This easy crockpot pulled pork recipe creates smoky, juicy and tender pulled pork that’s sure to be a hit! With just 5 simple ingredients and very minimal prep, this hands-off recipe lets the slow cooker do all the hard work while you enjoy the mouthwatering results.
Why I Love This Saucy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
When I first moved to Florida almost 20 years ago, pulled pork was a brand new discovery. In Texas, it wasn’t commonly served at the local BBQ joints at the time. Thankfully our new neighbor shared her amazing pulled pork recipe with us, and we’ve been making it this way ever since. The tender, juicy meat coated in sweet and smoky bbq sauce is now a staple at any large gathering as it is always a crowd favorite. Here’s why I think you will love this recipe too:
- Juicy and Tender: Allowing the pork to slow cook all day in the crockpot leaves you with juicy and flavorful pork that is so tender it falls apart!
- Budget Friendly: I often find pork roasts on sale for as little as $2 per pound. The other basic ingredients are pantry staples you likely already have on hand!
- Great for Potluck: Crock pot pulled pork travels great and is a delicious and economic solution to the age-old question: What can I bring? A 3 to 5 pound pork butt or roast will easily feed 8 to 12 people — or more — with leftovers!
- Enjoy it Lots of Ways: Enjoy it just as it is or stuffed inside potatoes, tacos or quesadillas. It also makes the best pulled pork sandwiches!
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Check out my slow cooker ropa vieja, easy crockpot ham perfect for the holidays, and this family recipe for crockpot pot roast!
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this easy crockpot pulled pork recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Pork: You can also use pork shoulder, Boston butt or pork roast. You can even use a pork loin, but is a much leaner cut of meat, so it will be less juicy. If your roast is on the bone, leave it! The bone is very easy to remove after cooking, and adds extra flavor.
- Coke: A regular cola product produces great results, but diet, zero sugar or any dark soda will work, too. Try Dr. Pepper or a cherry soda for a slight flavor twist!
- BBQ Sauce: I recommend using your favorite bbq sauce. I like Sweet Baby Ray’s original, but you can also use spicy, if you like a little heat!
How to Make Pulled Pork in Slow Cooker
This is one of the tastiest, no-fail slow cooker recipes around. All of the cook time is hands off! Deceptively simple, but always melt-in-your-mouth delicious, this will become one of your favorites. Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions and to watch the step-by-step video!
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- Season: Place your pork in the slow cooker and season with garlic salt and chili powder. Add the cola around the sides of the roast to prevent washing the seasoning off your meat. (The pork does not have to be fully submerged.)
- Cook: Set the crockpot to low and cook for 8 hours, until meat is tender.
- Shred: Remove the pork from the crock pot and discard most of the liquid, saving some to help keep the pork moist. Shred the pork with two forks.
- Finish: Add the barbecue sauce and stir to combine. Switch the heat to warm and place the lid on top until ready to serve!
Chef’s Tips and Variations
- Fat Cap: If your pork cut has a thick fat cap on one side, you can carefully remove the excess fat with a knife OR leave it to moisten and flavor the pork. If keeping the fat cap, place pork in the slow cooker with the fat layer facing up, leaner side facing down. When pork is fully cooked, easily remove the fat layer with tongs and discard it before shredding.
- Seasoning: Substitute 3 to 4 tablespoons of your favorite pork, rib, or barbecue rub for the garlic and chili powder.
- Instant Pot: This crockpot pulled pork is Instant Pot friendly and just as easy! See step #7 in the recipe card below to convert this recipe.
- Easy Cleaning: Use a slow cooker liner to make clean up as effortless as the hands-off cooking for this crock pot pulled pork!
- Double the Recipe: If you want to double the recipe, use a large 8+ quart crockpot and cut your pork into 2 to 3 inch cubes. This should ensure it will all fit!
What to Serve with Crock Pot Pulled Pork
My favorite way to enjoy this juicy pulled pork is in a toasted bun! I always use the leftovers to make this pulled pork crescent ring. It’s my families favorite weekend lunch.
- Sandwiches: Serve as pulled pork sandwiches on toasted buns. You can dress them up with sliced red onions, pickles, mango slaw and extra bbq sauce! This pork is also great for pulled pork sliders for a party.
- Stuffed Potatoes: Pulled pork is perfect stuffed inside a baked potato for a hearty dinner, but I personally love pulled pork stuffed sweet potatoes the best!
- Mexican Twist: Use the leftovers to make a whole new dinner with these easy pulled pork quesadillas. You may also enjoy these pulled pork tacos.
Crockpot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork butt, or pork shoulder
- 3 tablespoons garlic salt
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 2 liter coke, or any dark soda
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, optional, for a light smoky flavor
- 1 to 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce, I recommend Sweet Baby Ray’s Original
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Instructions
- Place pork into a 7 quart crockpot (line crockpot with a liner for even easier cleanup!) and season with garlic salt and chili powder.
- Pour the coke in around the edge of the crockpot, adding just enough coke to almost cover pork. You do not need to cover the pork completely. Add the liquid smoke to the coke, if using.
- Cook on low for 8 hours. It can cook longer, no worries if it has to sit a little longer. (You can try cooking the pork on high for 4 to 6 hours, but it may still be a little tough. The lower and slower cooking time leads to the most tender meat.)
- Remove pork from crockpot and discard 95% of the 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, bbq sauce as you like.)
- Leave slow cooker on low, or warm, to keep things hot until you are ready to serve.
- INSTANT POT: Cook on manual, high pressure, for 75 minutes. Do a natural pressure release. Then follow directions from #4 down.
Notes
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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. 🙂