Cozy Crockpot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Tender, smoky pulled pork slow-cooked in a crockpot and served on soft buns, perfect for easy family meals and gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 8 sandwich buns
- Optional toppings: pickles, coleslaw, sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some for flavor. Pat dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the pork shoulder, massaging it into every nook and cranny.
- Place the sliced onion and minced garlic at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Set the seasoned pork shoulder on top of the onions. Pour in apple cider vinegar, barbecue sauce, and chicken broth around the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the pork easily pulls apart with a fork.
- Remove the pork shoulder and shred the meat finely using two forks or meat claws. Remove any large pieces of fat.
- Return shredded pork to the crockpot and stir to coat evenly with the cooking juices and sauce. Let sit on warm for 15 minutes.
- Toast sandwich buns lightly if desired, pile on pulled pork, and add optional toppings like coleslaw or pickles.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
Cook on low for 8 hours for tender pork. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to retain moisture. If sauce is too thin after shredding, simmer uncovered on low for 10-15 minutes to thicken. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. For a leaner option, substitute pork shoulder with boneless chicken thighs and reduce cook time to 6 hours.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich with abou
- Calories: 450500
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: pulled pork, crockpot, slow cooker, sandwiches, barbecue, easy recipe, family meal, comfort food