Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork is a 5-ingredient, long-cooking crock pot recipe that couldn’t be simpler. Use the pulled pork for sandwiches, nachos, salads, and wraps!
Hello, hello everyone – I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We’d planned on going pumpkin picking yesterday but the farm we were to visit flooded, so we’ll have to delay it by a week or two. They might think I’m smuggling one out with the belly I’ll have by then! Other than that it was really low key here – just organizing away and getting ready for our own little pumpkin to make his arrival. ?
Speaking of pumpkins of the human variety, I have something specific to talk to you about today (as opposed to my usual drivel,) which is family meal time. I grew up eating dinner as a family at least four nights a week, no matter what. As a teenager I thought this was HORRIBLY lame, but as a result my parents knew everything that was going on in my brother’s and my lives at any given moment. Well, almost everything – a girl’s got to have some secrets! At any rate, the TV was turned off, cell phones weren’t even a thing back then (#old) and there was nothing else on the agenda besides connecting for a bit.
After Ben and I got married we attempted to sit down and eat together a few nights a week, but dinner gradually moved from the table to the couch where we’d scarf our food over conversation and a beer. What can I say, most 24 and 25 year olds, at least in our case, do exactly what their parents teach them not to do, right?
Fast forward to our early 30s and I think our parents would be proud. We’re back at the table – er, counter (it’s not the location but action that counts, right?!) – eating dinner with little Lincoln almost every night. I can now fully appreciate how important it is to eat as a family, and not just so Ben and I can trade off convincing our little man to take “ONE MORE BITE, MISTER!” Family dinner is truly the only time of day when all three of us are able to be in the same spot with nothing more to do than talk to each other. And convince Lincoln that my butternut squash noodle bowls don’t taste “gross-o, Mom.” Le sigh. I look forward to it all day. The conversation, not the insults, of course.
Anyway, Hy-Vee is celebrating National Family Meals Month this September by encouraging families to eat 1 more meal together a week. To further encourage this time of togetherness, Hy-Vee is asking that you share a photo of your family meal on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #HyVeeFamilyMeals – every time the hashtag is used by September 30, Hy-Vee will donate $1 to Meals from the Heartland up to $100,000. This is HUGE!
Meals from the Heartland is an Iowa-based organization that packages and delivers food to not only hungry Iowans, but children and adults in need all over the United States, and the world. Since 2008, they’ve provided nearly 65 millions meals to the hungry and starving. I’m so incredibly proud this organization is essentially located in my backyard, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a local that hasn’t helped them in one way or another. Their packing events can get absolutely enormous and are a great way for schools, churches, and organizations to help (my MOPS groups volunteers every year.)
I know fall is a tough time of year to get the family together around the table, let alone take a photo of it happening, but the recipe I’m sharing today will ensure there’s plenty of time to eat and snap a picture before racing off to the evening’s events.
Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork is a 5-ingredient, long-cooking crock pot recipe that slow cooks all day so all you have to do at dinnertime is shred it, mix the pork with BBQ sauce, then pile onto buns and eat. This meal is seriously simple, inexpensive, and family-friendly. If your kids don’t like buns, add the succulent shredded meat to a wrap and call it a day. Want to pump up the nutrition of your meal? Toss the pork with greens and vegetables for a filling and nutritious salad. Lincoln loved it over a bowl of rice. This BBQ pulled pork recipe is so, so versatile and absolutely delicious. Plus the leftovers freeze beautifully – just scoop the meat into Ziplock bags then freeze flat. It’s the meal that keeps on giving!
Speaking of giving, I really hope you’ll take Hy-Vee up on their offer to squeeze in 1 more family meal this week then snap a photo to post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #HyVeeFamilyMeals. You definitely don’t have to be a local to participate – hunger is a worldwide issue! Even easier, you can simply retweet this message, or share this post by 9/30 and Hy-Vee will donate $1. Let’s help feed more people in need this fall!
Start the Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork by trimming a 4lb pork shoulder/butt of any large pieces of fat and/or connective tissue then slice into big hunks. I’m not going to lie, this isn’t the most pleasant of tasks but kitchen shears and a sharp knife make it much easier. By the way, please notice the price of this cut of meat – $2.98 a pound. Definitely budget friendly, especially since this recipe make a TON of food!
Place the pork into the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot then season generously with garlic salt and add 1 cup of your favorite bbq sauce. I whipped up the same sauce I used for my Crock Pot BBQ Chicken which worked perfectly.
Next add up to 12oz root beer or cola – you just need enough to nearly cover the meat. I’ve been looking for a root beer/cola that’s free from caramel coloring for ages, specifically to make this recipe, and was so glad to see Zevia has removed it from their soda line – AWESOME!! Truly you can use whatever root beer or cola your family likes and/or you have on hand (that said, I’ve been making this recipe for years and take my word for it – don’t use Pepsi unless you like Pepsi-flavored meat!)
Anyway, stir everything together then top the meat with 1 thinly sliced yellow onion. Cover then cook on low for 8 hours or until the pork shreds very easily with a fork. It should literally just fall apart.
Tip: If you want to get this crock pot recipe cooking even faster, combine all the ingredients in the crock at night, place in the refrigerator, then pop onto the base and turn it on in the morning. So simple!
Last step is to mix the shredded pork with more of your favorite BBQ sauce then pile onto buns, tortilla chips, wraps, or salads. I went the extra step of tossing bagged coleslaw mix with my go-to Italian vinaigrette to top our sandwiches off with. The mix of tangy slaw and sweet bbq sauce was out of this world!
Don’t forget to take a picture of your family enjoying this simple crock pot meal, or any other, then post to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with #HyVeeFamilyMeals by September 30 to help raise money for Meals from the Heartland. Enjoy, enjoy – and THANK YOU!
Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
Description
Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork is a 5-ingredient, long-cooking crock pot recipe that couldn't be simpler. Use the pulled pork in sandwiches, or for nachos, salads, and wraps!
Ingredients
- 4lb pork butt (also called "pork shoulder",) trimmed of excess fat then cut into large hunks
- garlic salt
- 1 cup gluten-free BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
- 12oz root beer or cola (do not recommend Pepsi)
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- gluten-free buns, for serving
Directions
- Place pork into the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot then generously season with garlic salt. Add BBQ sauce and enough root beer or cola to nearly cover the meat then stir to combine. Sprinkle onions on top then cook on low for 8 hours or until pork shreds very easily. Mix shredded pork with more BBQ sauce then serve on buns.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I love this! I have made something similar and the whole family eats it, and leftovers are awesome. My only problem is that big fatty piece of pork ? Now I take it to the meat counter and the butchers are so nice – they will trim it and cut it how I want. Take advantage of the butchers! They always seem happy to help.
That is an awesome tip, Sara! Going to do that next time.
Well, I’m a big pulled pork man here. I know my wife always buy pulled pork for our girls birthday parties but it is $13.99 a pound! And I like how you used Zevia. My mother-in-law buys me Zevia sometimes.
You guys could save a bundle with this recipe then!
Is there leftover liquid in the crock pot after the pork is cooked? If so, do you reuse that or just mix with fresh BBQ sauce?
There’s a little bit of liquid leftover. I usually scoop some if it in with the meat when storing it in the fridge, but mix the drained pork with fresh bbq sauce.
Would regular coke work? If you prep it the night before and put it in the fridge how much longer does it take to cook since the crockpot is cold?
Yes – Coke works awesome! You won’t need to tack on any extra time if you’re cooking straight from the fridge either.
Can another liquid be used besides soda?
Hi Rose! Absolutely – you could use any broth/liquid. The taste just won’t be similar.
does it matter if the pop is regular or diet? I noticed the Stevia is sugar-free. Does it give the meat a sweeter taste? (I was originally going to say “soda” but I remembered you are in Iowa which is “pop” country!)
I’d recommend regular pop vs diet (Zevia is sweetened with Stevia but I didn’t notice any “off” taste.) I would think a diet pop sweetened with aspartame, nutrisweet, etc would cause the meat to taste a bit off.
This loves absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing :)
If only this was on my dinner table this evening for dinner :) Nothing is better than pulled pork topped with cole slaw!
What gluten free buns do you like? I just started eating gluten free this year and need to find more good go-to items! Is there a tortilla you like? Does your husband eat gluten free as well if does he still eat normal bread, noodles, etc?
If I’m using a bun, I use Canyon Bakehouse buns, toast and serve them warm, but honestly I usually just eat burgers and sandwiches bunless. We do maintain a GF household because I was staying sick from cross contamination on surfaces, plates/utensils, etc. As far as tortillas, I HAVE tried a few and they’ve been good though they must not have been that good because I can’t recall the brands! I have been wanting to pick up Udi’s tortillas to give them a try!
Hi! Do you think this would work with chicken? My family didn’t eat pork but it sounds so good!
Here’s my recipe for Crock Pot BBQ Chicken, Jyl! iowagirleats.com/2015/05/08/crock-pot-bbq-chicken-with-homemade-bbq-sauce/
can you make vegan pulled pork? I love the taste of juicy meat but my doctor says I need to go 100% vegan!
Have you ever frozen leftovers? We’re just a two-person household and, while we like leftovers, I’m not sure I want to eat this alllllll week. ;-)
Yep! I’ve got half of ours in the freezer right now! :) Pack the shredded meat in a freezer bag without mixing with BBQ sauce first, and then thaw in the fridge.
I followed the recipe to the letter and was left with awesome tasting pork … and a TON of liquid (before I started shredding/breaking it up). Like, 4 cups at least, even leaving some liquid in so that the pork remained moist. Weird. Not a big deal but thought I’d mention. Flavor was spot on and my boyfriend was super happy!
Do you think this would work with pork chops? I have some in my freezer from when they were on sale :)
Hey Alex! I’ve actually never tried to slow cook pork chops so I can’t say for sure. Come back and let us know how it goes if you try!
I love putting BBQ pulled pork on top of a baked potato. It’s hearty, cozy, and simple!
Looks delicious! What are your thoughts on using beer vs cola?
Sounds delicious!
Just wondering if 4 lbs of Pork Tri Tip could be used instead of the pork shoulder? Thanks
What can I use instead of BBQ sauce. My family does not like it.
[…] Crockpot Pulled Pork BBQ […]
I used Dr. pepper… added great flavor!
Think this would work if I cooked it on high for 4 hours instead of 8 hours on low? Or am I breaking a sacred law of pulled pork? I didn’t plan ahead well enough and am starting this late in the day….
I usually cook big cuts of pork and beef on low to get them super tender – it might work with a combo of high and low though if you’re short on time!
Love all the IGE recipes! A tip from my rockstar, master bbq chef Dad… add in a 1/4 cup each of salsa, white vinegar and yellow mustard. Taking it up a notch! Have this in crock ready to cook!
Can I use club soda instead?
I would not recommend using club soda as the root beer or cola adds a ton of flavor to the dish.