Today’s easy Pulled Pork Recipe is one we make AT LEAST once a month to enjoy with barbecue sauce in sandwiches, or to use in quesadillas, tacos or burritos. It’s tender, juicy, and packed with smoky flavor, all made easily in the slow cooker.
With just pork butt, salt, and liquid smoke, the meat cooks low and slow until it shreds effortlessly, making it perfect for all of your favorite recipes.
We love to serve this crockpot pulled pork along with our favorite side dishes, like Easy Coleslaw and Potato Salad.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- So simple! This takes less than 5 minutes to prep, uses only a few simple ingredients, and the crock pot does all of the work!
- Budget-friendly feast. It is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat that stretches a long way, and usually has leftovers for other meals.
- Effortless entertaining. Throw everything in the pot and come home to a ready-made main course that feeds a crowd and smells amazing.
Easy Pulled Pork Ingredients
- Pork butt (3-4 pounds): Becomes tender and juicy when cooked low and slow. The most common cuts of pork to use are pork shoulder (also known as pork butt or Boston butt) and pork loin. Both are great options, but we think pork butt is the best cut of meat.
- Kosher salt (2 tablespoons): Seasons the meat deeply. Add other spices such as black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, mustard powder, or a pulled pork rub.
- Liquid smoke (⅓ cup): Adds smoky flavor without a grill. Instead of liquid smoke, many people like to use apple cider vinegar or chicken broth to help tenderize and flavor the meat.
- Barbecue sauce (optional): Adds sweetness and bold BBQ flavor when mixed in. Enjoy pulled pork without sauce, but I love using Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce or homemade BBQ Sauce.
- Hamburger buns (8): Holds the shredded pork for easy serving.
- Optional toppings: Like coleslaw, pickles, and onion rings add texture and flavor contrast.
How to Make Pulled Pork
PREP. Rub coarse salt all over the pork.
COOK. Place in a slow cooker, cover in liquid smoke, and cook for 8-10 hours on LOW.
SHRED. The pork should be shredded into pieces. Serve on its own or add BBQ Sauce to taste – perfect for our pulled pork sandwiches!
Oven Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Rub liquid smoke and salt over the pork butt and wrap in foil. Place in a roasting pan and cook for 5 hours, or until the internal temperature is 145°F. Shred and serve as directed above.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- We love the added flavor, but you can easily trim the excess fat, if desired, before cooking.
- Cook on low for the most tender results. It’s best to start it in the morning.
- Shred the meat directly in the slow cooker to soak up juices and make it even more tender.
- Add barbecue sauce gradually to control the sweetness. We love Baby Ray’s or our homemade sauce!
- We love doing pulled pork for meal prep. It also freezes well for easy future meals like Empanadas, Pork Tacos, Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Loaded Nachos, or Chimichangas.
Crockpot Pulled Pork Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds pork butt
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- ⅓ cup liquid smoke
- barbecue sauce, optional
- 8 hamburger buns
- coleslaw, pickles, onion rings, optional
Instructions
- Rub pork butt generously with salt.
- Place pork in your slow cooker and pour liquid smoke over it.
- Cook on low for 8–10 hours or until pork shreds easily.
- Shred pork with a fork, then add barbecue sauce and stir to mix. Serve on hamburger buns with additional sauce and any desired toppings.
Notes
- We love the added flavor, but you can easily trim the excess fat, if desired, before cooking.
- Cook on low for the most tender results. It’s best to start it in the morning.
- Shred the meat directly in the slow cooker to soak up juices and make it even more tender.
- We love doing pulled pork for meal prep. It also freezes well for easy future meals like Empanadas, Loaded Pulled Pork Cups, Pork Tacos, Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Loaded Nachos, or Chimichangas.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Keep BBQ pulled pork in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Store individual servings in freezer-safe bags for 2-3 months in the freezer. Seal the bags tightly so none of it will leak out. Pull it out for a quick and easy meal when you don’t have time to make dinner! Let it thaw and heat it over the stove or in the microwave.
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This recipe was first shared May, 2014.
Not everyone has crockpot or slow cooker …maybe give alternative methods live oven or stovetop
I can’t believe no commenter has said this is kalua, except it’s using kosher salt instead of Hawaiian sea salt. 😄
Pulled Pork is one of my go to meals. I always have a bottle of Carolina sauce on the side.
This turned out way better than I imagined. It is now the recipe I’m using for all the party BBQ’s. It did not last and I’m glad that there is a double and triple choice. Thank you for a great recipe.
Pulled pork is a favorite for BBQ and this recipe is no exception. The flavors of the pork with a tangy BBQ sauce is perfect for a summer picnic. Pull up to the picnic table and enjoy a sandwich or two.
Pulled pork is one of my all time favorite meals. I am originally from North Carolina which uses a vinegar based recipe and I haven’t tasted a better sandwich anywhere else in the country. Do you have a North Carolina based recipe?
This recipe looked simple and tasty. Believe me, it is. I needed a new recipe for freezer meals and for a quick way to get a filling favorite meal on the table. I put it in the crockpot and let it go. About twenty – 30 minutes after I walked in the door, I had dinner done and on the table. That time also included getting changed out of work wear and into comfy clothes for evening fun
,Pulled pork is one of my favorite recipes to make. I make it a little different, but your recipe is easy and quick. I enjoy the recipes you post and wish I had time to try them all!
This was so good. My whole family ate it up and requested it be on our meal rotation. It was so easy I am happy to oblige them.
GREAT RECIPE 👍
Love this pulled pork recipe! Easy and delicious!
I’d be interested in knowing the barbeque sauce preferences of you and the group here. I like KC Masterpiece. My husband likes Bullseye. You?
I have enjoyed so many of your recipes it is hard for me to find one I haven’t liked since I started receiving your emails.
I am planning a family reunion for the 4th of July this year and of course we will have the usual brats, dogs and burgers but wanted to add a pulled pork recipe and this one looks like it would be perfect, have a month to make and try it before the big day. Thank you and enjoy the summer while I am enjoying many of your recipes.
Easy. Delicious
I love all of your recipes they’re very easy to prepare and they turn out great thank you
You’re welcome!! Thanks for giving them a try!
Made this several times easy and tasty
One of our favorite Sunday dinners! Super easy to throw together. We also like to use the pork for tacos or nachos.
I prefer the pork loin for pulled pork and I add some apple juice to the crock pot when cooking. This adds a little moisture and a different flavor. I have heard that some people use Dr. Pepper in the crock pot for flavor. To each his own, I guess!
I love the Sweet Baby Ray’s for the bbq sauce!
It’s true! Lots of variations out there. Thanks for the feedback!
this is the easiest, best recipe I have ever tried. Amazing.
I love this recipe – it’s family friendly and so delicious!
My family would love this pulled pork! DELICIOUS!
This is one of my family’s favorite. I make them with brioche buns and lettuce wraps!
Ooh that sounds delicious! So glad your family enjoys the pork!
This recipe is quick and easy to put together and turns out amazing! Last time I made this was for when we had friends over and still had a ton of leftovers.
Haven’t tried the liquid smoke before! What a great addition!
Ooh it makes the yummiest difference!! 🙂
Always a got to for big family/friends gathering. Sooo good.
Made this and it tasted so good! Was a nice easy meal to come home to!
This is one of the best pulled pork recipes I’ve ever made. Even my picky toddlers love this recipe ❤️
I’ve made this so many times and we all love it!! So addictive and yummy!!!
Love this pork recipe! So easy and versatile!
The bESt, easiest reCIpe. Awesome taste. I dId on stOve in heavy duty pot beCause my sLow cookeR wouldn’t turn on.
That works too 🙂 So glad you found a way! Thank you!
This looks really TASTY! My husband especially would love it.
It’s the best for so many recipes! Thank you so much!
Good But NOT Perfect
Thank you for trying it 🙂
I would like too use a roaster, instead of my oven or crockpot. I do not care for the taste of pork that has been cooked in a crockpot.
That should work 🙂 Let me know what you think!
I have a 7 1/2 poud pork butt. How much LIQUID smoke should i use and How long shoukd i cook it in thE crock pot? Thanks!
I would just double the recipe & start with the same amount of time. If it needs more time, you can add. I haven’t doubled it, so I’m not sure if the time would be the same.
This is on the menu for tonight! We cant wait! YUMMY
How have i nEver seen a crockpot liner before?!! Love youre recipe and the nEw tip for easy cLean up.
Any excuse to use my slow cooker to help make dinner easier and I’m all in! This looks so delicious!
Such a great pulled pork recipe. We love using this and seasoning it in different ways for different meals!
Totally love this pulled pork recipe. Its simple with hardly any ingredients and putting it in the crockpot makes it super moist. So convienent!
Made this a couple of times and it never fails! Always turns out great!
Yum! My 2 favorite things – bbq pulled pork and slow cooker dinners! Great recipe!
I make this all the time! SO good.
This is the yummiesT & easiest pulled pork recipe!! I love that it doesn’t require a lot of ingredients & it can be used for so many recipes!
Norwegians just discovered pulled pork this spring, and I haven’t gotten around to try it jet.
Still I can see that it have grown mighty popular.
I did not expect to cook if for 8 hours though, so I might try some pre-made ones or from a restaurant.
I can never get enough pulled pork – will have to try this!!! 🙂
Same… and the recipe is so easy which means we want to make it all the time! Thanks for stopping by, Gina. 🙂
I’m going to have to try your recipe. I’ve been very hesitant to make pulled pork. It looks delicious!! Thanks for the simple recipe!
You’re welcome, Crystal! Let me know if you give this a try… I’m curious what you’ll think. Have a great day. 🙂