BBQ pulled pork made in the slow cooker. The pork is covered in a spiced rub then flavoured with a homemade BBQ sauce. Serve with slaw in a your favourite type of bun with more BBQ sauce on top.
Here's another great way to serve pork with my Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork recipe. This epic pulled pork is cooked in the slow cooker with BBQ style spices on a bed of onions and apples. You then make your own, amazing BBQ sauce which gets stirred though the pork, as well as being added to the burger at the end. I like to serve my pork with a simple slaw in a freshly toasted brioche bun. Yum!
The pulled pork also tastes amazing on my BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza. You should definitely check it out if you love these flavours! Or for another delicious slow cooker meal, give my Slow Cooker Honey Pork a go!
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Ingredient notes:
- Pork: You can either use a shoulder or leg of pork in this recipe. I try and buy it when it's on special at the supermarket and freeze it if need be.
- Apples: Any type of apples will work in this recipe.
- Beer: The great thing about this recipe is that it uses a whole can of beer - half in the slow cooker and half in the BBQ sauce. You could also use cider if you can't drink beer.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card for the ingredients, quantities and the full method.
Step by step instructions:
Mix together the brown sugar, salt, black pepper, cumin, and paprika. Rub it all over the pork.
Add the pork to the bowl of the slow cooker and let it marinate for 30 minutes on the bench, or you can marinate it overnight in the refrigerator. Lift out the pork and place the sliced onion and apples at the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the pork on top, then add the water and ½ a can of beer.
Cook on high for 5+ hours or on low for 8+ hours until the pork can be pulled apart. Remove the pork from the slow cooker. Discard any fat and bones.
Shred the meat and return it to the slow cooker, stir to combine with the cooking juices.
In a small saucepan, combine all of the sauce ingredients.
Bring to a boil, then turn the temperature down and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced and thickened up.
Pour a cup of the BBQ sauce into the pulled pork and mix to combine.
Serve the pulled pork in fresh buns topped with extra BBQ sauce and slaw. I used brioche buns and toasted them in the frying pan just before serving. Yum!
Recipe FAQs:
Most of the ingredients in the pulled pork recipe are gluten free - apart from the beer. You could either substitute this for gluten free beer, or apple cider. As always, ensure you check the labels on your sauces to make sure they meet your dietary requirements. Serve in a gluten free bun.
You could either use a packet of pre-made slaw and dressing, or make your own. I have a great recipe for a creamy, Takeaway-Style Coleslaw on my website. Or you could make a lighter slaw like I did here using sliced red onion, cabbage, granny smith apples and parsley in a simple vinaigrette.
Storage:
Store any leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Enjoy leftovers in a sandwich, a burger bun, in a wrap, on rice or on a pizza.
Pulled pork is also excellent to keep in the freezer. Simply allow the pork to cool to room temperature then place in zip lock bags.
Top tips:
This is a great meal to get ahead with. It makes a lot of meat, which goes a long way in meals when combined with other ingredients. I like to make it and serve it one night, then freeze the remainder in zip lock bags in the freezer. Remove all the air from the bag spread the pork out to a thin layer. This will make it easier to defrost. When you want to use it later, simply grab a bag from the freezer, allow to defrost in the fridge overnight.
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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Pork shoulder covered in a smoked paprika and cumin rub, slow cooked, then shredded. The pork is then coated with a homemade BBQ sauce, then served in burger buns.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2.5kg pork leg or shoulder
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 apples, sliced
- ½ cup water
- ½ can beer, 165ml
BBQ Sauce:
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ can beer, 165ml
To Serve
- Brioche Buns
- Slaw
Instructions
- Pulled Pork: Mix together the brown sugar, salt, black pepper, cumin, and paprika. Rub it all over the pork.
- Add the pork to the bowl of the slow cooker and let it marinate for 30 minutes on the bench, or you can marinate it overnight in the refrigerator.
- Lift out the pork and place the sliced onion and apples at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the pork on top, then add the water and ½ a can of beer.
- Cook on high for 5+ hours or on low for 8+ hours until the pork can be pulled apart.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker. Discard any fat and bones.
- Shred the meat and return it to the slow cooker, stir to combine with the cooking juices.
- BBQ Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine all of the sauce ingredients.
- Bring to a boil, then turn the temperature down and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced and thickened up.
- Pour a cup of the BBQ sauce into the pulled pork and mix to combine.
- Serve the pulled pork in fresh buns topped with extra BBQ sauce and slaw.
Notes
- Store leftover pulled pork in ziplock bags. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
- You can also serve the pulled pork on rice, in burgers or on pizza.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1019Total Fat: 59gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 308mgSodium: 1390mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 2gSugar: 21gProtein: 86g
Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.
Thank you for checking out this recipe. I hope you enjoy making and eating it! If you have any questions, queries or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Vanya
Erin says
Absolutely Delicious! Easy to set and forget.
Have tried heaps of pulled pork recipes and this one is by far the best.
VJ cooks says
That's awesome. Thank you for the feedback.
Nikola says
How would this work with a 1.5kg shoulder? Am using your app & I can adjust the qty of servings but it doesn't adjust they slow cooker time - am thinking 5+ hours on low....
VJ cooks says
You can't really over cook this pork. If you can be there to keep an eye on it, I'd cook it on high and check it at the 4 hour mark.
Nikola says
I cooked 1.5kg pork shoulder for 5 hours on low it was perfect - thanks for the recipe. Can't wait for cookbook no#3
VJ cooks says
That's great to know! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Janet Wells says
What would be a suitable substitute for the beer, as we have very little in the way of alcohol in our house. Thanks.
VJ cooks says
You could use water or stock.
Zellla says
Easy and delicious! Thank you
Lily says
Oh mah gosh Queen!!! I am a huuuuge fan of your recipes, as are my kids and mokos...
ANYWAYS, (), soooo can't wait to try this mouth watering recipe on whānau & Friends for sure!!!!
VJ cooks says
Oh thanks so much for the lovely feedback, Lily. Ngā mihi
Kirsty says
Hands down best pulled pork recipe I've ever tried. The pork really shines and isn't over-powered by excess BBQ sauce flavour like some other recipes. I just add extra BBQ sauce on the burger when assembling and it is FAB! I think I would just thicken up the juices with a bit of cornflour in water at the end next time but will definitely be making this one again! Love your recipes. Thanks VJ 😀
VJ cooks says
Awesome. I love this recipe too and agree - would rather add extra BBQ sauce to the burger than recipe while cooking.
Tracie Baxter says
When I pull the pork do I take out the onions and apples?
VJ cooks says
I don't! They give the sauce a delicious flavour. They also break down a lot during the cooking process and blend in nicely.
Lou says
Hi there,
Can I do this in the pressure cooker - if so, what would I need to do?
VJ cooks says
I haven't tried it sorry. But if you ask ChatGPT it will give you a step by step guide to follow!
Tania says
Hiya, could I leave out the garlic powder? We have a garlic and onion intolerant person coming for dinner.
VJ cooks says
Yes that will be fine.
S Webster says
Sounds wonderful. How could I turn the skin into crackling for this recipe please? I want to use it for Christmas Day
VJ cooks says
Pop it in the air fryer!