Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Easy recipe, succulent flavor

Mmmm, barbecue. Especially pulled pork. We can’t resist.

But this time of the year, we’re not really into hanging around outside in the cold and snow tending a smoker. We’d rather stay inside and let a slow cooker do its magic.

And “magic” is the word for this easy slow-cooker pulled pork. Just prep the meat, put it in the slow cooker, and forget about it. Then revel in deliciousness.

This recipe feeds a crowd, so it’s perfect for a Super Bowl party. And the dish is so good, you won’t even care who wins the game. No matter how it turns out, you’ll score big with your guests.



Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Traditional barbecue is cooked outdoors over a wood fire. The long, slow cooking dissolves some of the meat’s inner connective tissues, resulting in tender meat. And the wood smoke adds a nice tang.

It’s hard to beat the flavor of outdoor-cooked meat. But if you do it right, indoor Q puts up serious competition. We first experimented with cooking pulled pork indoors with our recipe for Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork. That’s a great recipe, and produces pulled pork as good as (or better than) you’ll find at many restaurants.

We’d also heard about the slow-cooker method for pulled pork, but hadn’t used it. So we decided to challenge ourselves. Could we develop a slow cooker recipe that produces results as good as our oven pulled pork?

The results are in, and the answer is an enthusiastic Yes! We think this pulled pork rivals our oven-made version—and even some outdoor smoker recipes. And there’s a bonus: The meat is even more tender and juicy.

For this recipe, you’ll need pork shoulder (a/k/a pork butt or Boston butt). An entire pork shoulder typically weighs 16 pounds or more—which is way too big for a slow cooker. Fortunately, however, most supermarkets sell cuts of pork shoulder sized anywhere from 2 to 6 pounds. You can get bone-in or boneless. Either works, although the bone-in has a bit more flavor (but somewhat less meat).

You’ll use a “rub” to season the meat, and it’s best to apply it the day (or night) before you plan to cook the pork. You can use a commercial rub, or make the one we describe below.

Preparation time for this recipe (making the rub and applying it to the pork) is about 20 minutes. Then the rubbed pork needs to rest in the refrigerator several hours (or overnight) before cooking. Cooking time is about 5 to 7 hours if you set the slow cooker on high, or 9 to 10 hours on low.

Each pound of meat yields about 2½ servings (the meat shrinks a bit as it cooks). Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for a few days if stored in an airtight container.

Ingredients

For the rub:
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons pimentón (smoked Spanish paprika)
  • 2 tablespoons dried chipotle or ancho chile powder (ancho doesn’t have a smoky flavor, but it’s milder than chipotle)
  • 1 tablespoon dried ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon hickory-smoked salt (may substitute kosher or table salt)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)
  • ~1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional, and not to be included in the dry rub; see Step 2 of the Procedure)
For the pork:
  • 4 to 5 pounds pork shoulder (or slightly bigger or smaller if you wish)
  • 1 onion
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • ½ cup cider vinegar
  • 2 to 4 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
Procedure
  1. The night before you want to cook the pork, prepare the rub and coat the pork with it. To make the rub: Combine all ingredients (except the liquid smoke), then mix thoroughly until well blended.
  2. Coat the pork shoulder with the rub: Remove the pork from its packaging, then rinse it  and pat dry. Trim off most of the fat, leaving on no more than ¼ inch. Cut the pork into 4 to 6 pieces of roughly equal size. Then, with a sharp knife, slash broad criss-cross patterns into the surface of the pork pieces. The knife cuts should be about ¼ inch deep, with an inch between slashes. (Alternatively, prick the pork pieces all over with a fork. In either case, you want “pockets” that the rub can cling to.) Rub the surface of all the pork pieces with liquid smoke, if using (we just put a bit of liquid smoke into the palm of our hands, then massage the pork). Next, with your hands, pat the dry rub onto all sides of the pork pieces. Then work it into the pork—work it in well, because it’s the rub that will provide most of the smoky BBQ flavor. Use at least ¼ cup of rub, but more if you wish (we typically use closer to ½ cup). Reserve any unused rub for another purpose.
  3. Wrap each piece of rubbed pork in shrink wrap, then refrigerate overnight.
  4. The next day—right before you want to cook the pork—position a slow cooker on the kitchen counter. The cooker will be plugged in and operating for several hours, so make sure it’s in a place where it will be out of the way.
  5. Peel the onion and chop it coarsely. Place it in the slow cooker. Unwrap the pieces of rubbed pork (from Step 3), and place them in the slow cooker. Add the chicken stock and cider vinegar (it won’t cover the meat, but that’s OK). Add the liquid smoke, if using. Cover the slow cooker and turn it on. If you set the cooker on high, the pork should be done in 5 to 7 hours. On low, it will take 9 or 10 hours.
  6. When the meat is done, remove it from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board or metal sheet pan. (You can discard the cooking liquid at this point, but see Notes). Let the meat cool for about five minutes, then shred it with 2 forks (or your hands, if you have asbestos fingers). Serve the pulled pork with barbecue sauce (see Notes).
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Notes
  • There are several brands of slow cookers available. The Crock-Pot brand is probably the best known, but they all work pretty much the same. Just use one big enough to hold all the meat (a 5- or 6-quart size should be sufficient).
  • Why cut the pork shoulder into several pieces (Step 2) rather than leave it whole? Because you increase the surface area of the meat by cutting it into pieces. More surface area means more area for the rub to cling to. Which means more flavor (the rub contributes much of the smoky flavor). But if you prefer to leave the pork shoulder in one piece, you can do so.
  • This recipe calls for liquid smoke to help flavor the meat during the cooking process. Good liquid smoke is a natural product, containing nothing but water and natural smoke concentrate. So don’t be afraid to use it. But read the label—some brands of liquid smoke contain other ingredients, and you may want to avoid those.
  • The rub in this recipe contains both pimentón (smoked Spanish paprika) and dried chipotle chile powder (made from smoked and dried jalapeño peppers). The naturally smoky flavor of these ingredients helps flavor the pork.
  • BTW, the quantities specified for the rub ingredients are flexible. Feel free to add more or less of any ingredient, or omit an ingredient entirely if you wish.
  • Hickory-smoked salt has terrific flavor. But it's often hard to find in grocery stores. If you’d like to try some, you’ll find good information via Google (and the reviews at Amazon). We bought a pound of hickory-smoked salt, and store it in the freezer to help preserve its aroma.
  • The recipe for the rub makes more than you’ll use for this dish. You can store the rest in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of weeks. It will keep even longer if you refrigerate or freeze it.
  • When the pork is finished cooking, we often remove the fat from the cooking liquid and keep the liquid for storing leftover pork (we just pour the liquid into the same container that we use for the leftover meat—it helps keep it moist). 
  • Alternatively, you may want to use some of the cooking liquid to moisten the pork for serving. The cooking liquid can be quite flavorful—though if you used a great deal of liquid smoke in cooking, you may find the smoke flavor too strong. So taste it first. 
  • What barbecue sauce should you serve with pulled pork? We recommend our Tangy Barbecue Sauce. But your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce will work just fine. 
  • Pulled pork goes great with any number of side dishes. It’s terrific with Garlic Coleslaw. And Mustard Potato Salad. Or Easy Baked Beans with Bacon. And cornbread is a natural—we’re particularly fond of our Jalapeño Cornbread.
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Meaty Discussion

“Oink!” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “This pulled pork has big flavor. And it’s so tender.”

“Makes me squeal in delight,” I said. “And it’s so easy to make.”

“Good thing,” said Mrs K R. “Because I think we’ll want to pig out on this again.”

“Yup, this is so good, I could hog it all,” I said. “So, did you ever think of becoming a vegetarian?”

“When pigs fly,” said Mrs K R.

You may also enjoy reading about:
Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork
Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Spare Ribss
Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Beef Brisket
Tangy Barbecue Sauce
Garlic Coleslaw
Mustard Potato Salad
Easy Baked Beans with Bacon
Jalapeño Cornbread
Or check out the index for more recipes

122 comments:

All That I'm Eating said...

I really need to try pulled pork at home soon! This has made me so hungry.

Laura Dembowski said...

I have always wanted to try pulled pork. I really like the sound of your recipe here. Do you have any advice for how I could make this in a dutch oven in the oven.

mymansbelly said...

I love pulled pork and your recipe sounds great! Love the addition of the vinegar. I'll have to try that the next time I make it.

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Hi John, I have never made pulled pork before, and because of all of your great tips I think I could make this too, love the banter at the end. Happy Wednesday!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Caroline, pulled pork is wonderful stuff! SO flavorful. And fun to make! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, I do have advice for making this in the oven! Check out our recipe for Oven Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork: http://www.kitchenriffs.com/2014/01/oven-slow-cooked-bbq-pulled-pork.html Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pamela, the vinegar adds a certain something. You can make it with just chicken stock, but we think adding vinegar is a nice (though subtle) improvement. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Cheri, Happy Wednesday! This is such an easy recipe. And SO good! Thanks for the comment.

Shashi at SavorySpin said...

Oh wow - I can imagine just how flavorful this pork is after having been rubbed the night before with that aromatic spice blend! Simply wonderful recipe - thanks so much for sharing!

Pat@savorthebest.com said...

Looks delish, John.....I have yet to make a pulled pork and is going to change. Thanks :)

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

It surprised the heck out of me when my very sophisticated cook/sister told me she swears by her Dr. Pepper crock pot recipe for pulled pork. I think the cook in me will be more satified with your version, John. But I've run out of Liquid Smoke. I think I forgot to tell you I made your oven beef brisket -- Wonderful!

Melanie @ Melanie Cooks said...

I love pulled pork! This recipe is so easy, it's always great to have the slow cooker do all the work! Pulled pork is the perfect Super Bowl food!

Fran @ G'day Souffle' said...

Love the flavors of chipotle added to the rub! And as far as the Barbeque sauce to serve it with, I'd go with Trader Joe's Kansas City Barbeque Sauce (I've been trying to duplicate it for months, but can't succeed)!

Raymund said...

This is my kind of meal!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Shashi, this is good stuff -- tons of flavor. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pat, pulled pork is addictive stuff -- once you start making it, you won't stop! Thanks for the comment.

Denise Browning said...

If I would show this to my husband, I would have a begging man in front of me... Hehe. He loves pulled pork sandwiches and this looks DE-LI-CIOUS!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Rosemary, glad you like the oven beef brisket! I was surprised at how good the slow cooker pulled pork turned out. Like the oven method, but may be making this more often. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Melanie, isn't this easy? And SO good! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, I don't think I've ever had Trader Joe's KC BBQ sauce. Will have to try it. A lot of the commercial KC sauces are really sweet. We used to live in KC, and I always think of the sauces at the best BBQ joints as being much less sweet (and in fact our BBQ sauce recipe is of that ilk). Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, isn't this nice? Truly good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, this is wonderful stuff -- your husband will definitely be begging. So figure out what he can do for you in return when you make this. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Vicki Bensinger said...

Wow this sounds heavenly John. I haven't pulled out my slow cooker in quite some time. I may have to dust it off and make this. Nice recipe!

Mae Travels said...

Slow cookers are definitely the small appliance of this month... so many recipes for slow cooking and so many ways to spice the dishes. I made lamb shanks the other day-and-night (tough meat, takes 15 hours or so). You made chilli and this dish. Other people made sloppy Joe filling, soup, and all kinds of beef roasts. Amazing, isn't it.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Pam said...

Love this recipe! Now I have a craving for pulled pork.

Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes said...

I wish I could grill this time of year but it's freezing!! This is definitely a great alternative making pulled pork in the slow cooker -and just as yummy!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Vicki, this (right after chili) is a perfect slow cooker recipe. Really good stuff! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, it's been ages since we've used our slow cooker, and now we're on a roll! Pulled pork is a perfect slow cooker dish -- the meat is so tender and juicy. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, sorry about that craving thing. But every time I think of this recipe, I get a craving too! Thanks for the comment.

beyondkimchee said...

I am so need of a slow cooker. I don't know why I don't get one soon. This pulled BBQ pork looks so delicious. I wouldn't mind having a second serving.

Carol at Wild Goose Mama said...

The adjective succulent goes hand in hand or hand in hoof---but saying that reminds they were once alive and I don't want to think
about that---with pork, especially pulled pork. I crave pulled pork and I really don't have it that often, which of course makes it even more delicious. I love my slow cooker. Just started using it more often in the last couple of years. What a boon to a working woman and also a hostess who wants to be in the mix with her guests instead of in the kitchen.

GiGi Eats Celebrities said...

Sometimes I wish I could get myself to eat pork because everyone raves over how tasty it is... Alas, I just cannot. Unless it's raised humanely but of course!

Liz (Good Things) said...

John, your instructions are wonderful! Thanks for sharing a great recipe, that has me salivating over my morning coffee!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ashley, we could bundle up and grill -- and have -- but it gets old fast. This is much better! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Holly, we don't use our slow cooker that much, but when we do, we wonder why we don't use it all the time. They're fun and handy! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carol, pork is pure succulence, isn't it? Love the stuff! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi GiGi, pork is really worth raving over! Heck, you tried frogs legs -- you should make that your next challenge! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, this is such a nice recipe! Really good tasting meat, and really easy. Thanks for the comment.

~~louise~~ said...

Hey you "guys" I guess that's why January is Slow Cooker Month, lol...

~~louise~~ said...

Oh my heavens John, I do believe the aroma of that pulled pork of yours is wafting through the monitor. I have the darndest time finding Hickory Smoked Salt in this area. Glad to know I'm not the only one though. Will check your source:)

I love everything about this recipe, John. There's been lots of pork butt in the grocery store the last couple of weeks. I have a feeling it's because of recipes like this. I better get me some, quick!

Thanks for sharing, John...

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

This might cause me to run out and buy a slow cooker! This is making me squeal-it looks so good!

~ Nee ~ said...

Hi John , I can taste the pork now , so easy and not much fuss , just what I need right now . Oh yes , easy clean up . I am pinning . Nee

Judy @Savoring Today said...

Mmm, I know a barbecue sauce that would go great with this! ;) Perfect for the big game coming up and easy on the host too.

Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today said...

It's after midnight over here and you made me so hungry.

Tricia Buice said...

I "gasped" when I clicked on your site and saw this amazing sandwich. I will not be fit to live with until I get a big giant pork sandwich that looks like this! Beautiful!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Louise, LOL! I didn't actually know that -- and should have. :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Louise, we saved a bundle on the pork butt we bought! In fact that's one of the reasons I decided to post this recipe at this time. :-) Hickory Smoked salt is really good stuff, but really hard to find. I sometimes see it in stores, but online is the easiest way to get it IMO. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, we definitely squeal over this dish! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nee, sometimes we like to do complicated recipes, but more often easy is who we are. Particularly easy recipes that are this tasty! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judy, I believe I know exactly what barbecue sauce you're thinking of! :D Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Marta, it's always tough looking at blogs during off hours, isn't it? I get so hungry too! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Tricia, you owe it to yourself to fix a mess of pulled pork. Truly a wonderful dish. Thanks for the comment.

Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness said...

I really like this slow cooker pulled pork. The flavor of it has to be amazing.

Juliana said...

John, you sure do wonder with the slow cooker...this pulled BBQ pork just look so tempting...packed with flavor...
Hope you are enjoying your week :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Dawn, we love the flavor of this! Definitely worth a try if you like pulled pork. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Juliana, this is tempting, isn't it? In fact, impossible to resist! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Jeff the Chef said...

If you're making this for the game, I hope you don't mind if I stop over!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, sure! Bring beer. :D Thanks for the comment.

Kushigalu said...

Love the recipe. Looks so delicious. Beautiful share :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Kushi, isn't this nice? We love pulled pork! And this recipe is so easy. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Karen Harris said...

I have been making pulled pork like this for several years but I love the overnight dry marinating. I'm sure this makes a world of difference. Can't wait to try it!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Karen, that overnight dry marinade really adds flavor. Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

This looks simply wonderful. My little one loves pork and I know this might be something I can make. Those flavors are so yum.
Have a good weekend!
xx

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Asha, your little one will love this. Guaranteed. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Marcelle said...

This post made me hungry, it's looks really delicious. I've made pulled pork in my slow cooker before and it is the stuff of magic :) Love your dry marinade and the addition of liquid smoke. I'll have to try that next time we make this.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Marcelle, the liquid smoke and the rub really add a lot of flavor! Good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Barb | Creative Culinary said...

So a combination of some vinegar and dry rub and a sauce. Looks like you've covered all the BBQ pork bases! LOVE the idea of using a crockpot; I saw someone mock people who use them the other day. You know, someone who is retired and basically has all day to play? That is so not me and I use it whenever I possible can!

Sounds great; makes me want to dig in the freezer asap for some pork. I do have a party in mind that's coming up. Hint: GO BRONCOS!! :)

Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl said...

Might need to make this for the boys for dinner after a hard weekend Upstate working!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

I only discovered pulled pork a few years ago---and loved it with my first bite. Your recipe looks wonderful---perfect for Superbowl Sunday!

Dottie said...

Hi John,
Wow! I must say this one is awesome! I love a good pulled pork sandwich and I love all of the spices that you have used..very flavorful I am sure..I still have not had a chance to get a new slow cooker, (with my mom being in rehab) but I thank you for posting an oven recipe as well. I will try that until I can look for another slow cooker..Looks so yummy and I am getting hungry now thinking of this Thanks form sharing..Have a great rest of the week...looking forward to your next weeks's recipe. Say hello to Mrs. K Riffs
Dottie :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Barb, hope the Broncos delight you! We've had a slow cooker for years, and haven't used it much. Decided it was time to see what it could do. So you'll be seeing more slow cooker recipes throughout the year. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pamela, yup, after all that digging and such, this would make an awesome reward. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, this recipe surpassed my expectations -- really good stuff! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Dottie, the oven version of this works quite well, and has always been my go-to. May change my mind about that with this recipe, though -- really tasty. Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

My hubby definitely likes to use his smoker for pulled pork. But I can totally get into using a slow cooker when the weather outside just isn't great. That way, one can indulge in a porky fest no matter what. ;)

Amira said...

This look so tender I bet I can use the same technique in a beef chuck piece .. I always find liquid smoke nice to add to grilled meat. Thanks for the recipe.

Ansh said...

This sounds really wonderful. With all the spices you have used I know it is going to be wonderful. I have not made pulled pork ever, but now I have no reason not to. Lovely recipe as usual.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, no weather will keep us from our porky fests! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amira, yup, you can use exactly the same method on beef chuck. Nice trick to know. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ansh, this is really a good method to make pulled pork, and isn't at all difficult. And so tasty! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Rocquie said...

Hi John, I also make a spice rubbed pulled pork in the crock pot. Next time I do it, I'm going to incorporate some of your great ideas. Cutting the pork into chunks, yielding more surface to rub is brilliant. I also like the idea of using some vinegar as cooking liquid. We love vinegar based Carolina barbecue sauce, so I don't know why I haven't thought about that one before. Thank you for another great post, Rocquie

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Rocquie, vinegar and pork works so well together, doesn't it? And adds some nice flavor to this! Thanks for the comment.

Beth said...

Your pulled pork is making my mouth water! What a gorgeous meal, just right for eating in front of a football game.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Beth, perfect for football! Or baseball. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Hotly Spiced said...

This is a very timely post as this week I am finally (long overdue), going out to buy a slow cooker. I'm very busy during the day now and come home in the evening when everyone's hungry and wondering what's for dinner. Sorting dinner before I go out in the morning is my current solution. I like the tips you've given with this recipe including cutting the pork to create more surface area for the rub. I bet there's wonderful aromas and flavours from this pork xx

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Charlie, this will be perfect for you! Best thing about this is it makes a bunch, so you can freeze some (freeze it i its cooking liquid so it stays juicy). Thanks for the comment.

Simones Kitchen said...

I love my slowcooker and I love pulled pork maybe even more. I have made it my mission to use the slow cooker more this year and I'll definitely be making a couple of pulled porks in the process. Love the recipe John!

Suzanne Perazzini said...

That looks like a delicious winter dish. I can leave out a couple of things and it will work well for me.

Peachy @ The Peach KItchen said...

That BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich just made me crave for one!

Robyn said...

Hi John,
Can you believe I've never even had pulled pork...or pulled chicken for that matter. It's not a big deal here in Canada but every time I see a recipe for it I'm kicking myself for not making it by now! I've got a crockpot that I never use as well so clearly the universe is trying to tell me something today. Your recipe will be on our menu this week! Thanks :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Simone, we want to use our slow cooker more this year, too. And pulled pork is a perfect way to use it! The results are excellent. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Suzanne, isn't this nice? Glad you can make it work for your diet! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Peachy, I'm craving one just thinking about it! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Robyn, this used to be one of those dishes I'd get at BBQ joints, and only at BBQ joints. But it's so easy to make, we've having it at home much more often these days. Thanks for the comment.

Dana @ Simply Romanesco said...

This looks excellent and mouthwatering!! The perfect recipe for the Super Bowl! Yum :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Dana, this is really a fun way to use a slow cooker! Really the ideal recipe for this device. Thanks for the comment.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

Oh yeah slow-cooker pulled pork is the best, next to the actual BBQ. I am used to making the mustard vinegar version but will have to give the bbq version like this a try. Great share John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Evelyne, you could use a mustard & vinegar BBQ sauce on this; or a tomato-based BBQ sauce. Both are really good! Thanks for the comment.

Sippity Sup said...

Very inspiring. I don't have a slow cooker. I don't know why I resist. This recipe is one less brick in the foundation of my denial (wow I sound so lyrical!). GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, we've had a slow cooker for years, and have barely used it. But it does some things extremely well, so we've decided to figure out what those recipes are. This (and chili) might be among the best. Thanks for the comment.

ChgoJohn said...

I switched to using my slow-cooker for pulled pork a few years ago and haven't looked back. It's just so darn easy! I really haven't settled on a recipe, however, and have been experimenting with a few. I will definitely try yours next time. It sounds delicious. Thanks, too, for the tip about liquid smoke. I've never used the product and wouldn't have known which ingredients to avoid/look for. Thanks for sharing another great one, John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi John, liquid smoke is magical stuff! And a good brand doesn't have any junk in it. I don't know what took us so long to use the slow cooker for pulled pork -- probably because we so like our oven method. But the slow cooker is so easy, isn't it? Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Never been using a slow-cooker, but you definitely inspire me to get one ;) The pulled pork looks fabulous! Wonderful recipe ! Thanks so much for sharing!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Marcela, slow cookers can do a lot of stuff. If you have the room, worth getting one. We're really getting into slow cooker cooking! Thanks for the comment.

Bam's Kitchen said...

Marvelous John! I am going to make a batch of your recipe this weekend and serve it in flour tortillas with all of the tex mex fillings. Heck why not you could use this recipe so many ways so tender and full of flavor.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, this is a great, basic recipe -- change things around a bit and you have Mexican-style meat or whatever. Love it! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen said...

Perfect weeknight dish! I will make this tonight ;D

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Kristi, you'll enjoy it! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Amanda | Chew Town said...

I love that your recipe includes the rub recipe too! The only way to do it right is to make your own rub. Rain, hail or shine, this looks delicious and tasty any time of the year! Thanks John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amanda, it's so much fun making your own rub! Not to mention your own pulled pork. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Pig really is a miracle meat huh? I just started dating this fella who doesn't eat pork mostly due to religious reasons, but he lives a few hours away so I stuff my face all week with pork products and become a purist during the weekends when we hang out. Adding your pulled pork recipe to my pigfest menu. Thanks John. :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anna, love pig in all its forms! You'll like this -- it's really good. And easy. :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

I could eat pulled pork year round! One pork roast can be used in so many ways and this sandwich looks awesome. I'm already licking my lips. Love that ring of red onion sitting on the meat. So good!!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, pulled pork is such versatile stuff, isn't it? Easy to use some of this meat with green chilies to give it an entirely different flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Heavenly! I'm a sucker for pulled pork.

Cheers,

Rosa

http://www.reveriesbramblesscribbles.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Rosa, we are too! Thanks for the comment.

Alyssa (Everyday Maven) said...

This looks amazing! printing for my husband!!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Alyssa, this IS amazing! :-) Your husband will love it. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) said...

Your photos made me instantly hungry. And I love my slow cooker year round. I'd be more inclined to make this recipe than use the grill anytime of year. Pinned.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lea Ann, we like messing with our grill, but this recipe is awfully easy, isn't it? And the meat has terrific flavor! Thanks for the comment.

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

I'm so enthusiastic as well with your result! You know, with Instant Pot, I always wonder if I could use a pressure cooker for pulled pork. I'd love to challenge myself using pressure cooker. Usually results are pretty similar or some even better. I want to eat your pulled pork.. looks really good, even the dry rub ingredients make my mouth water already. :D

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nami, that dry rub is really wonderful! It'd be fun to see what you could do with your Instant Pot in making pulled pork -- great idea. Thanks for the comment.