Description
Succulent slow cooker bbq pulled pork delivers tender, mouthwatering meat perfect for family gatherings. Hearty southern-style barbecue brings comfort and joy to weekend meals you’ll savor with delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.4 lbs (1.54 kg) pork shoulder (or pork butt)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (plus more for serving)
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth (or apple juice)
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for spice)
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Massage pork roast thoroughly with a blend of smoky spices, creating a rich, flavorful exterior that will enhance the meat’s natural taste during slow cooking.
- Liquid Foundation: Place seasoned meat in slow cooker and pour Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, and brown sugar around the roast, creating a tenderizing liquid bath that will infuse deep flavor and maintain moisture throughout cooking.
- Cooking Process: Set slow cooker to low temperature and allow pork to cook gently for several hours until meat becomes incredibly tender and easily pulls apart, transforming the robust cut into delicate, succulent strands.
- Meat Deconstruction: Remove meat from slow cooker, discard excess fat, and use two forks to shred the protein into fine, delicate pieces, ensuring uniform texture and consistency.
- Flavor Infusion: Coat shredded pork with smoky barbecue sauce, returning it to the slow cooker to allow the meat to absorb and harmonize with the sauce’s complex flavor profile for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve pulled pork on artisan buns, warm tortillas, or over fluffy rice, offering extra barbecue sauce on the side for those desiring an intensified taste experience.
Notes
- Optimize Spice Massaging: Ensure even spice distribution by thoroughly rubbing the pork roast, pressing spices into every crevice for maximum flavor penetration.
- Balance Liquid Ratio: Use equal parts apple cider vinegar and chicken broth to maintain moisture without diluting the meat’s rich taste profile.
- Master Shredding Technique: Allow pork to cool slightly before pulling to prevent burning fingers and achieve uniform, tender meat strands.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap traditional barbecue sauce with sugar-free or low-sodium alternatives for health-conscious variations, keeping the dish’s core essence intact.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg