This easy crock pot pulled pork recipe is made with surprising ingredients that combine to deliver juicy flavorful meat for pulled pork sandwiches. This recipe is guaranteed to help you connect to Southern cookin’ with every bite.
This crock pot pulled pork recipe made Southern-style is pretty much heaven on a bun as far as I’m concerned and it seems every region has its own way of doing it. Where I am from, the bbq pulled pork is smoked and juicy and we serve it as above. I also wouldn’t turn it down if a little bit of clear mild vinegar sauce was added or perhaps some of our sensational Alabama white barbecue sauce. In my husband’s home, they serve it slathered in a thick layer of sweet red barbecue sauce, like the bottled sauce you buy in the stores.
Last year I showed you how to make a different , so if that is the kind you prefer, click here to visit that post (and you can make it with pork or beef). Today I’m going to show you how to make the juicy kind we get in barbecue places around my home, but instead of smoking it (because I can think of a few things I’d rather do than stand over a fire in this heat) we’re gonna cook it overnight in our slow cooker.
This is the best pulled pork sandwich recipe and the perfect dish to make in advance for a busy weekend, potluck, or game day. Let it cook overnight, make the sauce, and then keep the pork in the slow cooker on warm until you’re ready to serve the .
Now get out those crockpots and let’s make the best slow cooker pulled pork, Southern-style!
Recipe Ingredients
- A pork roast (about five pounds)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Hot sauce
Don’t worry, this barbecue is not spicy, but you can make it spicy if you like.
Place pork roast in the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour in your cider vinegar and put the lid on the crockpot. Cook on low for 12 hours.
Will this pulled pork taste like vinegar?
Now I know some of y’all are wondering if this crock pot pulled pork recipe is going to have a vinegar taste to it and it really doesn’t. The vinegar helps to bring out the natural flavors of the meat beautifully though. Also, you’re not going to wake up to a vinegar-smelling house. I only say this because I remember the first time I made it I was worried about that!
This is how it will look after 12 hours.
I like to cook mine overnight and then you can shred it and put it back in with the little sauce we’re going to make and just let it be on warm until lunchtime. You can also store it in the fridge when you finish the last step and heat it in the microwave whenever you’re ready for it.
Take it out of the juices after 12 hours and shred pork with a fork or go to this shredding meat tutorial here. You’re going to be surprised at how it just falls apart.
Making the pulled pork sauce
Reserve two cups of the juices from the slow cooker and discard the rest.
To those two cups of liquid, add the hot sauce…
The crushed pepper flakes…
And the brown sugar and stir well.
Return shredded pork to the slow cooker.
Pour the sauce mixture over it and give it a good stir.
Place the lid back on the slow cooker and leave on warm until ready to serve.
Serve on a fresh bread roll topped with vinegar slaw!
I eat mine just like this but if you like, you can serve it with white bbq sauce, your favorite bottled red bbq sauce (such as Kraft BBQ Sauce), or even ketchup. Whatever cranks yer tractor! There is no wrong way to eat good barbecue in my books!
Storage
Leftover pulled pork will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Simply reheat in the microwave before serving. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Make a double-batch and your future self will be very thankful.
Recipe Notes
- If you’re wondering what pork to use for this pork roast, you’re going to want a juicy boneless pork shoulder or pork butt. You can use , it’s just going to be leaner. You want to avoid though. If you have , make this delicious dish instead 😉.
- I promise the red pepper flakes aren’t going to make the pulled pork sauce spicy. They just add flavor. If you want a spicier barbecue sauce, I suggest doubling the red pepper flakes and tripling the hot sauce.
- If you’re coveting those brown and crispy ends, put the shredded pork on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for a couple of minutes in the oven.
- For smoky flavor without the effort, add a teaspoon of liquid smoke when you add the salt and pepper.
Recipe FAQs
Want to learn a trick to shredding meat?
This recipe just calls for a fork to shred this meat but that can take a while. So if you want an alternative, we’ve got a tutorial for you. Follow these step-by-step instructions to easily shred pork, chicken, or beef.
Can I make this crockpot pulled pork in advance?
Absolutely! Pulled pork is a great dish to make ahead of time. If making hours ahead of time, simply leave the pulled pork in the slow cooker on the warm setting until ready to serve. Otherwise, cook, refrigerate for up to 5 days and then reheat the pulled pork in the microwave before serving.
What do you serve with pulled pork?
While I love pulled pork sandwiches, you can also forgo the bun and simply serve this slow cooker bbq pulled pork with some of my favorite Southern sides. This includes oven-baked mac and cheese, baked beans, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, cornbread muffins, pasta salad, or summer corn salad. You can also make pulled pork tacos with our homemade soft flour tortillas or a pulled pork salad.
You may also enjoy these recipes:
North Alabama Style Pulled Chicken BBQ
Slow-Roasted Beef Brisket in the Oven
Steak Sandwiches (World’s Easiest Supper)
Ingredients
- 1 pork roast approximately 5 pounds
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Put the pork roast in the slow cooker and add salt and pepper. Pour in the cider vinegar. Cover with lid and cook on low for 12 hours (I cook it overnight).1 pork roast, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
- Remove the pork roast from the crockpot and shred it with forks (this will be very easy).
- Drain juices from the slow cooker, reserving two cups of liquid. Return pulled pork to the slow cooker. To the reserved liquid add the brown sugar, hot sauce, and crushed pepper flakes. Stir well. Pour over shredded pork and place the lid back on the crockpot.2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Place on low or warm setting until ready to serve. Can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, and reheated in the microwave.
Nutrition
The Power Of Kindness
It’s easy to act with kindness and understanding toward those who have been kind to you. Yet the real power of kindness comes when you give it even to those who don’t deserve it.
Acting with cruelty in response to cruelty only drags down everyone involved. With kindness, you have the opportunity to lift up yourself and others. Being kind does not mean allowing others to take advantage of you. On the contrary, your kindness can give you the positive, undeniable power to make sure that everyone’s best interests are served.
Yes, there are those who will not respond well to your kindness. Act toward them with kindness and understanding anyway, and even though they won’t benefit from your kindness, you yourself still will.
Think of your kindness toward others as a valuable gift you give mainly to yourself. If anyone else is enlightened enough to accept and appreciate it too, that makes it even better.
— Ralph Marston
Submitted by Kolene. Submit yours here.
I put salt/pepper on the pork, and poured the vinegar in, but wasn’t thinking and the vinegar swept away most of the salt/pepper off of the surface of the pork. I hope that’s still good!
I am from Richmond, Virginia; and, it is difficult to find a recipe without tons of barbecue sauce now that I live in the Midwest. I miss the old spicy slurry of vinegar, red pepper, garlic, and herbs. My mom and I used to buy it on the side of the road in Virginia and North Carolina and this is the closest I’ve found! I make my own by memory but this is an awesome recipe. I came out to Iowa and I was confused as to why they put so much barbecue sauce on something that should taste wonderful without sauce!
Thank you Diane, am so glad you found us. And so happy you liked it 🙂
You have spoken perfectly and it is useful in many ways and the recipe of good flour is known here.
Its really awesome and nice recipe
Thank you so much Chris. Really appreciate you commenting and rating the recipe!
Love the recipie , thanks for sharing.
So lovely to hear this, thank you 🙂