This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork simmers low and slow in a savory spice rub and fresh orange juice until it’s fall-apart tender. It’s a reliable hands-off recipe with an endless number of uses!
Why We love this Crockpot Pulled Pork
Set it and forget it: The prep takes about 10 minutes and your slow cooker handles the rest. As a bonus, it makes your house smell incredible.
Pork shreds easily: The pork cooks on low for 8 hours, so the meat practically falls apart on its own. If you’re not sure about this extra step, don’t worry – it takes no effort at all.
Customizable: You can easily switch up the flavors with different spice rubs and herbs depending on how you want to use the pulled pork.
Ingredients you Need
- Boneless pork shoulder – It’s also called pork butt or Boston butt and it’s the best cut of meat for this recipe. Pork shoulder tends to have a lot of marbling, so it just falls apart when you cook it low and slow. I prefer to use a boneless meat, but you can also use bone-in cut.
- Spice Rub — I’m using a blend of paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper here. If you like a sweeter pulled pork, try this recipe with my homemade BBQ seasoning. You can also use garlic powder, chili powder and a little bit of bbq sauce.
- Onion & Garlic — Aromatics give the pulled pork a more complex savory flavor. They fall apart in the slow cooker, so you don’t have to be precise with the chopping.
- Orange Juice — The sweet citrus flavors balance the savory spices in the pork and brighten the whole dish. Make sure you’re using freshly squeezed and not bottled orange juice.
How to Make Pulled Pork In the Slow Cooker
Step 1: Add the aromatics and fresh orange juice to your slow cooker.
Step 2: Mix the spices in a small bowl before seasoning all sides of the pork.
Step 3: Then, transfer the pork to your slow cooker.
Step 4: Cook the pork on low for 8 hours. Once it’s tender and flavorful, shred it with two forks. Return it to the slow cooker and mix with the liquid.
Pulled pork is fully cooked in the crock pot when it reaches an internal temperature of 195–205°F (90–96°C). Use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s tender, juicy, and easy to shred!
What’s The Easiest Way To Shred Pulled Pork?
Once this flavor pulled pork is fully cooked, I transfer it to a cutting board and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Then, I use a couple of forks to shred it. The pork should be tender enough that it basically just falls apart.
If you’re having trouble shredding the pork, that means it needs more time to cook. You can even test it out before you remove it from the slow cooker.
How To Store, Freeze & Reheat
Once your juicy pulled pork cools, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
This recipe also freezes really well for up to 4 months. I like to store it in a freezer-safe bag because it saves space and makes the pulled pork easier to thaw.
You can reheat the leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop or the microwave – whichever one works better for you!
What to Serve with
- Pulled pork sandwiches – Serve on buns with melted cheese and coleslaw for crunch.
- Pork tacos – Use tortillas and add your favorite toppings.
- Potatoes – I love serving it with mashed potatoes, or even fries make a great side. I also love it with air frier sweet potato fries or air fryer baked sweet potato.
- Salad: This recipe always goes well with cucumber salad, potato salad and Pico de Galo.
If you try this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe, don’t forget to leave a star rating and comment to let me know how you like it!
And if you wanna taste more, be sure to check out the full collection of Slow Cooker Recipes here at Primavera Kitchen!
Delicious Pork Recipes To Try
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
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Ingredients
- 4 1/2 pounds pork shoulder
- 1 ½ tablespoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup white or yellow onion chopped
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 orange juiced
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the diced onion, garlic, and orange juice to the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, combine all the spices.
- Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder, then generously coat the pork with the spice mixture.
- Place the pork in the slow cooker.
- Cook the pork on low for 8 hours, then shred it with two forks. Return it to the slow cooker, mix with the liquid, and serve on a bun. Pour a bit of sauce on top. Enjoy!
Tips
- Bottled orange juice often contains sugar and preservatives. You want to use freshly squeezed orange juice in this recipe for the best flavor and texture.
- Avoid opening the slow cooker lid while the pork cooks, as it will release all the heat that’s built up over time.
- Store the leftovers with a little bit of juice from the slow cooker to keep the pork from getting dry.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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