Because my husband is the best, he came grocery shopping with me the other day (even though it’s not one of his top five favorite activities), and this is how I ended up buying a pork shoulder, something I’ve never bought before because I didn’t know what to do with it. Turns out, you can easily make pulled pork with it, by cooking it in the slow cooker overnight. The meat falls off the bone and is so easy to make that I can’t believe that it took me so long to try it.
All you have to do if you have a slow cooker is season the meat with your choice of flavorings and add it to the pot. You can add sliced onions and carrots for additional flavor. Cover and turn to low heat for 10-12 hours. The meat turns out so tender and juicy, and you really can’t mess up cooking it in the slow cooker. Once you shred the meat, add your favorite BBQ sauce, and you can have amazing pulled pork sandwiches ready just like that.
I saved a big portion of the pulled pork to use in various other ways, which I’ll be experimenting with this week. My first experiment was pulled pork nachos for the Superbowl, and those were amazing. We enjoyed them while we were having a heart attack during the game…to our (especially Mr. Smith’s) great relief, we pulled out the win in the last few seconds. What a game. Hope you enjoyed it, and the food, too!
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
The meat in this easy slow cooker pulled pork turns out so tender and juicy, and you really can’t mess up cooking it in the slow cooker.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 12 hours
Yield: at least 4 meals’ worth of pulled pork
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- Half-cut bone-in pork shoulder (about 3 lbs)
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup red wine or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Slice the onion and add to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cut the pork shoulder, if needed, to fit into the slow cooker.
- Salt the pork shoulder generously.
- In a small bowl, add the rest of the ingredients (spices, honey, vinegar, and olive oil) and mix to combine.
- Add the pork to the slow cooker, and pour the marinade over it to cover.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 10-12 hours. Helpful hint: set a timer to remind yourself when to turn it off!
- Using a large spatula, transfer the pieces of meat to a cutting board.
- Use 2 forks to shred the pork completely, discarding any fat and bones.
- Portion the meat into plastic storage bags or Tupperware for future use. Meat can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for a month.
- Add your favorite BBQ sauce and enjoy on a soft bun for pulled pork sandwiches, or add to your favorite burrito ingredients.
- Enjoy!
