Meltingly tender with smoky-sweet richness that clings to the meat in a glossy, tangy glaze. Pulled pork has taken the cooking world by storm since the old days of Southern comfort cooking. But the 21st century isn’t done with its melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Whether you stuff it into a sandwich, heap it on nachos, or savor it on its own, the right slow cooker pulled pork is a comfort food like a warm hug. And there’s no easier way to make it than with a crockpot. Simply gather your ingredients, throw them in the pot, and let them cook with no fuss.

Ready to give your tastebuds a kickstart? Keep reading to savor the flavor yourself with an easy pulled pork in a slow cooker recipe you can start today.

Everything You Need to Know About Slow Cooking

Slow cooking is more than just another tool. It’s a tradition that combines patience, flavor, and convenience into a single pot. From hearty stews to your favorite meats, the process transforms humble ingredients into delectable dishes for the whole family.

The History and Science Behind Slow Cooking

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell–electricity, light bulbs, and telephones revolutionized the way we live.

But what about Irving Naxon?

In the early 1940s, Naxon invented the first electric countertop slow cooker inspired by the low and slow wood oven cooking method of his grandmother’s Sabbath stew recipe, Cholent.

Did this change everything? Well, in 2011, 83% of Americans owned a slow cooker. That’s more than 250 million people who cook with Naxon’s invention.

In 1970, the Rival Manufacturing Company bought Naxon’s design and introduced the legendary staple of home cooks everywhere, the Crock-Pot. And it changed the course of the crockpot’s history forever.

The crockpot is a tiny, patient oven that lives on your countertop and understands the power of culinary science. The cooking process starts as the heating band gradually warms the heavy ceramic pot inside to keep the temperature steady.’

Now, the sealed lid of the slow cooker traps all of the steam and creates a basting-cycle. That’s when the magic happens. The steam drips down into a built-in baster and keeps your slow cooker pulled pork recipe tender and juicy.

Impressed? Wait until you taste the results in your easy pulled pork in a slow cooker recipe.

Top 4 Benefits of Slow Cookers

Families have busy lives and cooking never seems to end 365 days a year. But the right crockpot can make your life a whole lot simpler. And delectable!

Here are the top 4 benefits to creating easy, delicious, and healthy meals with a slow cooker:

Hands-off Convenience: Once you’ve set up your slow cooker, it will cook for hours with no stirring or monitoring.
Easy Multi-Tasking: You can create more than just your BBQ pulled pork slow cooker recipe in a single pot. Throw in potatoes, vegetables, or even apple slices directly into the crockpot with the pork, and everything will cook together.
Economical Energy Efficiency: On low, most slow cookers only use 75 to 150 watts of electricity. That’s less power than an incandescent light bulb and far less than a conventional oven or stovetop.
Flavorful Cooking: The steam and extended cooking time prevents dishes from drying out. Also, this cooking method blends spices, herbs, and ingredients for maximum flavor.

A chef is only as good as their tools, and the right crockpot is a secret weapon for irresistible pork.

Make a Five-Star Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe

Grab your apron, slip on your oven mitts, and prep your kitchen to cook your new favorite recipe.

Step 1. Gathering Your Ingredients

Take your slow cooker pulled pork to the next level with the finest ingredients:

Oil
4lb pork roast
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. mustard powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. smoked paprika
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup of bbq sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 yellow onion, finely chopped

Step 2. Prepping the Meat: How to Prepare Pulled Pork in a Slow Cooker

Once you’ve assembled your core ingredients, it’s time to prep your meat. Learn how to prepare pulled pork in a slow cooker with these five key steps:

Pick Your Cut: Read meat labels carefully and find the perfect recommended cut for your pork. We recommend the bone-in pork shoulder as the gold standard.
Trim the Fat: Begin with a 4-pound pork roast. Always remove the thick, hard fat caps, and leave a thin layer for maximum moisture and flavor.
Make the Rub: Combine garlic powder, mustard powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Make sure that you get your spices at a high-quality, organic, and trusted merchant.
Season the Pork: Pat the pork dry with paper towels and rub the spice mixture all over.
Sear the Meat: Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a skillet or use the sear setting on your crockpot. Take 4 to 5 minutes on each side to brown the pork. Searing the pork before cooking gives it a delectable, flavorful crust.

Now that you’ve learned how to prep your cut, are you looking for locally-sourced meat you can trust? The Markets at Shrewsbury has a family-owned butcher shop with homemade specialty cuts. Stop by the Country Style Fresh Meats butcher shop to complete your recipe.

Congrats—you’ve mastered meat prep.

Step 3. Adding Ingredients to the Slow Cooker

Adding your ingredients is an essential step to your BBQ pulled pork slow cooker dish.

Here are three main steps you need to know about how to prepare pulled pork in a slow cooker:

Place the Meat: Lay the seasoned pork in your slow cooker with the fat side facing up.
Whisk the Ingredients: Blend the BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and tomato paste.
Pour the Mixture: Pour the ingredients evenly over and around the pork. The liquid should cover parts of the side of the pork but not completely submerge it. The pork will gradually release juices while it cooks.

Slow Cooker Pro Tip: Layering Food to Make a Complete Meal

Want some hearty root vegetables with your slow-cooked pulled pork?

Place them on the bottom and lay the pork on top. Add fruits like apples, pineapples, or peaches on top of the roast.
The savory juices from the pork will drip down and mingle with the veggies for pure deliciousness.
The result: a one-pot masterpiece where every layer comes out of the crock cooked to perfection.

Step 4. Cooking Time and Temperature Settings for a Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe

It’s time to get cooking! All your hard work has paid off and you’re ready to set it and forget it. Now, set your crock pot on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high 5 to 6 hours. You’ll know it’s done when it’s so tender you can pull it apart easily with a fork.

Step 5. Shredding the Pork

Take your roast and place it in a large bowl. Use 2 forks to shred the pork and toss it in the savory juices leftover from the slow cooker.

6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking BBQ Pulled Pork in a Slow Cooker

These six common mistakes can take your dinner from wow to blah quickly:

Wrong Meat Cut: Lean cuts like pork loin will dry out quickly.
Skipping the Seasoning Step: Not applying a proper dry rub or seasoning in advance can leave the pork bland.
Overcooking: If you overcook your pork for an hour, don’t sweat it. Your pork will most likely become even more tender and delicious.
Lifting the Lid: Although it’s tempting to peek at the meat’s progress, lifting the lid allows the moisture to escape and will make cooking take longer.
Overfilling the Crockpot: Stuffing it too full prevents proper heat circulation and can cause uneven cooking.
Adding Too Much Liquid: Pulled pork releases plenty of juices on its own. The excess liquid can dilute flavor and make it soupy.

You can learn from the mistakes of other home cooks to perfect your next culinary masterpiece.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Serving Suggestions

No family-style meal is complete without side dishes and a classic dessert.

Pair your pulled pork with:

Salad: Butter lettuce, garden tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and your favorite veggies from a fresh produce stand can make an appetizing first course for your dinner.
Jarred Goods: It’s traditional to pair pulled pork with jarred goods like cabbage, green beans, and pickles.
Dessert: Finish your home-cooked meal right with traditional Amish baked goods like beehive cake or whoopie pies.

Families make memories around the table. So, what are you waiting for?

Enjoy Organically Sourced Meals and One-Stop Shopping at the Markets at Shrewsbury

There’s a reason millions of Americans enjoy a classic slow cooked pork meal hot out of the crockpot. This warm, feel good treat is like an inviting taste of home for families everywhere.

Make your next meal shine with fresh flavors straight from family-owned businesses who care about quality. Stop by The Markets at Shrewsbury, where you’ll find farm-grown produce, homemade goods, and seasonal specialties all in one stop. With 19 unique merchants, there’s something for every taste and table.