3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

When I’m overloaded with party prep or just feel like a lazy cook, I turn to this super-easy 3 ingredient slow cooker pulled pork recipe. It makes a LOT, so it’s perfect for casual parties, like family backyard get-togethers or even Super Bowl parties.

Juicy pork shoulder is slow cooked for ten hours, then shredded and combined with tangy barbeque sauce, making a delicious sandwich. Or try it on top of creamy macaroni and cheese for a double-dose of steamy hot comfort food Any way you serve it, your guests will keep coming back for more!

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Why Should I Use My Slow Cooker for This Recipe?

If you’re like me, you probably stress out before hosting get-togethers. Taking on the added duties of extra cleaning, grocery shopping, and food prep before a party is exhausting!

When I find a way to make my duties a little bit easier in those exasperating times, I jump on it! In this case, the solution is my slow cooker. I love using it for parties for a few reasons.

• It’s huge, so with the right dish (like this one), I can prepare a meal big enough to feed all my guests. That is SUCH a nice (and less expensive) alternative to catering!
• It doesn’t require my attention. Once my food is in it, I don’t have to worry about it until it’s done. No stirring, no checking for tenderness, no smoke detectors going off because grease has spilled all over the inside of the oven. It just does its thing happily until the food is done.
• It keeps food warm for my guests. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s messing with chafing dishes. I don’t like leaving them alone while I’m busy with other things, especially after the unfortunate flaming tablecloth incident. (Don’t ask. We don’t speak of it. Ever.) Hence, this is another reason why I love my slow cooker. I can go refill drinks and chip bowls without having to worry about an unexpected tabletop bonfire.

How Should I Serve My Pulled Pork?

Most of the time, we serve our pulled pork on rolls with extra sauce. We like to use French rolls for a hearty sandwich, but I’ve also used brioche, Hawaiian rolls, and even hamburger buns.

We also recently discovered that serving up pulled pork in a bowl topped with macaroni and cheese is pretty delicious, too! I like having a pile of tortilla chips on the side to use as scoops.

I’ve seen people add coleslaw to their pork sandwiches, which gave me the idea to try topping mine with our apple slaw with cranberries. I haven’t yet. But if you give it a whirl before I do, be sure to let us know how it worked out!

Can You Freeze Pulled Pork?

This recipe makes a LOT, even for my hungry family. You can pare it down for a smaller crowd easily by halving the recipe. But if you can’t find a small enough roast, you can freeze the leftovers to have again another day.

I like to freeze mine using gallon-sized Ziploc bags. Fill each bag about 3/4 of the way, then lay it down and flatten the meat like a book before sealing. This removes air and allows you to stack additional freezer bags on top of it, saving space.

Frozen pulled pork will stay good for about 3 months, so be sure to date the bag!

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Directions

• Trim excess fat from pork, as to your liking. Now to be fair, you want to leave some fat on, as that gives the meat flavor and moisture. If my cut has a large, thick layer of fat, I cut it off so I don’t have a pot full of grease at the end.
  
  Lay the trimmed pork in your slow cooker. Cover with sliced onion.
• Slow cook for 8 – 10 hours on low. Don’t open the pot to peek as you will lose heat and gain cooking time.
• Flip the pork over. Use two forks to shred the pork, removing bones and excess fat as you work.
• When all pork has been shredded, stir to incorporate the pork with juices. If there is too much juice to your liking, you can remove some now.
  
  Then, add the barbeque sauce. The amount that you add is up to you. We like an almost-creamy texture, so we add a lot. Stir to combine; and add salt and pepper to taste. Let slow cook another 30 minutes for flavors to meld.
  
  Serve on Hawaiian rolls with extra sauce, or atop macaroni and cheese.

What Should I Serve with My BBQ Pulled Pork?

• Dill Potato Salad is a light, fun twist on a classic that goes well with barbeque.
• Serve Snickers Taffy Apple Salad with food or as a dessert later. Either way, it’s a real crowd-pleaser
• Looking for something healthy? Black Bean and Rice Salad is a hearty side that’s good for you, too

3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Recipe by Chicken Soup with DumplingsCourse: Main Dishes, Pork, Recipes, Slow CookerDifficulty: Easy

Servings

15

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Slow Cooking Time

10

hours

Juicy pork shoulder is slow cooked for ten hours, then shredded and combined with tangy barbeque sauce, making a delicious sandwich.

Ingredients

• 5 lbs bone-in pork shoulder

• 1 onion, sliced

• 32 – 48 oz barbeque sauce (adjust to your preference)

Directions

• Trim excess fat from pork, as to your liking. Lay the trimmed pork in your slow cooker. Cover with sliced onion.
• Slow cook for 8 – 10 hours on low.
• Flip pork over. Use two forks to shred the meat, removing bones and excess fat as you work.
• Stir to incorporate shredded pork with juices. Remove excess juices to your liking. Add barbeque sauce until pulled pork is the consistency you prefer. Stir to combine; add salt and pepper to taste.
• Slow cook an additional 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve on Hawaiian rolls or atop Macaroni and Cheese.

Notes

• Want more flavor? Rub your pork with BBQ seasoning before placing it into the slow cooker. You can also add seasoning along with the sauce at the end of the cooking process.
• Have extra time? Sear your pork before slow cooking it. This brings out the flavor in that delicious meat even more! Putting a good sear on a 5lb pork shoulder will take about ten minutes, but it’s worth it if you have time.

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Chicken Soup with Dumplings

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