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Tender Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe Easy Savory BBQ Sauce Included

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This tender slow cooker pulled pork recipe delivers melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder with a savory homemade BBQ sauce. Perfect for busy days, it requires minimal hands-on time and yields flavorful, fall-apart meat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt)
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (60 ml)
  • 1 cup ketchup (240 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
  • 1/2 cup water or chicken broth (120 ml)

Instructions

  1. Trim any large excess fat from the pork, leaving some for moisture. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Mix smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend evenly over the pork shoulder.
  3. Spread sliced onions and minced garlic on the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
  4. Place the seasoned pork shoulder on top of the onion and garlic bed. Pour water or chicken broth around the pork.
  5. Whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, and hot sauce if using. Pour half of this sauce over the pork, reserving the rest for serving.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours until pork is easily shredded and reaches 195°F (90°C) internal temperature.
  7. Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks or shredding claws.
  8. Mix shredded pork back into the juices and reserved BBQ sauce in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat evenly.
  9. Serve on toasted buns, over rice, or inside warm tortillas with extra sauce on the side.

Notes

Use a meat thermometer to check for 195°F internal temperature for perfect shredding. Do not rush cooking time; low and slow yields the best tenderness. Leave some fat on pork shoulder for moisture. Stir shredded pork gently to avoid mushiness. BBQ sauce can be made ahead and stored refrigerated. For Instant Pot, cook pork shoulder on high pressure for 60 minutes with natural release for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, slow cooker, BBQ sauce, pork shoulder, easy dinner, comfort food, crockpot recipe

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/tender-slow-cooker-pulled-pork-recipe-easy-savory-bbq-sauce-included/