Pulled Pork Recipe | How to Cook Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a tough cut of meat cooked slowly at low temperatures. This allows the meat to become tender enough to be pulled or easily broken into individual pieces. Pulled pork goes well with hamburger buns, lettuce wraps or can be a filling for savory pancakes or waffles! Want to cook up some pulled pork in your kitchen? Here are some different recipes you can try out :)

Pulled-Pork Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (4-1/2- to 5-pound) boneless or bone-in pork shoulder (pork butt), twine or netting removed
• 2 cups barbecue sauce (optional)

Directions

1. Place the onions and garlic in an even layer in the slow cooker and pour in the stock or broth. Combine the sugar, chili powder, measured salt, cumin, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Pat the pork dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork and place the meat on top of the onions and garlic. Cover and cook until the pork is fork tender, about 6 to 8 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.
2. Turn off the slow cooker and remove the pork to a cutting board. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium heatproof bowl. Pour the onion mixture from the slow cooker through the strainer and return the solids to the slow cooker. Set the strained liquid aside.
3. If the pork has a bone, remove and discard it. Using 2 forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker, add the barbecue sauce, if using, and mix to combine. If you’re not using barbecue sauce, use a spoon to skim and discard the fat from the surface of the strained cooking liquid, and then add 1/4 cup of the liquid at a time to the slow cooker until the pork is just moistened. Taste and season with salt as needed.

Root Beer Pulled-Pork Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin (pork shoulder or butt can also be used)
• 1 (12 ounce) can of root beer
• 1 (18 ounce) bottle of barbecue sauce
• 8 hamburger buns

Directions

1. Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker and pour the can of root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until pork shreds easily with a fork.
2. After pork has cooked, drain and discard the root beer. Shred the pork and place it back in the slow cooker. Pour the barbecue sauce over the pork and stir to combine. Serve immediately or keep warm in slow cooker until ready to serve. Serve on hamburger buns.

Apple Cider Pulled-Pork Recipe

Ingredients

• 3.5 lb. pork shoulder
• 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup apple cider, homemade or store-bought
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

1. Place half of the onions in the slow cooker. Set pork on top of onions, then cover pork with remaining onions.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together all remaining ingredients. Pour on top of pork and onions.
3. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours, or until the pork is cooked and pulls apart easily with a fork. Shred pork using two forks, then toss once more in the juices so that it is coated. Serve warm.