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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    Published: Mar 23, 2022 · Modified: Mar 23, 2022 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · 40 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork in a burger.

    A step by step guide to making deliciously sweet and juicy slow cooker pulled pork that's perfect to use in burgers, tacos and salads. 

    With incredibly tender meat that literally falls apart in your mouth, and with just 10 minutes prep time, this family dinner recipe couldn't be any easier!

    A burger bun filled with slaw and pulled pork.

    When it comes to easy family dinners, this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is right up there.... along with everyone's favourite Cheesy Chicken Parma Balls, Chorizo & Chicken Empanadas and Leftover Chicken Fried Rice.  

    Here's a simple 'set and forget' meal that pairs perfectly with burgers, nachos, pizza, wraps and more!

    Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

    • Family meal - slow cooker pulled pork is an all-time favourite dinner with the whole family.
    • Versatile - serve this fall-apart meat in burgers, wraps, tacos or add to a salad or pizza!
    • Quick & easy prep time - just 10 minutes prep time is all it takes!
    • Great for busy weeknights - prep this meal in the morning, leave it to cook during the day and have dinner ready and waiting for you when you get home.
    Slaw and pork with a bbq sauce in a burger bun.

    What You Need

    This tender fall-apart pulled pork, smothered in a sweet rich sauce, is made using just a few ingredients.

    Choosing The Best Cut Of Pork

    Cooking pork in a slow cooker or crock pot is such a forgiving way to cook meat... you really can't go wrong.

    This recipe can be made with the following cuts of pork:

    • pork tenderloin/ pork fillet
    • pork shoulder
    A pork fillet in a slow cooker.

    The photos in this recipe post are of pulled pork made using a pork tenderloin/pork fillet (which is what I most often use for this recipe).

    However you can also use a pork shoulder which is a slightly fattier cut of meat.

    Homemade Sweet BBQ Sauce With Apple Cider Vinegar

    The secret to the sweet sauce that my pulled pork is cooked in comes down to the combination of a few flavoursome ingredients:

    The ingredients for a BBQ slow cooker pulled pork sauce.
    • BBQ Sauce - a sweet and thick sauce
    • Garlic - use minced garlic or mince your own
    • Apple cider vinegar - or you can substitute with apple juice for a less tangy flavour
    • Chicken stock - use chicken stock liquid or 1 tsp chicken stock powder dissolved in ½ cup water
    • Brown sugar - either regular brown sugar or dark brown sugar can be used
    • American mustard - a classic American mild yellow mustard
    • Worcestershire sauce - such as Holbrooks or Lea & Perrins brand

    ... all of these ingredients together make the most delicious rich, sweet and tangy sauce. 

    Step By Step Instructions

    Just 10 minutes and a few simple steps is all that it takes to prepare slow cooker pulled pork - and then it cooks itself!

    Step 1 - Prepare The Sauce

    Mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and combined.

    Brown sauce being whisked in a white bowl.

    Step 2 - Add The Pork & Onion

    Place the chopped onion and the piece of pork into the slow cooker. Pour over the sauce and stir to coat. Cover with the lid and cook.

    BBQ sauce mixture, chopped onions and pork tenderloin in a slow cooker.

    Cooking Times For Pulled Pork

    Cook the pork and sauce in a slow cooker (crock pot) on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.

    Pull apart the pork with two forks (it should be super tender and fall apart very easily).

    Allow it to cook for a further 20 minutes after shredding as this helps the pork to soak up the sauce. 

    Shredded pork in a BBQ sauce in a crockpot.

    Serving Suggestions

    Once you've got a slow cooker filled with the most amazingly tender fall-apart pork, it's time to serve it up!

    You can keep things simple and serve the pulled pork on burgers with slaw, or mix it up with one of these yummy pulled pork recipes:

    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
    • Pulled Pork Nachos
    • Pulled Pork Pizza
    • Pulled Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

    Perfect for Friday night 'fakeaway'!

    Expert Tips & FAQ's

    Can I thicken the sauce at the end of the cooking time?

    Of course! Depending on the cut of pork you've used, you might find that your sauce is still a little liquidy at the end of the cooking time. Simply dissolve 1 tbs of cornflour in a small amount of cold water and then stir it through the sauce in the slow cooker. Please note that the sauce will continue to thicken on cooling (with or without the cornflour being added in). 

    Can you overcook pulled pork?

    The slow cooker is a very forgiving way to cook pork, and it won't make too much of a difference if you cook it an hour or so longer than specified. 

    Can you taste the apple cider vinegar?

    You can't taste the apple cider vinegar in this recipe - it simply gives the sauce a delicious tangy flavour. However, you can always substitute it with apple juice if you prefer. 

    Serving Suggestions

    Pulled pork is delicious on burgers, sandwiches, in tacos, fajitas, or baked potatoes, on top of a pizza or simply in a salad.

    Storing & Freezing

    Allow the cooked pork to cool before placing into the fridge. Use within 1-2 days or wrap well and place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. 

    A pulled pork burger with slaw on a blue plate.

    More Slow Cooker Recipes

    Nothing beats an easy slow cooker meal that you can prep in the morning and have it waiting for you by dinnertime. These recipes are all family-friendly, simple and delicious:

    • Slow Cooker Lamb Shoulder
    • Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
    • Creamy Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Roast Beef | One Pot Dinner

    WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Burger

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    The most delicious sweet and juicy fall-apart slow cooker pulled pork recipe that's perfect for burgers, tacos and salads. 
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 serves
    Calories: 180kcal
    Author: Lucy - Bake Play Smile

    Ingredients

    • 500 g pork fillet see notes
    • 1 brown onion large, chopped
    • 1 tsp minced garlic or 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 225 g (1 cup) BBQ sauce
    • 125 g (½ cup) apple cider vinegar
    • 125 g (½ cup) chicken stock liquid
    • 50 g (¼ cup) brown sugar
    • 1 tbs American mustard
    • 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce

    Instructions

    • In a bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
    • Place the pork fillet into the base of a slow cooker (or crock pot).
    • Sprinkle the chopped onion over the top.
    • Pour the sauce over the pork fillet. Stir to coat.
    • Cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or LOW for 8 hours.
    • Use two forks to shred the pork fillet (it should come apart very easily).
    • Stir the pork through the sauce and allow to cook for a further 20 minutes.
    • Serve with burger rolls and coleslaw, in tacos or salads.

    Notes

    RECIPE TIPS
    • Cut of pork - I recommend using a pork tenderloin/pork fillet for this recipe. You can also use a pork shoulder (which is a fattier cut of meat), but you may need to increase the cooking time depending on the weight as it's a much thicker cut of pork. 
    • Cooking time - cook the pork and sauce in a slow cooker on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
    • Shredding the meat - by the end of the cooking time, the meat will be so tender that it will be easy to pull apart with 2 forks.
    • Thickening the sauce (optional) - if you find that your sauce is still a little too liquidy at the end of the cooking time, simply dissolve 1 tbs of cornflour in a small amount of cold water and then stir it through the sauce in the slow cooker.
    • Storing pulled pork - allow the cooked pork to cool before placing into the fridge. Use within 1-2 days or wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 466mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @BakePlaySmileBlog or tag #BakePlaySmile!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sonia

      June 09, 2020 at 7:42 am

      5 stars
      Delicious, so simple, thank you again.

      Reply
      • Lucy

        June 09, 2020 at 8:41 am

        My pleasure! Thank you!!!

        Reply
    2. Joan

      July 14, 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Hi there, what would be the recommended cooking time in a pressure cooker?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Lucy

        July 15, 2019 at 5:48 am

        Hi Joan, I'm not sure sorry! I don't actually have a pressure cooker!

        Reply
    3. Abbey

      May 04, 2019 at 7:27 pm

      Could you do it on slow for 8 hours??

      Reply
      • Lucy Mathieson

        May 05, 2019 at 8:36 am

        Absolutely!!!!

        Reply
    4. Helen Johnston

      June 28, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      This is so yummy. I made it for our family because the meat was on sale at the supermarket. The sauce was amazing. figure licking. It would have been even better if I had a good coleslaw to go with it but my husband and my daughter didn't complain about my simple version. This will be a a family favorite from now on. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Lucy Mathieson

        June 29, 2018 at 5:04 am

        Yay!!! Thanks Helen! I'm so glad you liked it!! This is a yummy slaw that goes really well with it too (if you make it again!): https://bakeplaysmile.com/asian-slaw-with-satay-dressing/

        Reply
    5. Sheree

      June 06, 2017 at 9:34 am

      I know this will sound pretty obvious, but to serve more just double the recipe? Same cooking time? X

      Reply
      • Lucy Mathieson

        June 06, 2017 at 6:52 pm

        Yep that should be fine!! As long as you can fit it all in your slow cooker!! xx

        Reply
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    I’m Lucy! A mum, a wife, a food blogger and a lover of all things to do with food! I love creating delicious, no-fuss Thermomix and conventional recipes the whole family will love. Classic baking favourites, lunch box snacks, quick and easy family dinners and more!

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