Description
Succulent pulled pork sings with Southern comfort in this easy slow cooker masterpiece. Rich layers of spice and tender meat invite home cooks to savor classic barbecue flavors with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4.5 lbs (2 kg) pork shoulder (boneless or bone-in)
- 2 tsps salt
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for searing, optional but recommended)
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth or apple juice
- ½ cup (120 ml) BBQ sauce (for extra flavor, optional)
- Extra BBQ sauce (for serving)
- Buns, tortillas, or coleslaw (depending on how you serve it)
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly pat pork shoulder dry with kitchen towels, creating an optimal surface for seasoning and flavor absorption.
- Spice Blend: Craft a robust dry rub by blending spices, ensuring a comprehensive and complex flavor profile that will permeate the meat.
- Seasoning: Massage the aromatic spice mixture meticulously across the entire pork surface, guaranteeing an even, intense coating that promises depth of flavor.
- Searing: Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet with olive oil at medium-high temperature, developing a rich caramelized exterior that locks in profound taste and creates a golden-brown crust.
- Slow Cooking Setup: Transfer the bronzed meat to the slow cooker, adding chicken broth, apple juice, and barbecue sauce to create a moisture-rich environment that will tenderize and infuse the pork with multilayered flavors.
- Transformation: Cover and cook on low temperature for 8-10 hours, allowing the meat to become incredibly tender and develop a mouthwatering consistency.
- Finishing: Carefully deconstruct the succulent meat using two forks, pulling the proteins into delicate strands and incorporating additional barbecue sauce and cooking liquid to maintain optimal moisture and intensify the taste experience.
- Serving: Present the pulled pork as a versatile centerpiece for various dishes, including sandwiches, tacos, rice bowls, or as a sumptuous protein accompaniment that promises to delight the palate.
Notes
- Moisture Management: Pat the pork shoulder completely dry before seasoning to help develop a perfect crispy exterior and enhance spice absorption.
- Searing Secrets: Always sear the meat before slow cooking to lock in robust flavors and create a delicious caramelized crust that elevates the entire dish.
- Temperature Precision: Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours to guarantee ultra-tender meat that effortlessly pulls apart and remains incredibly juicy.
- Flavor Boosting: Reserve some cooking liquid and mix with additional barbecue sauce when shredding to maintain maximum moisture and intensify taste profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg