Here is how to make slow cooker pulled pork, an easy, crowd pleasing recipe that is great for making pulled pork sandwiches or pulled pork sliders.
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This post is all about how to make slow cooker pulled pork, plus tips on making slow cooker pulled pork sliders or sandwiches.
Summertime is the perfect time to think about hosting an outdoor party or making a special dinner to celebrate the season. This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is an easy way to welcome summer to your table.
Using a slow cooker to make pulled pork makes it easier to make a lot of food at one time, without too much hassle. This is a great thing when you’re planning an outdoor party and you have plenty of other things to worry about preparing.
A slow cooker makes it quick and easy to prepare pulled pork, plus—depending on the model that you have—you can use the slow cooker to keep the pulled pork warm while you serve it.
Slow cooked pulled pork is a versatile recipe to make—you can use it to make everything from sandwiches and sliders to burritos and burrito bowls. When it comes to planning an easy summer dinner idea or for a potluck or party, simply cook the pork, then set the slow cooker to warm, place some buns nearby, and let everyone make their own sandwiches.
What is the Best Cut for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork?
One of the best things about using a slow cooker is that you can cook different cuts of meat in a way that makes them tender. This opens up the possibilities when it comes to choosing the best cut of meat for making pulled pork and other slow cooked meats.
Pork shoulder roast is a popular cut to use for making slow cooker pulled pork. Pork butt roast is another popular cut of meat to use for making pulled pork sandwiches. A well-marbled, boneless pork shoulder roast is a great cut to use for making slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches.
Purchase about half a pound of boneless pork roast per person to make a regular-sized pulled pork sandwich. The same amount of pork can be used to make two or three sliders per person when using dinner rolls to make sliders.
Slow cooker pulled pork can also be served over rice, pasta, or riced cauliflower, or as a main dish on it’s own. A 4 lb. roast can feed about 6 to 8 people, depending on how much each guest plans to eat.
What Goes on a Pulled Pork Sandwich? Pulled Pork Toppings + Side Dishes
Once you’ve decided to make pulled pork sandwiches, you may wonder what goes on a pulled pork sandwich. Start with a buttered, toasted sandwich bun, followed by a light spread of mayonnaise, if desired. Then layer some pulled pork over the mayonnaise, followed by a choice of delicious toppings—like those listed below.
Great toppings for slow cooker pulled pork include coleslaw, barbecue sauce, habanero peach salsa, grilled pineapple, sliced pickled pepperoncini peppers, sliced pickled jalapeño peppers, pickled red onions, and cheddar cheese. Fresh vegetables, like sliced tomatoes, sliced onion, and lettuce add refreshing flavor to pulled pork sandwiches.
Mango salsa is an unusual, but tasty, topping for pulled pork sandwiches. In general, mango salsa is a great topping or side dish for many classic summer recipes, like baked salmon, fish tacos, or grilled chicken.
When feeding a crowd, put a variety of toppings in bowls out for guests to use to personalize their pulled pork sandwiches. Don’t forget to add serving spoons or tongs to make it easier to manage the food.
Easy side dishes for slow cooker pulled pork include potato salad, chips, and pickles. Other pulled pork side dish ideas include sweet potato fries, potato salad, cowboy caviar, corn on the cob, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese. For a healthy take on things, add a summer kale salad or other fresh vegetable salad to your summer dinner spread.
Store leftover slow cooker pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What You’ll Need to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Here are some ingredients and tools that can be used to make slow cooker pulled pork or slow cooker pulled chicken.
Slow Cooker.
A slow cooker makes it easy to cook tender pork roast. Use a large (6 to 8 quart) slow cooker to make slow cooker pulled pork. Layer the slow cooker pulled pork recipe ingredients in the slow cooker pot before cooking until the pork is fully cooked and tender.
Pork.
Boneless pork roast is the main ingredient to use for making slow cooker pulled pork. Both pork butt roast and pork shoulder roast are popular cuts of meat to use for making slow cooker pulled pork.
Spices & Seasonings.
Add spices and seasonings to give the slow cooker pulled pork a flavorful kick. Ideas include adding paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to the slow cooker to season the meat.
Barbecue Sauce.
Simmering the pork or chicken in a great barbecue sauce helps to make the meat tender and flavorful.
Sandwich Buns.
Use regular sized hamburger buns or sandwich buns to make pulled pork sandwiches. Brioche buns, onion buns, and poppy seed buns are especially delicious. To make sliders, stuff lightly toasted dinner rolls with a few tablespoons of slow cooked meat and your favorite toppings. For a twist, serve slow cooked pulled pork with warm flour tortillas to make wraps.
Pulled Pork Toppings.
Great pulled pork sandwich toppings include salads and vegetables like coleslaw, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and sliced onions. Barbecue sauce, habanero peach salsa, mayonnaise, grilled pineapple, sliced pickled pepperoncini peppers, sliced pickled jalapeño peppers, pickled red onions, and cheddar cheese also make delicious toppings.
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe | Pulled Pork Sandwiches + Sliders
If you’re looking for an easy recipe for a crowd, then here is one to try. This easy and crowd pleasing slow cooker pulled pork recipe will have your guests coming back for more. Use slow cooker pulled pork to make slow cooker pulled pork sliders or sandwiches, or use slow cooker pulled pork as a topping for burritos, tacos, quesadillas, or burrito bowls.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Ingredients
To make slow cooker pulled pork:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 4-lb. boneless pork shoulder roast or boneless pork butt roast
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp mustard
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 4 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 medium onions peeled and sliced
- 2 medium sweet bell peppers cored and sliced
To serve pulled pork:
- Sandwich buns or dinner rolls
- Coleslaw
- Pickles
- Barbecue sauce, hot sauce, or mayonnaise
Instructions
- Rinse the pork roast, and pat it dry with paper towels. Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
- Place the pork roast in the pot and cook each side 6 to 8 minutes, or until the pork is golden brown. Searing the meat helps to give it flavor. Once the pork roast is golden brown, remove the pot from heat and set it aside.
- Add barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, chicken stock, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine the ingredients to make a pulled pork sauce to season the meat.
- Coat the inside of a large slow cooker pot with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chopped onion and bell peppers in the bottom of the slow cooker pot.
- Carefully place the browned pork roast into the slow cooker pot. Pour the pulled pork sauce over the pork.
- Close the slow cooker lid. Cook the pork roast and other ingredients on LOW heat setting for about 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH heat setting for 5 to 6 hours, or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by an instant read meat thermometer placed at the thickest part of the meat.
- The slow cooked pork roast should be pull apart tender and easy to shred once it’s done. Use two forks to shred the pork, or allow the pork to cool, remove it from the pot (carefully, as the pork will be tender and ready to fall apart), and cut the pork into chunks to serve.
- To make pulled pork sliders or sandwiches, layer the meat between two sandwich buns or dinner roll halves to make each pulled pork sandwich or slider. Serve slow cooker pulled pork sliders or sandwiches with your favorite pulled pork toppings.
This post was all about how to make slow cooker pulled pork to use for sandwiches, sliders, burrito bowls, and more.
Credits
- Featured title photo by Alesia Kozik / Pexels
- Photos and images are for illustration purposes only.