No Fuss Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

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(This post has been updated from the original June 2014 version to provide a better experience for you)

If you’re looking for a CRAZY easy, no fuss, slow cooker pulled pork recipe – you’re in the right place! This enticing delight requires no pre-cooking and very minimal prep. Oh and there’s hardly any pots to wash after too. Sounds great right? It’s like that time when you discovered my slow cooker bbq chicken recipe all over again! Which was a very good day, am I right?

You’re throwing a bbq, Summer gathering or Winter party and you don’t know what to make that’s quick, cheap and easy, with very little effort on your part. That’s where this slow cooker pulled pork fits perfectly!

It couldn’t be easier to make (hence the ‘no fuss’ title I’ve given it) and it requires very little hands on time. If you use my super speedy shredding technique, (explained later n the post) you’ll shave so many minutes off food prep that you’ll have plenty of time to get ready and sort other things before your guests arrive! Win!

Is slow cooker pulled pork expensive to make?

Absolutely not! Considering how heavenly this is, it really is CRAZY cheap to make! Especially if, like me, you happen to have all the spices in your cupboards already. The meat cost me less than £3 and it yields around 6 – 8 very generous sandwiches, which makes it just a few pennies per person! That’s the kind of maths I like to do.

What makes this slow cooker pulled pork recipe so good?

What’s not good about this recipe? NOTHING! It’s pretty darn delicious and there’s tons of positives that’s for sure! Let’s take a closer look at the pros and you can see for yourself…

• It’s incredibly cheap to make.
• It tastes AMAZING!
• It serves a large amount of people.
• There’s no precooking required.
• The prep time is minimal.
• Set it and forget it!
• Only one pot to wash (your slow cooker).
• Perfect for parties and bbqs.
• Use my shredding trick to save time.

I could go on but I think you get the gist! And don’t worry, if you’re looking for something a little more ‘impressive’ – my slow cooker chicken teriyaki recipe will impress by the bucket load so you should absolutely check that out too!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe Tips

• Keep the fat on the pork during cooking. You can always remove it once cooked but it imparts SO much flavour, you’d be silly to take it out beforehand.
• Don’t waste time shredding with two forks! When the joint is cooked & still warm, roughly chop into 4 or 5 large chunks and place in an electric stand mixer with the beater attachment. Mix for 10 – 20 seconds and VOILA! Perfectly shredded pulled pork. (Just go easy, it happens fast!)
• If you have time, marinade the meat in the fridge overnight before cooking for extra depth of flavour.
• If having in a sandwich, butter both sides of the bread/roll to create a barrier. This will delay the bread’s inevitable demise from all those lovely juices!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – Step by Step Picture Recipe

Here is what you will need to make enough for approx 6-8 generously sized sandwiches.

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Ingredients

• 1.5 tbsp Paprika *
• 1 tbsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Coarse Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp Dried Thyme
• 85 g (1/4 Cup) Honey
• 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 tbsp BBQ Sauce
• 1.5 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Onion
• 1 kg (2 lb 2 oz) Boneless Pork Shoulder Joint (Fat on)

*If you can, use a good quality, smoked paprika – it will make all the difference.

Essential equipment

• Slow Cooker (mine is 3.5 litre)

Instructions

Let’s start with the marinade. In a small bowl, mix together the paprika (1.5 tbsp), salt (1 tbsp), pepper (1 tsp), cayenne (1/2 tsp), garlic (1/2 tsp) & thyme (1/4 tsp).

Then add in the honey (85g | 1/4 Cup), red wine vinegar (2 tbsp), BBQ sauce (2 tbsp) & olive oil (1.5 tbsp). Give it all a good mix and set to one side.

Peel & slice the onion (x 1) in half then place at the bottom of the slow cooker, face down.

Slice the pork joint (1 kg | 2 lb 2 oz) in half and place on top of the onions. Leave the fat on, it adds a great deal of flavour & is easily removable once cooked. Then pour over the marinade. Try to cover as much meat as possible – it doesn’t matter if some of it falls to the bottom.

Lastly, pop the lid on and cook on low for about 6 hours or until the meat just falls apart.

When it’s ready. Turn the slow cooker off and transfer the meat to a large bowl. Remove the fat, then using 2 forks back to back – shred the meat. Alternatively, you can do it the quick way using an electric stand mixer. See the tips section above for directions.

Don’t forget about those onions! Take them out, finely dice them (be careful, they’ll be a bit slippy) and add them straight back into the meat.

Then pop the whole lot back into the slow cooker along with those gorgeous juices. Give it a good mix and you are good to go!

If there is a little too much juice for your liking – simply put the slow cooker on high but leave the lid off. Cook until it’s the consistency you want (it shouldn’t take too long) and stir occasionally.

Then serve your pulled pork warmed in crusty cobs or mini ciabattas with a generous helping of coleslaw. Use gluten free if you are coeliac.

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork - Printable Recipe

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

This CRAZY easy, no fuss slow cooker pulled pork recipe with blow you away with how tasty, cheap and delicious it is!

Print

Ingredients

• 1.5 tbsp Paprika *
• 1 tbsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Coarse Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp Dried Thyme
• 85 g (1/4 Cup) Honey
• 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 tbsp BBQ Sauce
• 1.5 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Onion
• 1 kg (2 lb 2 oz) Boneless Pork Shoulder Joint (Fat on)

Essential Equipment

• Slow Cooker (mine is 3.5 litre)

Instructions

1. Mix together the paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic and thyme in a bowl. Add the honey, vinegar, bbq sauce and olive oil. Mix well.
2. Cut the onion in half and place each half face down in the slow cooker.
3. Cut the pork joint in half and rest on top of the onions.
4. Cover the meat with the marinade.
5. Cook on low for 6 hours.
6. When cooked, shred with two forks in a bowl or cut into 4/5 chunks and beat briefly in an electric stand mixer. Dice the onion and place it all back into the slow cooker to soak up the juices.
7. Serve warm.

Notes

*If you can, use a good quality, smoked paprika – it will make all the difference.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 405Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 995mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 27g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

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