Got 15 minutes? You can prep Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork in the morning and let it cook all day! It's juicy and tender with sweet heat and a vinegar kick. It'll become your go-to pulled pork recipe!
This one's for anyone who's gone all day at work, school or sporting events and wants to come home to a delicious meal. It's also for anyone who just wants a tasty, no-fuss dinner without spending more than 15 minutes prepping it.
Are you ready for Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork?
Good, because I'm going to tell you all about it. It involves tender, juicy meat with a nice vinegar kick. It's got some sweet heat too.
But first, let's have a little talk about slow cooker meals, or Crock Pot dinners, or whatever you want to call them. I own two Crock Pots (affiliate link) and am proud of it. They're a busy cook's best friend, and every kitchen should have at least a large one.
Second, I'm generally not interested in slow cooker recipes that require only four hours of cooking. (Hello, chicken breasts. I'll cook you for an hour or less in the oven or on the stove and don't want to stretch it out needlessly. And what if nobody's home to take you out of the slow cooker after just a few hours?)
No, I want to use my Crock Pot for food that can stand being cooked for 8-10 hours and then stay on warm for another hour. You see, when I worked full time outside the home, I was gone for 11 hours. I had to rely on large roasts, whole chickens, ribs and the pork shoulder used in this recipe to help me get a falling-off-the-bone meal on the table, instead of a dried-out disaster of a dinner.
And...I didn't want to bother with anything that had to be seared in a pan on the stove first. I was trying to get ready for work, you know?
Can anyone else relate?
I thought so.
Back to today's recipe. I'd never heard of Carolina BBQ until I tried the most delicious pulled pork sandwich a few years ago at Michael Symon's B Spot. I'm telling you, it's my favorite thing on the menu there.
My first reaction when I saw the name was, "Che re, Carolina BBQ?" (That's Neapolitan dialect for "What the heck is Carolina BBQ?")
To be honest, I was worried it was one of those household terms like "white bread," known to everyone in America except for children of immigrants. (You may recall that I thought that spongy loaf was "American bread" until I was in my 20s.)
Anyway, I came home and looked it up on the internet, determined that I had to try to replicate this meal. Instead of a tomato base, Carolina barbeque has a spicy-hot vinegar dressing.
In this version, the meat sits in the slow cooker atop quartered onions and gets coated with a brown sugar-and-seasoning rub. Then, Liquid Smoke (affiliate link) is poured on top, followed by half of the dressing. (The rest is reserved for after the pork is cooked.)
Tip to Adjust the Spicy Heat: Pour half of the Carolina BBQ dressing over the pork in the Crock Pot before cooking. When the pork is done, shred the meat and mix in the juice from the Crock Pot. Add the spicy, reserved dressing to each portion according to taste.
What's the Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork?
Use a pork shoulder roast or a Boston butt (half the shoulder), since you need a fatty cut to cook all day. Don't try this with pork tenderloin, or it will be too dry, since the meat is very lean.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
I usually serve this Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork over rice the first day (it helps to make a big pot on the weekend), then we eat the leftovers in sandwiches the second day. Try it in a grilled cheese sandwich — you'll swoon!
Great side dishes with pulled pork include Italian Bean Salad, The Best Corn on the Cob and Italian Potato Salad with Green Beans.
Enjoy!
(Recipe Source: Adapted from The Domestic Front. I originally published this recipe on January 31, 2015 but am republishing it with new photos, a video and updated narrative.)
Watch the video to see how easy it is to make Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork!
Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork
Ingredients
Rub
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Roast
- 2 onions (yellow, white or red, peeled & quartered)
- 4-6 pounds bone-in pork shoulder roast (if there's a thick layer of fat, trim it off)
- 1 tablespoon Liquid Smoke
Carolina-Style Vinegar Dressing
- 1 cup cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce (preferably Lea & Perrins)
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- For the rub, in a tiny bowl stir together the brown sugar, paprika, salt and pepper. Set it aside.
- Peel the onions and quarter them (cut each in half, then cut those pieces in half). Place the onions on the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Place the pork on top of the onions. Rub the brown sugar mixture all over the pork, making sure to cover all sides. Wash your hands well afterward.
- Pour Liquid Smoke on top of the roast. Prepare the vinegar dressing in a liquid measuring cup. Add the vinegar, the Worcestershire sauce, then the remaining ingredients, and whisk to blend. Pour half of this mixture over the meat and cover and refrigerate the rest for later.
- Cook the meat on low for 8-10 hours. Transfer the pork, onions and juices to a platter, add some of the reserved vinegar mixture, and shred the pork with two forks. (The vinegar dressing is spicy, so add it according to your taste.) You can have the remaining dressing at the table for each person to add more if they wish.
- Serve the pork in sandwiches, burritos, enchiladas or over rice. Refrigerate leftovers for up to four days.
Kate Downing
Can you freeze the cooked leftovers do you think?
Mamma C
Hi Kate - That should be fine.
Margie
Looks delicious!
Hi two questions:
Can I make this overnight for a 1:00 lunch party? Will it dry out if left in slow cooker so long?
Also, my family is split some like sweet bbq sauce and some would prefer no sauce. I am thinking this dish would be good for the no saucers and I can create sweet BBQ on side? What do you think?
Mamma C
Hi Margie - I wouldn't leave the slower cooker on with this past 10 hours - 8 hours of slow cooking and two hours on warm. The pork should be refrigerated when it cools off and then reheated before serving. There is plenty of vinegar dressing that can be added as needed. You could serve regular BBQ sauce on the side, but the pork is very tasty as is...it's not just plain pulled pork.
Carissa Culkin
My go to pork recipe! This is our absolute favorite!!
Mamma C
Hi Carissa - That's great to hear! Thanks for your comment.
Keti
I’m from Australia and I’ve found Liquid Smoke is
Difficult to find. Any suggestions on what to do in this case? Alternative option? Thank you
Mamma C
Hi Keti - Smoked paprika would be a good option, if you can find it. Otherwise, you could try to order Liquid Smoke online.
Keti
Thank you. I did end up using this and it tasted great 👍🏼
Mamma C
I'm so glad, Keti!
Ann
I just saw this recipe. Definitely going to try It. BTW, I sometimes slip and call that yucky bread American bread.
Mamma C
Hi Ann - Haha! Me too! I hope you enjoy the pulled pork.
Karly
This looks amazing!
Mamma C
Hi Karly - Thank you! It's one of our favorite meals.
Russell
This recipe looks good except true Carolina pulled pork is served on a bun with a spicy/vinegary coleslaw on the pork. Being part of a very large family from the Smoky Mountains of western NC I tend to be a tad bit traditional. I am going to have to try this recipe as it is definitely going to a lot quicker than smoking one, and serving mixed with rice sounds good. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Mamma C
Hi Russell - That sounds like a delicious tradition! We usually serve this on buns the second day, but I haven't tried it with coleslaw. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Mary E Poston
This is South Carolina pulled pork and the recipe is fantastic.
Mamma C
Hi Mary - I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Mimi
Looks beautiful! Love your seasonings.
Mamma C
Thanks, Mimi! There's so much flavor here.
Johnathan
I just finished having some of this pork for lunch and it is delicious! Definitely a five star recipe, thank you for sharing, Mamma C.
Mamma C
I'm happy to hear you enjoyed this, Johnathan! It's been a family favorite for years.