Slow Cooker Coca Cola Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Coca Cola Pulled Pork: my families favorite easy recipe for bbq pulled pork is made in a slow cooker or instant pot and only uses five ingredients!
When I moved to Florida, from Texas, I discovered something truly heart breaking for this BBQ loving girl.
Floridians have NO IDEA what a brisket is. None. In Florida it’s all ribs, chicken and pulled pork.
In Texas, BBQ = Brisket. Brisket is a tough piece of beef that is smoked until it is deliciously tender.
It is served with a warm, tangy, thin — almost spicy — bbq sauce. And it’s my favorite thing ever.
Then we moved to Florida and my bbq ways had to be adjusted. In Florida, they always use a sweet, thick BBQ sauce.
My family and I were originally surprised after stopping at multiple places claiming they had the BEST BBQ EVER, to find pulled pork.
But after trying it multiple times, and having it made in different ways, we discovered that we do enjoy it.
It is definitely not the same as a true Texas Brisket…but it does make for a tasty crockpot dinner!
I love my pulled pork made with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and served with tons of onions, pickles and on a potato bun.
This recipe is crazy simple and only calls for FIVE easy ingredients that you dump in a crock pot!
We always use coca cola, but you can use any dark soda you prefer (like Dr. Pepper or even diet soda).
You drain out all of the soda before you shred the meat, so you really aren’t eating all of that soda. It’s just a cooking method.
We use a ton of garlic salt and chili powder, because as I said, most of it will be removed when you dump out the soda from the pot.
The recipe calls for a pork butt or shoulder, but know you can use other cuts of pork as well.
I even use pork tenderloins and it shreds great as well, it’s just a leaner cut of pork.
UPDATE: This post has been updated on 5/31/18, but the recipe is still the same! I just added new photos and a video!
Slow Cooker Coca Cola Pulled Pork
Ingredients:
- 1 (3 lb) pork butt (or picnic roast or pork shoulder)
- 2 liter Coke
- 3 tablespoons garlic salt
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 to 1 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (I recommend Sweet Baby Ray’s Original)
Directions:
- 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.
TNCB
Other delicious ways to use any pulled pork leftovers:
Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Pulled Pork and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas
Above is the original photo from 2010!
Oh yum, and great photo!
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.
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!
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#
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!
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.
I make pulled pork quite often, never thought to use coke. I can see it being quite tasty though. The picture certainly looks it!
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I do miss a good’ol pulled pork sandwich!
Looks great…I love BBQ…I prefer pork to beef.
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.
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 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
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.
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. 🙂
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!
Thanks for passing from my blog. Never had anything like this before but it certainly sounds delicious.
wow Jessica, this pulled pork only has only 5 ingredients, very simple and delicious!
Wow! this look seriously good! I am drooling!
This is what I miss from my life in the States. i just love this type of food. This brisket looks delicious.
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!:)
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…
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
Oh my gosh!! That looks absolutely delicious! You are an awesome photographer too! I will definitely be trying this!
This looks crazy delicious! Pulled pork is one of my favorite meals…perfectly summer =)
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?
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!
Looks good! I like the sound of using the coke in this recipe!
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…
Mmmmm, great photo 😉 !!!
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 🙂
I’ve finally come around to enjoying different kinds of bbq sauces. And, I love the magic of Coke when slow cooking.
you had me at slow cooked!
xo Alison
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:)
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. 🙂
lovely photo…with professional touch…superb
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? 🙂
This looks so yum and awesome!
I always wanted to make this! My Dad would love it. This looks delicious! Nice and tender and flavorful.
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!
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!
I love brisket and have eaten it several times – once even in Texas!! I do love pulled pork, though, and this recipe sounds wonderful!
Oh man, I have got to make this!!
that looks so good!
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
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! 🙂
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.
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!
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Made this tonight, delicious! Sweet Baby Rays was definitely a great choice. I now have a very satisfied (and stuffed!) husband!
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. 🙂
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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!!!
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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.
Mhhh yummy. Pulled pork is one of my favourite meats. But it is important to use good meat. A friend of mine has a smoker and I always can’t wait for summer to help him preparing the pulled pork and eat it later.
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