Simple & Easy Crockpot Pulled Pork

You know that feeling when you walk in the door after a long day and your house smells absolutely amazing?

That’s exactly what happens with this crockpot pulled pork recipe, but it’s especially perfect this time of year when our family schedule is completely bonkers.

I can toss everything in before heading out to morning soccer practice, and by the time we all stumble back home in different directions throughout the evening, dinner is DONE.

The girls can make their own sandwiches whenever they get home, and I’m not stuck in the kitchen during the precious few hours we have together.

The best part?

Everyone actually eats it without complaining!

And leftovers transform into quick quesadillas, salad toppers, or even breakfast hash later in the week.

Honestly, my crockpot deserves a medal for saving our family dinners during this crazy season.

Let me share this super simple recipe that looks like you spent hours cooking when really your appliance did all the work!

Ingredients for Easy Pulled Pork Recipe

Besides being juicy, flavorful, and making your kitchen smell like BBQ heaven, this recipe is a total lifesaver!

You literally dump everything in the crockpot in the morning, forget about it all day while running kids to soccer practice and vet club meetings, then come home to perfectly cooked meat that falls apart with just a fork.

The best part might be how the leftovers transform into completely different meals throughout the week – tacos on Tuesday, rice bowls on Wednesday, and even breakfast hash on the weekend – making me feel like I actually have my life together even during our busiest seasons!

What You’ll Need:

• Boneless pork shoulder (also called pork butt at the store)
• Paprika (I use smoked for extra flavor)
• Brown sugar
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Black pepper
• Salt
• Cayenne pepper (optional if your family doesn’t like heat)
• BBQ sauce (plus extra for serving)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Chicken broth (or water works too)
• Worcestershire sauce
• Yellow mustard (trust me on this one!)
• Large onion

How to Make Crockpot Pulled Pork

Here’s the simple way to make this delicious meal:

1. Mix Your Spice Rub

Grab a small bowl and toss in the paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, and cayenne (I sometimes skip the cayenne when making it for the girls, but add it back in for the adults).

2. Pat Dry + Rub Spice

Time to give that pork shoulder some TLC!

Pat it dry with paper towels (super important step!) then massage that spice mixture ALL over that beautiful hunk of meat.

Get in every nook and cranny like you’re giving it a fancy spa treatment.

3. Assemble Your Crockpot Ingredients

Create your flavor foundation by scattering the sliced onions across the bottom of your crockpot.

They’ll create this amazing flavor base and practically disappear by the end of cooking.

Then ceremoniously place your spice-covered pork right on top of that onion bed.

4. Make Your Suace

In a measuring cup, mix together the BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, and that yellow mustard (trust me on this one, even if it seems weird).

Pour this flavor potion all over the pork like you’re baptizing it in deliciousness.

5. Turn On Crockpot

Set your crockpot to LOW for 8-10 hours (perfect for those all-day soccer tournament Saturdays) or HIGH for 4-5 hours if you’re in a time crunch.

6. Shred the Pork

When it’s finally done, carefully lift that beautiful hunk of meat out onto a cutting board (it’ll be practically falling apart already).

Grab two forks and shred that baby up!

Pick out any big fatty chunks unless that’s your thing – no judgment in this kitchen!

7. Add Shredded Pork Back into Crockpot

Don’t waste all that amazing flavor in the crockpot!

Toss all your shredded porky goodness back into those juices and let it hang out for another 10-15 minutes to soak up even more flavor.

8. Serve

Serve it however your heart desires! We usually do sandwich night the first day with some coleslaw on top.

The leftover possibilities are ENDLESS – tacos, quesadillas, on top of baked potatoes, stirred into mac and cheese, or honestly just eaten cold from the fridge at midnight when you think no one’s watching (guilty!).