4-Ingredient Crock-Pot Pork Barbecue

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 02/2/22
Pulled pork sandwich
Alan Richardson/StockFood Creative/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 13 hrs
Total: 13 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 8 to 12 servings

This pork barbecue is an easy and delicious pulled pork for the slow cooker. The pork shoulder is placed in the cooker with sliced onions and some Worcestershire sauce and cooked to juicy, tender perfection. The pork is then shredded, mixed with barbecue sauce—either storebought or homemade—and served hot on toasted buns. An easy prep, set, and forget dish for the next several hours, this is the perfect recipe for pork barbeque or a busy weeknight or weekend dinner for the family.

For this pork barbeque recipe, we use a pork butt which comes from the shoulder of the pig. Fairly inexpensive, this cut of pork is usually used for pulled pork, roasts, stews, and ground pork or sausage. 

It's a great dish for tailgating events, family gatherings, or picnics. Enjoy it buffet style and let your guests or family grab the warm buns and serve themselves the pulled pork and add more barbecue sauce if they'd like. Serve this with coleslaw, potato or macaroni salad, fresh fruit, and some baked beans. 

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 pounds pork butt, or shoulder

  • 1 large onion, sliced

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 4 cups water, more as needed

  • 1 bottle favorite store-bought barbecue sauce

  • 8 to 12 hamburger buns

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place pork roast in the crockery insert of a slow cooker.

  3. Add the sliced onion and Worcestershire sauce.

  4. Cover the pork with water.

  5. Cook on low all day—for at least 12 hours.

  6. Remove the roast, discarding cooking water. Save the sliced onions and set them aside.

  7. Fork-shred the pork, discarding any fat and bones.

  8. Return shredded meat and onions to the slow cooker.

  9. Dump a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce over it, and cook an hour or so on low until heated thoroughly.

  10. Serve on heated buns, along with your favorite sides. Enjoy!

Tips

Grab a store-bought barbecue sauce or whip up a homemade one.


Some favorite pulled pork sides include creamy coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, french fries, homemade chips, veggies such as collard greens or tossed salads.


Make this pulled pork recipe ahead of time over the weekend, so it's ready to serve early in the week for dinner after a hectic work or school day.

How to Store and Freeze

Leftover pulled pork can be put in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator for up to four days.


It can also be frozen for later use. Just place in a freezer-safe container or bag, and freeze the pulled pork for two to three months.


Slow Cooker Tips and How To's

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
789 Calories
41g Fat
41g Carbs
60g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 789
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 15g 73%
Cholesterol 197mg 66%
Sodium 829mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 60g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 153mg 12%
Iron 5mg 28%
Potassium 955mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)