Description
This slow cooker pulled pork recipe delivers tender, juicy, and flavorful meat perfect for sandwiches. With a blend of spices, a rich marinade including BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, and Worcestershire sauce, this dish is simple to prepare and slow-cooked to perfection, making it ideal for gatherings or a hearty family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 lbs boneless Pork Shoulder Chuck Roast (or 2 smaller roasts totaling 6-7 lbs)
Dry Seasonings
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
Marinade
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ Sauce
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke (optional but recommended)
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 large garlic cloves, pressed
Instructions
- Prepare the onions: Chop one large onion and place it in the bottom of a slow cooker, creating a flavorful base for the pork as it cooks.
- Season the pork: Combine salt, black pepper, and paprika. Generously sprinkle this mixture over the pork shoulder. Massage the seasonings into the meat to ensure deep flavor penetration. Place the seasoned pork on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
- Make the marinade: In a bowl, stir together chicken broth, BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and pressed garlic cloves. Pour this flavorful marinade evenly over the pork in the slow cooker.
- Slow cook the pork: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 8 hours if using two smaller roasts, or 8-10 hours for a single large roast. The pork is done when it can be easily shredded with forks.
- Shred and serve: Remove the cooked pork from the slow cooker to a large bowl, discarding excess fat. Shred the meat using two forks. Pour the reserved drippings from the slow cooker over the shredded pork for added moisture and flavor. Brush with warm BBQ sauce before serving, perfect for pulled pork sandwiches.
Notes
- For best results, choose a pork shoulder chuck roast, which becomes tender and flavorful after slow cooking.
- Liquid smoke is optional but enhances the smoky flavor; omit if you prefer a milder taste.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce to customize the flavor profile.
- If you don’t have a slow cooker, this recipe can be adapted for oven roasting at a low temperature for a longer time.
- Reserve cooking juices to keep the pulled pork moist and flavorful when mixing or serving.
