Make Barbecued Pulled Pork Shoulder in Your Crock Pot for Tonight (2024)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 08/24/23

Tested by

Danielle Centoni

Tested byDanielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

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Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 9 hrs

Total: 9 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 6to 8 servings

Yield: 1 roast

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A Boston butt, contrary to the way the name sounds, is actually a pork shoulder cut. A Boston butt, also known simply as a pork butt, is a flavorful cut that takes well to low and slow cooking. It's the most popular cut of meat for making pulled pork. The name Boston butt may come from Massachusetts before the American Revolution, when cuts of pork were packed into barrels, also known as "butts."

This easy, no-frills pork butt recipe is made with only a few additional ingredients, includingyour favorite homemade or store-bought barbecue sauce.You can use a bone-in or boneless pork roast;a boneless roast can be cut into pieces to fit in the slow cooker, but if your roast is bone-in, make sure it fits before starting the recipe.

Serve the pork roast shredded with split, toasted buns, coleslaw, and fries or chips. Baked beans are traditional with a pulled pork meal as well. It's an excellent dish to take to a party or tailgating event—serve the shredded pork hot from the crock pot. You can freeze leftovers or incorporate them intorecipes using leftover pulled pork.

Make Barbecued Pulled Pork Shoulder in Your Crock Pot for Tonight (3)

"Piled on toasted buns and served with coleslaw, the pork was simple, tasty, and nearly effortless. I was happy to find the meat was very juicy and tender after slow cooking all day. I used a 7-pound, bone-in pork shoulder, chicken stock for liquid, and smoky bottled barbecue sauce for the final cooking and shredding." —Danielle Centoni

Make Barbecued Pulled Pork Shoulder in Your Crock Pot for Tonight (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

1 (6- to 8-pound) Boston butt pork roast (bone-in or boneless)
1/4 cup water (or beer, apple juice, or a mixture)
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Put the pork shoulder in the slow cooker, cutting the roast to fit if necessary.
Add the water or other liquid and sprinkle the pork lightly with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper, if using.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours.
Drain off the excess liquids, shred the meat with 2 forks, and discard any excess fat and bone.
Return the meat to the crock pot and pour about 1 cup of barbecue sauce over it. Toss, cover, and cook on low for another 1 to 2 hours.
Serve the shredded barbecued pork with extra barbecue sauce on the side.

How to Store

Leftover pulled pork should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and reheated before enjoying.
Pulled pork can be frozen. Place the cooled meat in a zip-top freezer bag, remove the air, seal, and freeze for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before using.

Tips

You'll probably have leftovers, and there are so many ways to use them. Aside from sandwiches, pulled pork makes a tasty addition to a macaroni and cheese casserole or use the pulled pork to stuff egg rolls or biscuit cups.
If you would like to make your own barbecue sauce but don't have a lot of time or ingredients, you can quickly throw together a basic recipe. In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of ketchup, 1/4 cup of molasses, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/3 cup of cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and a dash each of cayenne pepper and black pepper. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until thickened. Makes about 2 cups of barbecue sauce.

What Is the Difference Between a Pork Shoulder and a Boston Butt?

Both the pork shoulder and pork butt come from the shoulder section of the pig. The pork shoulder is located higher, with the pork butt (or Boston butt) located slightly further down the foreleg. They are very similar cuts, and the names pork shoulder, pork butt, and Boston butt are often used interchangeably.

Can You Overcook Pulled Pork?

While tough, fatty cuts like pork shoulder or pork butt are hard to overcook since long cook times help to create tender meat, but it's still possible. The main risk is drying out pulled pork, which can happen if it is cooked at too high a temperature and/or cooked for far too long. Cooking the pork with a little liquid helps keep it from drying out.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1282	Calories
86g	Fat
15g	Carbs
105g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories	1282
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 86g	110%
Saturated Fat 32g	158%
Cholesterol 390mg	130%
Sodium 746mg	32%
Total Carbohydrate 15g	5%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 105g
Vitamin C 3mg	17%
Calcium 140mg	11%
Iron 7mg	38%
Potassium 1592mg	34%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Make Barbecued Pulled Pork Shoulder in Your Crock Pot for Tonight (2024)

How to Store

Tips

What Is the Difference Between a Pork Shoulder and a Boston Butt?

Can You Overcook Pulled Pork?

References