15 Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Ideas for Easy Crowd-Pleasing Meals

Set it and forget it! These 15 slow cooker pulled pork recipes turn one pork shoulder into sandwiches, tacos, nachos, and more.

Below you’ll find 15 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Classic Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

The foolproof base recipe: juicy, smoky pork shoulder that shreds like a dream.

Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

1. Rub the pork all over with brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Place in the slow cooker and pour broth around it.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 8 to 10 hours until fall-apart tender.
4. Shred the meat with two forks, discarding large fat pieces.
5. Toss with barbecue sauce and a splash of cooking juices.
6. Serve on buns or use in any recipe below.

2. Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork

Tangy vinegar-based Carolina sauce keeps this pulled pork bright and zesty.

Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Season pork with salt, pepper, and brown sugar; place in the slow cooker.
2. Whisk vinegar, ketchup, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes; pour over pork.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 8 to 10 hours.
4. Shred the pork and toss with the cooking liquid.
5. Pile onto buns with extra sauce.
6. Top with creamy coleslaw if you like.

3. Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

Sweet soda braising liquid gives this pork irresistible caramelized edges.

Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 can (12 oz) Dr Pepper
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 12 slider buns

Instructions

1. Layer onion slices in the slow cooker and set pork on top.
2. Sprinkle with garlic powder and salt; pour Dr Pepper around the pork.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours.
4. Shred pork and return to the cooker.
5. Stir in barbecue sauce and Worcestershire; cook 30 minutes more.
6. Serve on slider buns.

4. Hawaiian Kalua Pulled Pork

Smoky, salty, island-style pork inspired by traditional kalua pig.

Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder
• 1 tbsp Hawaiian sea salt
• 1 tbsp liquid smoke
• 4 banana leaves (optional)
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions

1. Rub pork with sea salt, garlic powder, and liquid smoke.
2. Wrap in banana leaves if using; place in the slow cooker.
3. Add pineapple juice, onion, and water around the pork.
4. Cover and cook on LOW 10 hours.
5. Shred the meat, removing any bone.
6. Serve over rice with grilled pineapple.

5. Pulled Pork Tacos

Crispy-edged pork tacos with lime crema, pickled onions, and fresh cilantro.

Ingredients

• 3 cups pulled pork
• 12 small corn tortillas
• 1 cup pickled red onions
• 1/2 cup lime crema
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 lime, cut in wedges
• 1 tsp cumin

Instructions

1. Toss pulled pork with cumin and crisp in a hot skillet 5 minutes.
2. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet until pliable.
3. Fill each with crispy pork and shredded cabbage.
4. Top with pickled onions, lime crema, and cilantro.
5. Squeeze lime over each taco.
6. Serve immediately with extra lime.

6. Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Slaw

The classic: saucy pork piled high with crunchy homemade coleslaw.

Ingredients

• 4 cups pulled pork
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 8 brioche buns
• 3 cups shredded cabbage
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp celery seed

Instructions

1. Warm pulled pork with barbecue sauce in a saucepan.
2. Toss cabbage with mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and celery seed.
3. Toast the brioche buns until golden.
4. Pile pork generously onto each bun.
5. Top with a heap of coleslaw.
6. Serve with pickles and extra napkins.

7. Pulled Pork Nachos

Loaded sheet-pan nachos with smoky pork, queso, jalapeños, and all the fixings.

Ingredients

• 1 bag tortilla chips
• 3 cups pulled pork
• 2 cups queso dip, warmed
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with foil.
2. Spread chips in an even layer on the pan.
3. Top with pulled pork and drizzle with warm queso.
4. Sprinkle cheddar and jalapeños over all.
5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until cheese melts.
6. Finish with tomatoes, sour cream, and cilantro.

8. Pulled Pork Pizza

Barbecue pork pizza with red onion, smoked gouda, and a drizzle of ranch.

Ingredients

• 1 lb pizza dough
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 cups pulled pork
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup smoked gouda
• 1/2 red onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp ranch dressing
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 475°F with a pizza stone inside.
2. Stretch dough into a 12-inch round.
3. Spread barbecue sauce and top with pulled pork and red onion.
4. Add mozzarella and gouda.
5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden and bubbly.
6. Drizzle with ranch and scatter cilantro.

9. Pulled Pork Sliders

Mini Hawaiian-roll sliders with tangy slaw — perfect party finger food.

Ingredients

• 12 Hawaiian rolls
• 3 cups pulled pork
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 cups coleslaw mix
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch dish.
2. Toss pork with barbecue sauce; toss slaw mix with mayo and vinegar.
3. Slice rolls in half horizontally; place bottoms in the dish.
4. Layer pork and slaw; add tops.
5. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle sesame seeds.
6. Bake 15 minutes until warmed through.

10. Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Smoky pork over caramel-sweet baked sweet potatoes with a crunchy slaw top.

Ingredients

• 4 large sweet potatoes
• 3 cups pulled pork
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 cups coleslaw mix
• 2 tbsp ranch dressing
• 1/4 cup crispy fried onions
• 2 tbsp chopped chives
• 1 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

1. Bake sweet potatoes at 400°F for 50 minutes until very soft.
2. Warm pulled pork with barbecue sauce and smoked paprika.
3. Toss coleslaw mix with ranch dressing.
4. Split sweet potatoes and fluff the insides.
5. Fill each with pulled pork.
6. Top with slaw, crispy onions, and chives.

11. Pulled Pork Quesadillas

Crispy tortillas stuffed with pork, pepper jack, and caramelized onions.

Ingredients

• 8 flour tortillas
• 3 cups pulled pork
• 2 cups shredded pepper jack
• 1 onion, caramelized
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

1. Toss pulled pork with barbecue sauce.
2. Butter one side of each tortilla.
3. Layer pork, pepper jack, and caramelized onion on half of each.
4. Fold and cook in a skillet 3 minutes per side until crisp and melty.
5. Cut into wedges.
6. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.

12. Pulled Pork Chili

Smoky pork chili with two beans and a touch of cocoa for depth.

Ingredients

• 3 cups pulled pork
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Sauté onion 5 minutes until soft.
2. Stir in chili powder, cocoa, and cumin 30 seconds.
3. Add pulled pork, beans, tomatoes, and broth.
4. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Season with salt to taste.
6. Serve with cornbread and shredded cheddar.

13. Apple Cider Pulled Pork

Fall-spiced pork braised in apple cider with onions and a hint of mustard.

Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Season pork with salt, pepper, and thyme; place in the slow cooker.
2. Whisk cider, mustard, and brown sugar; pour over pork with onion.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 8 to 10 hours.
4. Shred the pork and skim fat from the juices.
5. Toss pork with a cup of the cooking juices.
6. Serve on rolls with apple slaw.

14. Honey Garlic Pulled Pork

Sticky-sweet honey garlic glaze coats every shred of this crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Place pork in the slow cooker.
2. Whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, and ginger; pour over pork.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours.
4. Shred pork; whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water.
5. Stir slurry into the juices and cook on HIGH 20 minutes until thick.
6. Toss pork with the glaze and serve over rice.

15. Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

Ultimate comfort: creamy mac and cheese crowned with smoky pulled pork.

Ingredients

• 12 oz elbow macaroni
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp flour
• 3 cups milk
• 3 cups shredded cheddar
• 3 cups pulled pork
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup crispy fried onions

Instructions

1. Cook macaroni until al dente; drain.
2. Make a roux with butter and flour; whisk in milk until thick.
3. Stir in cheddar until smooth; toss with macaroni.
4. Spread into a greased 9×13-inch dish.
5. Toss pulled pork with barbecue sauce and spoon over the mac.
6. Top with crispy onions and broil 3 minutes.

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