Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: The Lazy Legend of BBQ Greatness
Pulled pork is one of the first things I ever Crock-Potted into existence, and frankly, it’s been riding shotgun in my slow cooker ever since. It’s the low-effort, high-reward hero of my weeknight dinners—and let’s be real, my sanity.
Now, I love pulled pork. But turning a stubborn slab of pork shoulder into fall-apart, melt-in-your-mouth magic takes time. Sure, I could spend the day out back channeling my inner pitmaster—tossing wood chips into a smoker, checking temps like a BBQ weatherman, and whispering sweet nothings to the meat—but you know what’s infinitely easier? Dumping it in a slow cooker, turning a knob, and promptly forgetting it exists for the next 8 hours.
The Easiest Pulled Pork Recipe (With a Homemade BBQ Sauce That Slaps)
Here’s the thing: you can just smother your pork in a store-bought BBQ sauce and call it a day. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. And it’s delicious. But—but!—what if I told you that crafting your own bold, tangy, finger-lickin’-good barbecue sauce from scratch takes just a teensy bit more effort? Like, barely-even-put-on-pants effort.
And the best part? You don’t even need an extra pot. This homemade BBQ sauce simmers right alongside your pork shoulder in the same slow cooker, marinating together like two saucy strangers who locked eyes across a bubbling hot tub. By the time they’re done, the flavors are so entwined, so deeply involved, they practically need a safe word.
Serving Suggestions (AKA: How to Enjoy This Like You’re BBQ Royalty)
Once your slow cooker BBQ pork is shredded and gloriously coated in its homemade sauce, pile it onto toasted buns. Top it with a heap of crunchy pickles or a fresh slaw if you’re feeling fancy. Serve it alongside roasted veggies, crispy French fries, or—if you’re like me—whatever side dish you cobbled together in a state of hangry desperation.
This recipe has main-character energy. It’s the Beyoncé of backyard BBQs. The Shakira of speedy suppers. The Prince of potlucks. It can feed a crowd or, more realistically, just you and your spouse while you snuggle up in your pj’s and momentarily forget your existential dread.
Leftovers & Bonus Sauce: Because You Deserve Nice Things
This slow cooker pulled pork recipe makes quite a bit. Which is excellent news for my fellow leftover enthusiasts (read: lazy geniuses). We get days of no-cook dinners and next-level sandwiches. And that extra BBQ sauce? Oh, baby. It’s a saucy encore. I dunk nuggets in it. I slather it on ribs. I’d probably pour it on my taxes if it thought it would help.
It’s the kind of easy, customizable, low-effort, high-reward comfort food that keeps on giving. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
More like this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Homemade BBQ Sauce:
If you’re like me and get your kicks from set-it-and-forget-it dinners, you’ll definitely want to check out my slow cooker recipe collection. And if you don’t mind switching it up with a Dutch oven once in a while, I think you’ll enjoy this collection of cozy soups and stews.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
- 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 6-oz can tomato paste
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 small yellow onion peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp cider vinegar
- 2 jalapeño or Fresno chilis stemmed and chopped (seeds removed if desired)
- 10 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1½ lbs pork shoulder or loin cut into 2-inch chunks
For Serving (as desired)
- Buns
- Pickles or Slaw
- Roasted Vegetables
Instructions
- Put everything for the pulled pork, except the pork, into your slow cooker. Mix with a wooden spoon until evenly combined.
- Add pork to the crockpot and mix to coat in sauce.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours, or until pork is easily shredded with a fork.
- Remove pork to a cutting board with tongs, shaking off excess sauce. Tent with foil.
- Transfer sauce to a blender (working in batches if needed) and blend until smooth.
- Shred pork with two forks and return to the slow cooker on high heat. Add 1 cup of the BBQ sauce and mix to combine. Pour remaining sauce in a jar, allow to cool, and store in the fridge.
- Serve pulled pork on buns, topped with pickles or slaw, with a side of roasted vegetables (or whatever you're into).
