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Tender Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Tutorial

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A tender slow cooker pulled pork recipe with rich homemade barbecue sauce that is easy to prepare and perfect for family gatherings, casual dinners, and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–5 pounds pork shoulder (Boston butt) with some marbling
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
  • 1/2 cup water or chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder but leave some for flavor. Pat it dry with paper towels (about 5 minutes).
  2. In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (optional), and brown sugar to make the dry rub (about 5 minutes).
  3. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork shoulder, massaging it in well. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes to absorb flavors or refrigerate overnight for deeper seasoning.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, honey, and liquid smoke. Taste and adjust sweetness or tanginess as preferred (about 10 minutes).
  5. Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker. Pour water or chicken broth around (not on top to keep the rub intact). Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours until pork is fork-tender and shreddable.
  6. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a large cutting board. Using two forks, shred the meat, discarding any large chunks of fat (about 10 minutes).
  7. Pour the homemade barbecue sauce over the shredded pork and gently toss to coat evenly. Add more sauce if desired (about 5 minutes).
  8. Serve the pulled pork warm on buns, over rice, or alongside favorite sides. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes

If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of water or broth to loosen it before mixing with the pork. Let the seasoned pork rest before cooking to enhance flavor. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain temperature. Shred the pork while warm for easier shredding. The sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to a week. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, slow cooker, BBQ sauce, barbecue, pork shoulder, easy recipe, family dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/tender-slow-cooker-pulled-pork-recipe-easy-homemade-bbq-sauce-tutorial/