superb
This sandwich looks so good! I love the potato bun :) When my neighbor graduated from high school, her uncle came up from Texas and made brisket for her graduation party. Best. thing. ever. :)
I must admit Massachusetts, where I live, is probably way worse with our knowledge of good barbecue. That is why I am thrilled to see your recipe. It sounds so good. Love that it is in the crockpot! Thanks for recommending the barbecue sauce too. I can never find one I like. I would love to go to Texas someday just to try real authentic barbecue:)
you had me at slow cooked!
xo Alison
I’ve finally come around to enjoying different kinds of bbq sauces. And, I love the magic of Coke when slow cooking.
This post cracked me up. We are from North Carolina and think you Texans and Floridians don’t know how to do BBQ ;)
We are military so we’ve actually lived in both Texas and Florida so we’ve got to sample all the different variations. I think it’s all about what you are brought up on. Love the post girl :)
Mmmmm, great photo ;) !!!
Hey Jessica, my Cauldron Boy just came back from Dallas complaining about how there is no good BBQ or any type of good food at all here. So I’m sure he’d love your proper Texas brisket in tangy sauce.
p.s. We live in St. Pete and are possibly moving to Texas soon…
Looks good! I like the sound of using the coke in this recipe!
I loooove brisket; so much! I have never made it myself before and I must say I am surprised to see Coke in there. But you are from Texas where BBQ is king; so I trust you!
I was reading this late last night and was really excited. I have never made my own pulled pork dish, I think my hubbie will love the fact that you use coke! You think it would taste funny if I used diet coke instead?
This looks crazy delicious! Pulled pork is one of my favorite meals…perfectly summer =)
Oh my gosh!! That looks absolutely delicious! You are an awesome photographer too! I will definitely be trying this!
Jessica, what a beautiful blog and what tasty looking food! I must admit, however, that BBQ has never been something I could wholeheartedly love. I think it’s actually my aversion to BBQ sauce that does it – in my opinion when the meat is so wonderfully slow-cooked and beautiful sloshing it in thick, gloppy BBQ sauce ruins it… but then maybe that’s because I’ve only ever had thick & gloppy BBQ sauce! Who knows what the BBQ world would hold for me were I to try your variation…
Also, I regularly make Coca-Cola ham, so this doesn’t sound mad to me at all! It gives it a beautifully smokey and caramelised flavour – love it, so good call!
Jax x
I do love pulled pork, but nothing can beat a good brisket! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Cheers
Dennis
When I lived in Florida I used to make a recipe that is very similar to this. Looking at it makes me want to make it again, only problem is I don’t have a crockpot here…
This looks like the perfect thing for a 4th of July get-together! My fiance loves pulled pork sandwiches – and I have to say, me too!:)
This is what I miss from my life in the States. i just love this type of food. This brisket looks delicious.
Wow! this look seriously good! I am drooling!
wow Jessica, this pulled pork only has only 5 ingredients, very simple and delicious!
Thanks for passing from my blog. Never had anything like this before but it certainly sounds delicious.
Thanks for visiting my blog today! I love brisket and never thought of using coke, but it looks and sounds like a delicious way to cook a brisket!
I also love your popsicle recipe below, definitely a great low calorie sweet option. I loved how you have it labeled as “ass friendly” – LOL!
Ohhh, I know what you mean about the brisket! I moved to Oklahoma and discovered it for the first time, then moved to California and they’d never heard of it!! What loss! This pulled pork looks fantastic – so juicy and flavorful. :-)
I like that you added coke to this pulled pork. It truly does help tenderize the meat. This sandwich looks so good! Btw, there’s a giveaway for an All-Clad pan on my blog, if you’re interested in entering.
I guess now that I live in Virginia, almost the Carolinas I should learn how to make pulled pork. Really a 1 bottle of coke… yummy
Jessica, that sandwich is enough to make even one who has just finished eating hungry. It is a really nice and almost effortless recipe. I love your blog and your recipes. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings…Mary
I’ve lived in Texas and Tennessee, and I love BBQ! Pulled pork is my favorite. I’ve made it in my slow cooker, but I haven’t included Coke. I will have to try this. Yours looks so much more juicy than mine.
Looks great…I love BBQ…I prefer pork to beef.
I do miss a good’ol pulled pork sandwich!
Oh yum. I love pulled pork. Especially easy pulled pork that doesn’t sit in my oven for 13 hours!!!
If you’re missing good brisket you have to come visit me in Orlando. We have a fairly new BBQ place – Four Rivers – which is AMAZING and known for their delicious brisket. They serve it sliced and also chopped on a sandwich. SOOO GOOD.
You’re a gal after my own heart. Pulled pork ranks up there as one of my most favorite meals ever. I have never tried it with Coke!! Will definitely be trying your recipe very soon!
I do love my pulled pork but I have a fine appreciation for brisket and chicken, too. Where I grew up, up here in NC, barbecue is… pulled pork. :) I also like it on potato rolls, but we serve it with slaw. Not coleslaw, just “slaw.” ;)
I’ve had “Coca-cola ham” before, but will definitely have to give this a try next time I do pork butt in the crock pot! OH, and you have to watch this…
http://rhettandlink.com/videos/index.php?key=bbq-song#
I make pulled pork quite often, never thought to use coke. I can see it being quite tasty though. The picture certainly looks it!
Mmmmm!! Pulled pork is one of those things I love if it’s done well but can’t stand if it’s not. I’ve never made it at home but since I’m so picky with restaurant pork I’ll have to try this out. Time to make use out of that dusty crock pot!
Oh my gosh, this looks mouthwatering! I have a very similar recipe on my blog, too. I love how you used Coke though – I’ve never heard of that before! I could eat this every single day, mmmm.
Oh yum, and great photo!