The Ultimate Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork Recipe You’ll Love

Crafting a mouthwatering slow cooker Texas pulled pork demands patience and passion for authentic Southern flavors.

Succulent meat transforms with minimal effort in your trusty appliance.

Regional spices dance across tender shreds, creating a symphony of taste.

Each bite tells a story of culinary tradition and comfort.

Smoky undertones mingle with rich, deep seasonings that transport you to backyard barbecues.

Minimal prep means maximum enjoyment for busy home cooks seeking deliciousness.

You’ll savor every incredible morsel of this classic Southern comfort dish.

What Makes Texas Pulled Pork a Slow Cooker Favorite

• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Perfect for gatherings like game day, potlucks, or family dinners where everyone craves tender, juicy pulled pork that melts in your mouth with rich barbecue goodness.
• Versatile Serving Options: Transform this pulled pork into sandwiches, tacos, nachos, or rice bowls, making it an incredibly flexible dish that adapts to different meal styles and preferences.
• Budget-Friendly Protein: Economical pork shoulder becomes a restaurant-quality meal with simple spices and slow cooking, providing generous servings that stretch your grocery budget without compromising taste.

Texas Pulled Pork Crock Pot Ingredients

• Pork Shoulder: Prime cut with rich marbling, perfect for slow cooking and creating tender pulled pork.

• Brown Sugar, Smoked Paprika, Chili Powder, Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder: Balanced mix that creates a deep, complex flavor profile with sweet, smoky, and spicy notes.

• Onion, Garlic: Classic flavor base that adds depth and subtle sweetness to the pulled pork.

• Apple Cider Vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, Barbecue Sauce: Tangy and sweet liquids that tenderize meat, add moisture, and enhance overall flavor complexity.

Texas Pulled Pork Slow Cooker Prep

Step 1: Prepare the Pork

Pat the pork shoulder completely dry using paper towels to ensure a perfect seasoning surface.

Step 2: Create Flavor-Packed Spice Blend

• Brown sugar
• Smoked paprika
• Chili powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder

Massage the spice mixture thoroughly into every inch of the pork, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 3: Build a Flavor Foundation

• Diced onion
• Minced garlic cloves

These ingredients will infuse the meat with deep, rich flavors during cooking.

Step 4: Position the Seasoned Meat

Gently place the fully seasoned pork shoulder on top of the onion and garlic base.

Step 5: Add Moisture and Depth

• Apple cider vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Barbecue sauce

The combination will tenderize the meat and create an incredible sauce.

Step 6: Slow Cook to Perfection

• Low setting: 8-10 hours
• High setting: 4-5 hours

Cook until the pork becomes incredibly tender and easily falls apart.

Step 7: Shred and Soak

Remove the cooked pork and use two forks to shred it into delicate strands.

Return the shredded meat to the cooking liquid, allowing it to absorb all the delicious juices and flavors.

Pulled Pork Know-How for the Slow Cooker

• Pat the pork shoulder thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a better spice adherence and more intense flavor absorption.
• Create a balanced rub by mixing sweet (brown sugar), smoky (paprika), and savory (chili powder) elements for a complex, mouthwatering taste profile.
• Use a combination of apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and barbecue sauce to tenderize the meat and infuse rich, tangy flavors throughout cooking.
• Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours to break down tough muscle fibers, resulting in incredibly tender, fall-apart pulled pork that melts in your mouth.
• After shredding, return the meat to the cooking juices and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb all the delicious liquid and maximize taste intensity.

Pulled Pork Leftovers That Stay Juicy

• Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly to prevent moisture loss and keep fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap pulled pork in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Frozen pulled pork stays delicious for up to 3 months.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place pulled pork in a baking dish, add a splash of broth or reserved cooking liquid. Cover with foil and warm for 20-25 minutes until heated through.
• Transfer portion to microwave-safe dish. Add small amount of liquid, cover, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.

What Goes With Texas Pulled Pork

• Pair with Tangy Coleslaw: Crisp, creamy coleslaw cuts through the rich, smoky pulled pork, adding a refreshing crunch and balancing the meat's intense flavors.
• Create a Classic BBQ Plate: Serve alongside cornbread, baked beans, and pickles to complement the pulled pork's deep, savory profile and enhance the Texas-style barbecue experience.
• Match with Craft Beer Companion: Choose a hoppy IPA or amber ale to stand up to the robust spices and fatty meat, with the beer's carbonation helping to cleanse the palate between bites.
• Enhance with Zesty Cocktail: Sip a classic margarita or smoky mezcal drink to mirror the pulled pork's spicy undertones and provide a bright, citrusy contrast to the rich meat.

Fiesta Chicken with Easy Changes

• Keto-Friendly Pulled Pork: Replace brown sugar with a keto-approved sweetener like erythritol. Use sugar-free barbecue sauce to keep the carb count low while maintaining rich flavor.
• Spicy Southwest Version: Add 1-2 diced jalapeños to the slow cooker. Increase chili powder to 3 teaspoons and mix in 1 teaspoon of ground cumin for a bold, fiery profile.
• Mustard-Based Southern Style: Swap barbecue sauce with yellow mustard and apple cider vinegar. Add 2 tablespoons of honey for a tangy, sweet southern-inspired pulled pork.
• Herb-Infused Mediterranean Spin: Replace spice mix with dried oregano, rosemary, and thyme. Use red wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar and add fresh lemon zest for a Mediterranean twist.

FAQs

• Why use apple cider vinegar in this recipe?

Apple cider vinegar tenderizes the meat, adds tanginess, and helps break down the pork fibers, making the pulled pork more juicy and flavorful.

• Can I substitute pork shoulder with another cut of meat?

Pork shoulder (or pork butt) is best because it has enough fat content to stay moist during slow cooking. Other cuts might dry out and won’t shred as easily.

• How spicy will this pulled pork be?

This recipe has a mild spice level from chili powder. If you want more heat, you can add cayenne pepper or use a spicier barbecue sauce. The blend of spices provides warmth without overwhelming heat.

• Do I need to trim the fat from the pork shoulder?

No, leave some fat on the meat. The fat helps keep the pork moist and adds rich flavor during the slow cooking process. The fat will mostly render down and contribute to the tenderness of the meat.

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork Recipe

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4.6 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 10 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Succulent Lone Star pulled pork delivers a mouthwatering journey through Texas barbecue traditions, slow-cooked to tender perfection. Smoky, rich flavors and fall-apart meat invite you to savor a classic Southern comfort dish that celebrates regional culinary excellence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat:

• 4.5 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt)

Dry Spices:

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Aromatics and Liquids:

• 1 diced onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup barbecue sauce

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Instructions

1. Meticulously dry the pork shoulder using paper towels to ensure optimal seasoning adherence.
2. Create a robust spice blend by thoroughly combining brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Massage the spice mixture comprehensively across the entire surface of the pork, ensuring complete and even coverage.
4. Prepare the slow cooker base by distributing diced onions and minced garlic evenly across the bottom.
5. Carefully position the generously seasoned pork shoulder directly atop the aromatic onion and garlic layer.
6. Construct a flavorful liquid foundation by mixing apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and barbecue sauce, then gently pour around the meat.
7. Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the pork to tenderize slowly on LOW setting for 8-10 hours or HIGH setting for 4-5 hours until meat effortlessly pulls apart.
8. Extract the cooked pork and methodically shred using two forks, breaking down the meat into delicate strands.
9. Reintegrate the shredded meat into the cooking liquid, enabling the pork to absorb the rich, complex flavors and maintain moisture.

Notes

• Choose a well-marbled pork shoulder for maximum tenderness and rich flavor that melts in your mouth.
• Dry-rubbing the meat beforehand helps the spices create a delicious caramelized exterior that locks in deep, smoky flavors.
• Low and slow cooking technique breaks down tough connective tissues, ensuring ultra-tender pulled pork that easily falls apart.
• Customize the spice blend by adjusting heat levels or swapping in different spices like cumin or cayenne for a personalized touch.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 hours (on Low) or 5 hours (on High)
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Texan

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg