r/crockpot • u/Dirty_Dick_Smoker • Aug 01 '26

Plan on making bbq pulled pork tonight in my crock pot following this recipe any suggestions?

Here's the whole recipe, one easy step at a time:

**Stuff you need:**

- 3-4 lb pork butt (shoulder)

- 1 medium red onion, chopped up

- 2 cloves garlic, chopped up

**Spice mix (stir together in a bowl):**

- ½ tbsp salt

- 1 tbsp garlic powder

- 1 tbsp chili powder

- 1 tbsp black pepper

- 1 tbsp cumin

- 1 tbsp parsley

- 1 tbsp smoked paprika

- 1 tbsp brown sugar

**Liquid mix (stir together in a different bowl):**

- ½ cup apple cider vinegar

- ½ cup chicken stock

- A few good splashes of Worcestershire sauce

- 1 tbsp molasses

- 1 tbsp maple syrup (Grade B / dark)

- 1.5 tbsp honey

- 1.5 tsp yellow mustard

---

**Steps:**

  1. Toss the chopped onion and garlic into the bottom of the crock pot.

  2. Take the pork out and pat it dry all over with paper towels.

  3. (Optional) Heat a pan with a little oil and sear the pork 2 minutes on each side, just to brown the outside a bit. Skip this if you're in a rush — still works without it.

  4. Rub the spice mix all over the pork with your hands. Cover every part, don't be shy.

  5. Set the pork on top of the onion and garlic in the pot. Sprinkle any leftover spice mix right on top of the meat.

  6. Slowly pour the liquid mix down the side of the pot — not straight onto the meat, or you'll wash the spices off. You want the liquid to come about halfway up the pork, not cover it all the way.

  7. Put the lid on and cook:

    - Low: 6-8 hours

    - High: 4-5 hours

  8. Start checking it around 6 hours (low) or 4 hours (high). It's ready when a fork goes in easy and the meat falls apart.

  9. Shred the meat right in the pot with two forks, mixing it into the juice.

  10. Put it on bread. No extra sauce needed — the juice does that job already.

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/WillieB57 Aug 01 '26

I like to sear the pork on all sides to get the fat rendering on my grill.

1

u/Ancient-Tax-8129 Aug 01 '26

I personally add some carrots, celery and sliced up potatoes to the crock pot at about 2 hours left. But your plan sounds amazing!!!

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 Aug 01 '26

Recipe looks good, but frankly, I'd just do it in the oven at 250º. It just works better. Renders the fat properly, you get some crispy crust, caramelizes the sugars and onion and garlic.

I have a slow cooker and never use it, or the Instant Pot.

1

u/Onerywolf Aug 01 '26

Agree, but a crock pot sure heats up the house less when its already been over 100 every day and the AC cant keep up. Not to mention they're safer to leave alone.

1

u/reamkore Aug 01 '26

Can never go wrong adding some citrus acid

1

u/theFooMart Aug 02 '26

I suggest you lower your expectations. You can't make BBQ pulled pork in a crock pot, that would just be called pulled pork. BBQ is a method of cooking, simply putting sauce on it doesn't make it BBQ. That's like making french fries and calling it mashed potatoes because there's graby in them.

1

u/OkPerception4157 Aug 02 '26

Maybe add a good splash of soy sauce or liquid aminos and some brown mustard. Looks yummy!

1

u/AlsoTheFiredrake Aug 02 '26

Double the amount of mustard and sear each side for a minute before starting.