Crock Pot Carolina Pulled Pork

This Crock Pot Carolina Pulled Pork is a tender and flavorful recipe, which uses boneless pork shoulder and apple cider vinegar. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in about 13 hours and 15 minutes.

Crock Pot Carolina Pulled Pork Ingredients

• 8–10 pound boneless pork shoulder butt roast
• 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon liquid smoke

For the sauce:

• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons ketchup
• 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

How To Make Crock Pot Carolina Pulled Pork

1. Prep the pork: Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels and set aside.
2. Make the dry rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, mustard powder, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper.
3. Season the pork: Rub the spice mixture all over the pork. Place it in a large (8-quart or more) slow cooker.
4. Add liquid smoke: Pour the liquid smoke into the slow cooker. Do not add any other liquid.
5. Slow cook the pork: Cover and cook on LOW for 10–12 hours, until the pork is very tender.
6. Prepare the vinegar sauce: While the pork is cooking, heat vinegar, ketchup, both sugars, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking until dissolved (about 3 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in chili flakes and black pepper. Let cool.
7. Shred and chop the pork: Remove pork from the slow cooker, discard excess fat, and shred the meat. Chop into smaller pieces if desired.
8. Flavor the pork: Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and drizzle with your preferred amount of vinegar sauce. Stir to combine.
9. Let the flavors mingle: Continue cooking on LOW for 1 more hour before serving.
10. Serve: Spoon onto buns, optionally with coleslaw and extra sauce on the side.

Recipe Tips

• How to get the most flavor: Let the pork soak in the vinegar sauce for an extra hour on LOW after shredding.
• Can I use bone-in pork shoulder? Yes, just adjust cooking time slightly if needed.
• What does liquid smoke do? It adds a smoky flavor that mimics traditional barbecue.
• How to make it sweeter: Add a can of Coke or Dr Pepper to the slow cooker before cooking.
• Can I make the sauce in advance? Yes, it can be made a day ahead and refrigerated.

What To Serve With Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This Carolina pulled pork goes great with Southern-style sides like:

• Classic coleslaw
• Baked beans
• Macaroni and cheese
• Cornbread
• Pickles and chips

How To Store Pulled Pork

Refrigerate:
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze:
Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat with reserved cooking liquid or extra sauce to keep it moist.

Pulled Pork Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 218kcal
• Carbohydrates: 4g
• Protein: 34g
• Fat: 6g
• Sodium: 661mg
• Sugar: 3g
• Fiber: 0.2g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I cook pulled pork on high in the slow cooker?
It’s best to cook it low and slow for tenderness, but you can use HIGH for 6–8 hours if needed.

What cut of pork is best for pulled pork?
A pork shoulder or pork butt roast works best due to its fat content and tenderness.

Why is my pulled pork dry?
It may be overcooked or too lean. Save and use some of the cooking liquid or sauce to moisten it.

Do I need to trim the fat off the pork?
You can trim excess fat before or after cooking, depending on preference.

Try More Recipes:

• Crock Pot Bourbon Pulled Pork
• Crock Pot Boneless Pork Ribs
• Crock Pot BBQ Pork Steaks