
I’m sick. In my dramatic mind it seems like it’s been weeks since I’ve felt normal, but it’s actually only been about 7 days. I’ve cycled through the typical flu symptoms a couple of times and have been donning a bright red, chapped nose for about four days. Needless to say I’m not looking so hot, nor do I have any desire to cook or bake.
Actually the thought of being in the kitchen kind of revolts me because blowing my nose and hacking up a lung don’t necessarily go hand in hand with food preparation…if ya know what I mean.
However, Brian has been fine – until yesterday, so I have been relying on simplicity and the crock pot has become my new BFF. I have been making this pulled pork for years. Randomly, I found the recipe on a make up (yes, as is blushes and eyeshadows) related message board that I used to frequent.
Little known fact: I’m not just a baking addict, I also have a serious thing for make up. I’ve got enough eye shadows and blushes in my arsenal to paint up my face for the next 30 years. It’s a sickness, I tell ya. Anyway, this pulled pork circulated through this message board like wild fire. Everyone was making it and raving about it’s results although no one was really sure where it originated.
It’s simple, delicious, and most importantly can be slow cooked all day in the crockpot which requires very little effort. It gets a glorious rub down of brown sugar, paprika and other spices before being cooked in a tangy cider vinegar sauce. After about 10 hours in the crock pot, you’re left with incredibly tender, succulent, and flavorful pork. I typically shred it up and serve on slider buns with a side of homemade coleslaw. Honestly, it doesn’t get much easier than this and it feeds a crowd, so there’s always leftovers – which, by the way, are incredible!
Random Question:
Do you ever toss something into the crock pot and head out for the day to come home wondering why your house smells of something funky? I do this every. single. time.
Easy Crockpot Pulled Pork
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
1 large Vidalia onion, sliced thin
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (4-6 lb) boneless pork butt or shoulder
¾ cup cider vinegar
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoons dry mustard
½ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepperDirections:
1. Rinse pork roast under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Place onions in crock-pot. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, kosher salt and pepper; mix thoroughly. Rub mixture all over roast and place the roast on top of the onions.
3. In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, Worcestershire, red pepper flakes, sugar, mustard, garlic salt and cayenne pepper; whisk to combine. Drizzle about 1/3 of vinegar mixture over roast. Cover and refrigerate remaining vinegar mixture.
4. Cover crockpot; cook on low for 10-12 hours. Drizzle about 1/3 of reserved vinegar mixture over roast during last ½ hour of cooking.
5. Remove meat and onions; drain. Chop or shred meat and onions. Serve with remaining vinegar mixture or your favorite barbeque sauce.
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{ 90 comments… read them below or add one }
This looks so good and it has been YEARS since I’ve made pulled pork. Logan was less than a year at the time. I think I’ll revisit this one soon.
Yum! Looks and sounds wonderful. One of my fiance’s favorite meals- must make this soon!
New here, great site!
I also randomly came across this recipe and LOVED it! Actually, it’s a really good thing it was good… My stove died last winter, arguably the worst and snowiest in DC-area history! Of course I had also signed up to host a Super Bowl party, so using the crock pot was my only option. I doubled the recipe, which proved serendipitous because we subsequently got snowed in for the next week! My husband and I literally lived off this pulled pork for 5 days. We were glad to see it gone, but I think enough time has passed that I can make it again!
Baking and Make-Up?
They’re only my two favourite things!
This is hands down my favourite baking blog =)
I hope you get better soon!
Just YUM, Jamie! This would be a great meal for a crowd. I’m so hungry now.
I love love love pulled pork. I usually just throw mine in the crockpot with an entire bottle of barbecue sauce, but I will definitely give this a go.
I am starving and this looks amazing! Wish I had one right now. YUM!
Hope you feel better soon!! I can’t wait to try the recipe I have a picnic pork roast in the freezer.
Thanks for sharing.
Like I said, my two favorite words: pulled and pork. Love this recipe!
So, when are you having me over for dinner?! I love making stuff in my Crock Pot, especially when I’m working and going to school full-time!!
Also, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve given you a blog award, so feel free to head on over to my blog and check out my latest post. I wanted you to know how much I like your blog and the things that you post!
Have a great Friday evening!
This is one of the first recipes I tried from your blog. My family LOVES the little bbq sandwiches and the coleslaw is to die for!
Pulled pork is one of our favorites. I usually cook mine with a bottle of root beer, and a bottle of bbq (store bought unless Dad has whipped up a batch of his home made heaven) for the last half hour after shredding. This sounds like it is full of flavor and kick! Will definitely be trying this soon!
Hi, I have the same name as you and my last name starts with”M”!! Just thought I would say hello. I am going to try this recipe for Easter.
So sorry you are not feeling well!!!
Your recipe looks wonderful though. 
Crockpots are the best!
I have just recently learnt to bake the burger buns – this look like a great recipe to go with the buns
Thanks for sharing!
I am so sorry you dont feel well. It is not a good feeling to not be yourself. I see 2 out of 15 people actually took the time to wish you well. Just goes to show whats on their mind – FOOD! But I know you were not looking for well wishers, but when you dont feel well, it helps if someone actually wishes you well!
Thank you for taking the time to write even when you dont feel like it! 
One of my favorite crock pot meals is bbq shredded beef or pork. Can’t wait to try this!
I love pulled pork, I’ll give this recipe a shot! Hope you feel better soon!
I love making pulled pork. I’m book marking this one to try the next time I make it, it looks really good. I’ve got another super-simple version – simply rub the pork with about a tsp or two of liquid smoke and about 2-3 tbsp of Hawaiian red sea salt – when you’re done, you’ve got ‘Kahlua Pork’ – a nice Hawaiian flavor that tastes remarkably like the same pork they cook underground in Hawaii. Great served over rice, it also makes great sandwiches and goes well with a good BBQ sauce. I hope you guys get better soon.
This is how I make pulled pork, too (just made a crock pot full today!), but I also add barbeque sauce at the end because I love it.
My two obsessions are makeup and baking too! Last count I had over 100 lipsticks alone. I’ve never counted my baking recipes – that would be a scary number too.
I make this every time I get homesick for the US. I am the only one who eats it. Aussies think someone already chewed pulled pork before they got to it.
I make all I want and then freeze it in sandwich size portions. That way when I’m homesick it’s only a few minutes to a yankee fix.
This looks so good! I love pulled pork, but have never tried making it. Now I will!
I can no longer eat pork. Think I could do this with chicken?
what a great recipe. One always gets bored (at least I do) with the usual crockpot recipes [it's always the meatballs in some sauce or other]. This, however, looks new and wonderful, and also fairly easy. Thanks!
Oh yeah!! My dad will be all over this recipe. The man has his own custom built cooker, I’ll just leave it at that
Those look fantastic!
This looks deelish!! Perfect timing that I found this yesterday! I was looking for something to make for dinner tonight! It’s in the crock pot now- can’t wait to taste it!
Yum! This looks fabulous, might make this on the weekend. This is my first visit to your website, it looks great! Lots of delicious things to try.
Are you single, right to the point. was looking up how to make pulled pork and saw your blog.
Jeff-
Ha! You officially win best comment of the month! I hope you liked the pork!
-Jamie
PS – I hope you feel better soon!
This was so tasty! The pork turned out super juicy and flavorful. The first night we added barbeque sauce to make barbeque sandwiches. Then, later in the week we added Mexi seasonings and had taco night. This recipe is a keeper.
I hope you are feeling better. Love the look of the new site!!!
Wow! awesome and tasty!!! Thanks for such an easy, quick and super tasty dinner. I have tons frozen waiting for a busy night when cooking is not an option.
I made this last week! AMAZING!!! p.s. I linked this to my blog
Whata scrumptious treat. Those look mighty tasty!
Cheers,
Rosa
Pulled pork is a recipe every home cook must have in their collection! I’m thinking this one’s going on our meal plan next week!
What I like about this recipe is it’s non-reliance on bottled barbecue sauce. Although I plan on finishing it with some “Sweet Baby Ray’s” sauce, I like the idea of letting it simmer all day in this concoction of ingredients. Giving it a try for a New Year’s party tomorrow…Thanks!
I am so excited to try this recipe! I am even more excited to have found someone who has the same make up addiction as me! It is a total sickness but it makes me happy. I literally have eyeshadows I have never worn but bought them because they were pretty
Sounds soo yummy! How spicy is it?
Thanks.
Tammy-
I wouldn’t say that it is overly spicy. You can always adjust the seasonings to meet your needs. Have a great day!
-Jamie
I hope this doesn’t sound like a dumb question, but when the recipe says 1-1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, do you measure out 1-1/2 tsp. of the red pepper flakes first and then crush them, or do you crush the red pepper flakes and then measure out 1-1/2 tsp. of the crushed flakes? I’m never quite sure of that when I see something similar in a recipe, but I imagine the method used could make quite a difference in the recipe. I’m thinking of making this tomorrow for our Super Bowl party, but want to be sure first. Thanks. Love your site!
They sell already crushed red pepper flakes in the spice aisle at your local grocery store
Just made this tonite, it was really good. I used a pork shoulder and It was delicious, thank you so much for the recipe!!
Can you use beef with this or deer roast?
Fran-
I have not tried this recipe with beef or deer, but I think it will be just fine. Enjoy!
-Jamie
I’ve got 9 hours for this to sit in the ‘pot… Will that be enough time?
Nick-
That is going to depend on the size of your roast, but my thought is that yes, it will be enough time. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
If you like this you will probably enjoy a shredded chicken recipe I came across: bring 1 1/2 lbs. of thighs to a boil for 10 min. in 3 cups of water, 1 t salt, 1/3 t pepper, 1/2 t garlic powder, 1 t onion powder, 2 t chili powder, 1 t dried organo, 1/4 t cumin powder. Reduce and simmer for another 30 min, lid cracked. Shred, pile into corn tortillas, and cilantro and devour!
In the picture, you have the pulled pork topped with cabbage. Any special prep for the cabbage, or can I just buy a bag of chopped cabbage and put it on the sandwiches?
Alisa-
Thanks for stopping by. The sandwiches are actually topped with Homemade Coleslaw – the recipe can be found at this link: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/super-bowl-bbq-beef/
Have a great day-
Jamie
Wow, thanks Jamie! I’ve just fished my pork out of the slow cooker after leaving it there all night (and half the day) and am excited about making some sandwiches
One question about the recipe, there is a lot of juice/sauce left over in the slow cooker, is it best to add the pork back to the juices in the slow cooker once it is shredded? Or, is best to keep the pork a bit more dry and leave them?!
Just want to make it as authentic as possible, as an English girl, we don’t get it much here, except if you go to a special US style BBQ restaurant (although that’s really a London/US BBQ restaurant!!
thanks in advance
This looks delicious! But I don’t have a crock-pot, nor do I have a dad that is so creative he can build me one
Can you do this in a regular pan or something?
this looks delicious! such a great crockpot recipe!
Happened across this recipe today as I was searching for crockpot pulled pork while at the grocery store – last minute planner I am
This turned out fantastic! I skipped the crushed red pepper for fear it would be a bit spicy for the kiddos. I also skipped the white sugar, and used garlic powder instead of garlic salt – just a personal preference.I topped the sandwiches with a little prepared coleslaw and crushed pineapple. This recipe is going into my keep pile!
I have never made pulled pork before. because I don’t like spice I opted out for that but as I speak my house smells delish. I’m hoping to blow my husband away with it (he’s a picky eater but can’t cook to save his life!) thanks!!!!
Having people over today for a swim/dinner. I am hoping this works in 6 hrs. on high. I have cut crock pot cooking time in half for other items and am banking on it that it works for this. Any thoughts? If not I guess we will be ordering pizza! Looks delish.
I made this for my husband last week when I didn’t feel like cooking and we LOVED this recipe. I even made coleslaw to put on top. AMAZING! Thank you for sharing!
This is my second time making this FABULOUS recipe!!! I love it and so does everyone that has tried it!!!
Gladys-
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on your experience. Have a great day.
-Jamie
I made this today. I ate two sandwiches, and I never do that! My husband loved it, too. Excellent recipe!! Thank you!
Dawn-
So happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for coming back and sharing your opinion. Have a great day.
-Jamie
This sounds amazing, for a mother of two who works 10hrs a days. I am trying this out tonight so it will be ready for tommorows dinner!!!!
I tried this recipe yesterday and it was wonderful. I cooked a nearly 6 pound pork loin for 12 hours on low and it was perfectly tender and shredded beautifully. It made a ton. We are a family of two so we will not be able to eat it all, but I have frozen pulled pork before and it freezes well. This recipe is a keeper and easily beats my previously favorite pulled pork recipe. Thanks for sharing this gem.
Julie-
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the Pulled Pork recipe. Thanks so much for coming back and telling us your thoughts! Have a great day.
-Jamie
The casual use of the word addiction always makes me cringe. That said, your pulled pork recipe got raves from all the guys at my husband’s business. Thank you!
I have this in the crock pot right now! I recently started a new job that has me working till 7pm every night so I am on the hunt for crock pot recipes so my family can eat dinner as they get home.
Ooh. I’ve been meaning to make pulled pork burgers for the family but have not yet done so. Your pictures and recipes remind me that I should get it done soon! Thanks for sharing!
I was wondering if pork loin works ok too??
Jennifer-
I have not tried this recipe with a pork loin, so I can’t comment on how it work. I pork loin tends to have less fat, so the meat may not be as moist. If you give it a whirl, definitely let me know how it works. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
I’ve been searching for a good recipe for this very thing, the intent that once I found a good one, that’ll be the one I use for my family’s BBQ themed Thanksgiving this year. This was delicious, easy, and sooo tender! My only change was subbing the onions for onion powder in the vinegar mix (I’m onion-averse), and since I started later in the day than I’d intended, I cooked it on high for 4 hours, and then low for another 2.5. My 3.5lb pork shoulder was not only done through, it was so tender that it was shredding as I pulled it out of the crock pot. I also decided to toss the meat, still in as large of chunks as possible, under the broiler for a few minutes to get a little crispy on the outside, and it pulled perfectly. Topped with a slightly sweet barbecue sauce, it makes the best homemade pulled pork sandwiches ever! Glad I discovered this recipe, and I’m sure my family’s Thanksgiving will be a big success. Thanks!!
Most perfect pulled pork recipe! It came out so perfectly and just fell apart…and it tastes WONDERFUL.
Any advice on the best way to reheat if it’s made a day in advance?
Jamie-
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and providing your feedback – have a great day!
-Jamie
I made this to bring to my friend who just had a baby and it was awesome! So tender and juicy. I, too, wanted a recipe that didn’t call for the sugary bottled BBQ sauce, and this fit the bill. Thank you!
Erica-
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and providing your feedback – have a great day!
-Jamie
Made this and it was delicious! I grilled some pineapple and put them on the sliders along with a little BBQ sauce.
Kristin,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and providing your feedback – have a great day!
-Jamie
WOW! My first time making pulled pork (Im in New Zealand and it hasnt caught on here yet). This recipe went down sooooo well! Definately a hit with the men in the house. Thanks!!
Sarah-
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and giving us your feedback – have a great day!
-Jamie
I made this last week and it was fantastic, making it again right now. Thank you for such a great recipe!! <3
Chantelle-
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and providing your feedback – have a great day!
-Jamie
Thank you for the recipe:) My husband takes it to deer camp with him and the other guys love it. This has been the second year he took it.
Jennifer-
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by and providing your feedback – have a great day!
-Jamie
I made the recipe as written, except I did use an extra TBSP of brown sugar and thought it was fabulous! It is light but has a kick! I added some store bought BBQ sauce to my sandwich. My family loved it too
I just tried this recipe this week!
Just like another reviewer said, it’s light with a kick. It’s just spicy enough and doesn’t require any additional sauces for serving. I enjoyed mine on a roll topped with a serving of a broccoli slaw.
So good. This is going to become a standard for me.
I made this last week and it was delicious. I did substitute a pork loin that I cut in half. Everytime I go to the store and look at pork shoulder, I cringe at the amount of fat in it. I know fat means flavor, but the recipe still comes out very tasty using the pork loin, only leaner.
I wanted to add that I did not use the liquid that was left in the crockpot. I pulled out the loin, shredded it and added a North Carolina vinegar based BBQ sauce to the meat. Tasted just like the pig pickins we used to go to in NC, but without the smoky flavor.
I’ve been looking for a good slow cooker rubbed pulled pork! Pinning this recipe! Can’t wait to try it!!
Sorry, but I didn’t care for the pulled pork as many others did. I believe the fault lay in the use of cider vinegar, as it overwhelmed the flavor of all of the other spices, IMO. I think if I try this again I will use straight apple juice in lieu of the vinegar. Being from Texas, I like any kind of BBQ type meat in its natural state without drowning it in BBQ sauce. On the positive side, the pork did turn out moist and tender, which is a big plus. Thank you so much for your recipe Ideas.