This easy BBQ pulled pork takes just 5 minutes to prep with 5 simple ingredients. It’s perfectly juicy and tender, with delicious BBQ flavor. Make it in the crockpot OR instant pot!
We love serving this on a bun or homemade dinner rolls, on top of oven baked nachos, cobb salads and more!
Table of Contents
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
BBQ pulled pork is one of the easiest slow cooker recipes. Slow cooking the pork helps to make the meat super tender and flavorful. It’s so delicious! If you’d rather use different cut of meat, check out my crockpot BBQ chicken or crockpot brisket, or for a different flavor try Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe.
While I love beef short ribs in the winter, BBQ pork sandwiches are my go to recipe to make in the summertime. They are perfect for family get-togethers and backyard BBQ’s. This easy BBQ pulled pork recipe only takes 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep. It cooks ALL day, so make sure to put it on the slow cooker first thing in the morning.
How to Make BBQ Pulled Pork
For slow cooker pulled pork:
- Season. Place the pork in the slow cooker, then pierce a few times with a fork. Pour in 1/2 cup water, BBQ sauce and liquid smoke, then season with salt and pepper.
- Cook in crockpot. Cook on low until the pork easily shreds, about 10 hours.
- Shred and enjoy. Remove from slow cooker and shred the meat using 2 forks. Discard any excess fat. Then transfer the pork back to the pot with the juices and let rest for about 15 minutes. Serve on a hamburger bun or on top of a salad.
For Instant Pot pulled pork:
- Cut the meat into 4 pieces.
- Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot with and extra 1/2 cup water and seal the lid.
- Set to cook at high pressure for 60 minutes. Then do a natural release for 15 minutes. If pork is frozen, increase time to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Cooking Tips
- Don’t disturb the pork. Make sure to leave the lid sealed the entire cooking time, so that it steams and gets super tender.
- You do not need to sear the meat first, however if you’d like to you can sear it in a pan over medium heat with a little oil. Cook each side about 2 minutes, then move to the slow cooker.
- You can use store bought sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Ray’s) or homemade BBQ sauce. You could even mix two sauces together to get a sweet and smoky flavor.
Ways to Use Leftover BBQ Pulled Pork
- Add to a BBQ chicken pizza (in place of the chicken)
- Add to a BBQ chicken salad (in place of the chicken)
- BBQ pulled pork sliders
- BBQ nachos
- Pulled BBQ pork quesadillas
- Wrap it in a homemade tortilla or lettuce wrap
Try these other crowd pleasing shredded meats! Carnitas Instant Pot, shredded beef or this kalua pork!
Favorite Sides to Serve Alongside
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Pulled Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds boneless pork loin or shoulder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce
- 1 Tablespoon liquid smoke , optional but recommended
Instructions
Slow cooker
- Place in the slow cooker. Pierce pork several times. Add 1/2 cup water. Pour BBQ sauce and liquid smoke over the top. Then sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Cook on low for 10 hours, or until it easily shreds.
Instant Pot
- Cut into 4 chunks, pierce with a fork, then place in the instant pot. Add 1 cup water. Pour BBQ sauce and liquid smoke over the top. Then sprinkle salt on top. Place lid on top and set to high pressure. Cook for 60 minutes and then do a natural slow release for 10 minutes.
- Remove pork and shred with 2 forks. Remove any excess fat.
- Place back in the pot and let sit in the juices for 15 minutes, or until ready to serve. Serve on a bun, on top of a potato or on a salad.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Pork
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This was such a simple recipe to put together in the morning and it was a delicious dinner at night! My family likes it in rolls, but also on salad, in quesadillas and even on pizza dough as a bbq pizza!
Yum the options to use it our endless! Thanks for the review!
Loved this pork! It was super easy to make and we all wanted seconds. Tender, juicy, and the flavor is incredible!
Yum! My kids gobbled this up.