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Juicy, perfectly seasoned pulled pork cooked low and slow is the ultimate recipe for casual entertaining! Whether served as a sandwich on game day, made into nachos for movie night, or served on a buffet for a family gathering, this is a must-make recipe any month of the year.
It may seem a little surprising that pulled pork is on this list for holiday recipes, but I can assure you, it fits!
Why? Because it can be served on so many occasions. It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients and is relatively inexpensive, especially when you’re feeding a crowd.
Make This Dish For…
- Game Day or Tailgates
- Birthday Party Buffet Table
- Super Bowl Parties
- Block Parties
- Holiday Parties
- Cookouts and Barbeques
- Baby Showers
- Graduation Parties
Ingredients To Make This Recipe
- Pork Boston Butt or Pork Shoulder
- White Onions
- Kosher Salt
- Brown Sugar
- White Sugar
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Chili Powder
Equipment Needed
You’ll need a crock pot/slow cooker for this recipe. The size of the slow cooker depends on how big the Boston butt is. I use an 8-quart cooker for a 5 – 7 pound piece of pork and have room to spare if needed.
How To Make The Rub For The Pulled Pork
The simple yet flavor-packed rub is what gives the pork all the flavor. Make sure to use good quality ingredients for the best results.
- To a medium-sized bowl, add paprika, garlic powder, white sugar, brown sugar, chili powder, and salt.
- Mix together to make a dry rub.
- Sprinkle dry rub over pork roast and pat into meat, making sure to cover every side.
What Type of Meat Is Best For Pulled Pork?
The best cut of meat to use for pulled pork is the pork shoulder. This cut is often referred to as a Boston Butt. You can easily find it packaged in the meat section at the grocery store.
How Long Do You Cook Pulled Pork In The Crock Pot?
You can cook the pork in the slow cooker on either low or high settings.
- HIGH for 6-7 hours
- LOW for 8-9 hours
How To Prepare The Cooked Pork
Once the pork has cooked slow and slow, it will be fall-apart tender. I use two forks to shred it. You can remove it and shred it on a cutting board, or leave it in the crock pot and shred it with all the juices.
Can Leftovers Be Saved?
You bet. You can store the cooked pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Pulled Pork also freezes well. I like to make the recipe then portion the pork into 6-8 servings. I place the meat in freezer-safe ziplock bags and freeze, for up to 3 months, until I need it. Crock Pot Pulled Pork is a terrific make-ahead recipe.
Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 2 tablespoons White Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Chili Powder
- 3 tablespoons Coarse Salt
- 1 large Onion cut into thick slices
- 1 – 5 to 7 lb Pork Roast or Boston Butt
Instructions
- To a medium sized bowl, add paprika, garlic powder, white sugar, brown sugar, chili powder, and salt. Mix together to make a dry rub. Sprinkle dry rub over pork roast and pat into meat, making sure to cover every side.
- Place pork roast into a casserole dish and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place in fridge to rest for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
- Lightly coat the bottom and sides of Crock Pot with nonstick cooking spray, then line the bottom with onion slices. Remove pork roast from the fridge and place on top of the onions in the bottom of the Crock Pot.
- Cook on HIGH for 6 hours. When the pork roast is done cooking, carefully remove it from the Crock Pot and place on a separate plate, leaving the onions in the pot. Using two forks, shred the pork roast. Serve right away or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Linda says
Will a pork loin work in this recipe…that is what I have on hand???
Thanks in advance for your answer and for your delicious recipes.
Donya says
Hey there Linda!
That is a fantastic question! So I wouldn’t necessarily recommend using a pork loin for this recipe, it’s a very different cut of meat with a lower fat content so it won’t slow cook and shred the same way. However, if you have a pork loin on hand already I would recommend saving this recipe for later and checking the Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe from my other blog A Southern Soul, I will copy the link for that recipe below. I hope this helps, let me know how everything turns out! Happy Holidays!
https://www.asouthernsoul.com/grilled-pork-tenderloin/
~Donya