Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Make tender, smoky BBQ pulled pork with this easy slow cooker recipe. Cooking the pork low and slow all day is the way to go, trust me. This recipe uses a pork butt roast that practically melts in your mouth once it’s done. Top with our sweet and tangy homemade barbecue sauce.

For more delicious BBQ flavor, try our easy BBQ Deviled Eggs.

With just a few basic ingredients, you can whip up a tender and juicy pulled pork that’s perfect as a sandwich, in a taco or burrito, or even a salad. We love this recipe because it’s the perfect dump and go dinner that you can throw together in just 10 minutes before work and then come home and it’s ready to go. It’s also great for the warmer, summer months because you’re not standing over a hot stove all day. We guarantee that your friends and family will be coming back for seconds—and thirds!

Ingredient Notes

• Pork Butt Roast: Bone-in or boneless pork butts work best for this recipe. You can also use a picnic or shoulder roast.
• Hickory Liquid Smoke: This is what mimics the traditional pit-smoked method used in Hawaiian cooking. Non-negotiable.
• Ketchup: Gives a great base flavor to the barbecue sauce.
• Brown Sugar:  Either light or dark brown sugar will work here, but dark brown sugar will give a deeper, more caramelized flavor.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a lot of flavor. You can substitute with soy sauce and just a touch of vinegar.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a little heat to the sweet and tangy sauce.

Liquid Smoke

In most grocery stores, you’ll find liquid smoke in the condiment aisle, typically near the BBQ sauces. There are commonly two types available: hickory and mesquite. Hickory liquid smoke has a strong robust smokiness, while mesquite offers a slightly sweeter and more subtle smoky flavor. Both can be used in this recipe depending on your taste preference, but we recommend hickory for its strong flavor.

Turn Your Pork into More Meals

Quesadillas: Use the shredded pork as the filling for quesadillas. Add cheese, onions, and peppers for extra flavor. Serve with salsa and sour cream for dipping.

Pork Salad: Make a restaurant-style shredded pork salad with mixed greens, shredded cheese, and some tortilla chips (or strips) for a little crunch. Top with our cilantro-lime ranch dressing.

Pulled Pork Sliders: Serve on Hawaiian rolls with coleslaw and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.

Breakfast Burritos: Wrap in a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and diced potatoes.

Pork Fried Rice: Sauté leftover pork with rice, peas, carrots, onions, and eggs for a quick and easy fried rice dish.

Loaded Baked Potatoes: Bake some potatoes or sweet potatoes, then stuff them with the shredded pork. Top with green onion, a sprinkle of cheese, and broil until the cheese melts.