Name: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 5 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 pound pork shoulder; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 teaspoons onion powder; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoon cumin; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon paprika

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is an easy and delicious way to cook up a big batch of meat for recipes. With so many different ways to serve it, you’ll want to make a batch each week!

pulled pork sandwich on crumpled wax paper

While you can make pulled pork in the oven, smoker, or stove, cooking it in a Crock Pot is by far the easiest and most hands-off method. I use my Crock Pot to make a big batch at least once or twice a month because it’s such an affordable and versatile meat to add to recipes!

What kind of meat to use

Pulled pork is usually made with a pork shoulder. This is also labeled as a Boston Butt or Pork Butt in the grocery store. You can choose boneless or bone-in, either will work.

For a leaner option a top loin roast will work but it won’t be as moist as typical pulled pork.

seasoned pork shoulder in slow cooker before cooking

Do you need to sear the meat?

I have made this recipe both with and without searing beforehand and I don’t think you can really tell the difference after cooking.

If you want to sear it on all sides before cooking, by all means do, but if you’re like me you can just opt to skip that step to make it faster and have one less pan to clean!

Seasoning options

There are TON of options for seasoning pulled pork, everyone has a favorite and it is fun to experiment. My basic blend has the following (full recipe at the bottom of the post.)

brown sugar
garlic powder
onion powder
chili powder
kosher salt
paprika
cumin

If you want a more central American flavor, check out my slow cooker carnitas, instant pot carnitas recipe, or CrockPot chicken carnitas. You might also like this Slow Cooker London Broil from our sister site!

overhead view of pulled pork in slow cooker with spoon scooping some up

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you cook the meat?

Once you have rubbed your seasoning all over the meat, place it in the slow cooker fat side up (no additional liquid is required) and cook on low for at least 8 hours or high at least 6 hours. Make sure the inner temperature of the pork reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you shred the meat?

When the pork is done I like to use a large spoon to remove the fat layer from the rest of the roast. It comes off quite easily. After cooking for so long you can then easily use two forks to shred the pork right in the slow cooker. Mix it up with all the juices that are in the Crock Pot and serve nice and hot!
I have also heard of people using a stand mixer (affiliate link) to shred the pork like I do with shredding chicken but again, I think it is easier to use two forks rather than removing the meat to another bowl.

pulled pork sandwich on crumpled wax paper with slow cooker in the background

Serving suggestions

There are a ton of options when it comes to what to serve with pulled pork shoulder! I like to serve mine up as a pulled pork sandwich with tangy coleslaw, fried cabbage, Southern-style green beans, and some creamed corn or creamed spinach. You can also use it for:

tacos
nachos
with mac and cheese
burritos
burrito bowls
omelets
on a salad
on a baked potato or baked sweet potato
in soup
quesadillas
wrapped in crescent rolls
taquitos
on pizza
on hot dogs or brats
in shepherd’s pie
in stuffed peppers

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I usually reheat in the microwave if reheating small portions but if you are reheating larger portions I recommend reading all of my tips and tricks for reheating pulled pork so it stays tender and moist.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!