Tender Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe with Smoky Barbecue Glaze
A simple and easy slow cooker pulled pork recipe featuring a smoky barbecue glaze that yields tender, juicy meat perfect for gatherings and weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours (low) or 5 to 6 hours (high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes to 10 hours 15 minutes (low) or 5 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper for heat
Instructions
- Trim any large chunks of fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some marbling intact. Pat dry with paper towels. (About 5 minutes)
- In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Rub this mixture all over the pork shoulder, pressing it in so it sticks. Let rest about 5 minutes.
- Place sliced onion and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Put the seasoned pork shoulder on top of the onions and garlic. In a medium bowl, whisk together ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Pour the barbecue glaze evenly over the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours until pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Return shredded pork to slow cooker and mix with juices and glaze. Warm for another 10-15 minutes on low before serving.
Notes
If glaze is too thin after cooking, simmer liquid in a saucepan until slightly thickened before mixing back in. Remove large pieces of fat when shredding. Keep lid closed during cooking to maintain moisture. Let pork rest 10 minutes before shredding for juicier results. For gluten-free, verify Worcestershire sauce and ketchup labels. Can substitute pork picnic roast or pork loin but shoulder is best for shredding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 oz (113 g) c
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 28
Keywords: pulled pork, slow cooker, barbecue glaze, smoky, easy recipe, pork shoulder, comfort food, slow cooking