Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
This Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork is an easy slow cooker recipe made with pork loin and a homemade paleo BBQ sauce. If you’re craving sweet and tangy pulled pork without the hassle, this recipe is for you. Using a lean pork loin with a tasty paleo barbeque sauce that highlights the savory pork results in a meal that you can serve in a variety of ways.
This slow cooker tangy pulled pork recipe is made with a simple barbeque sauce with real ingredients and is free from refined sugars and artificial ingredients, making it a healthier and tastier choice. The meal is perfect to serve for dinner, potlucks, cookouts, and makes a delicious choice for tailgating food.
Typically, my family rolls their eyes when I mention “Pork is for dinner!” They aren’t fans. I know, crazy!? This easy pulled pork recipe is a game changer; it’s healthy, uses simple pantry items, and best of all, we love it! I’ve converted them with this dish, and now we enjoy these Stove-Top Stuffed Pork Chops and Slow Cooker Maple Dijon Pork Chops.
It’s the spicy shredded pork that’s simmered for hours in the tangy BBQ sauce that did it, they can’t get enough of it. Whether you’re following a paleo or gluten-free diet or not, this dish doesn’t compromise on taste. This recipe is a go-to for busy families looking for a hearty and satisfying meal for most all diet preferences.
Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
This dish uses a pork loin roast for a leaner option, slowly cooked until fork-tender. Instead of using store-bought sauces that are loaded with sugar or additives, my recipe uses a homemade sauce with natural sweeteners and bold spices. It’s tangy, slightly smoky, with enough heat to balance the sweetness.
You won’t find any ketchup, corn syrup, or refined sugars in this sauce. Adjust the sauce to suit your taste, increasing the spice or sweetness as needed. Once cooked, the pork shreds easily and can be mixed back into the sauce or served on the side for more control.
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Timesaving Tips and Variations
Want to be quicker in the kitchen when making this recipe? These simple timesaving tips can help. You can also try out some different variations to make the recipe your own and keep things interesting.
- Prepare the BBQ sauce the night before, storing it separately in the refrigerator.
- Use slow cooker liners for incredibly easy cleanup after the cooking process.
- Shred the pulled pork and freeze individual portions for quick future meals.
- For a smoky flavor, add a few drops of liquid smoke or replace the paprika with smoked paprika in the sauce.
- Double the sauce and freeze half for future recipes
- Experiment with different cuts of pork, such as a Boston butt roast, for a richer and more marbled result.
These changes won’t take away from the end result and still deliver plenty of flavor. This recipe works just as well with small tweaks as it does as written. The time-saving tips make this easy recipe even simpler to get dinner prepped.
What Side Dishes go with Pulled Pork?
Finding the perfect side dishes can really round out your meal and make it even more satisfying. Check out a few of these tasty options that complement the rich flavors of pulled pork.
- Paleo Broccoli Salad
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli (paleo choice)
- Creamy Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Classic Creamy Potato Salad Recipe
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
These are just a few ideas to serve with this tangy slow cooker pork roast. Whether you’re in the mood for something creamy, crunchy, sweet, or savory, there’s a perfect side to complete your meal. Don’t be afraid to mix and match to create your ultimate pulled pork feast!
Ways to Serve Pulled Pork
There are so many delicious dinner ideas with pulled pork that are beyond tangy pulled pork sandwiches. Here are just a few ideas to enjoy your slow-cooked creation. Get ready for some tasty inspiration.
- For Paleo diets, serve the meat as is, or over riced cauliflower, or spoon it into a baked sweet potato.
- If you’re not eating Paleo, by all means, serve on a toasted roll, spooned over a white baked potato or white rice.
- Replace the ground beef in these Easy Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos with the shredded meat.
- Tacos and quesadillas are always a hit, too.
Pulled pork works well in a variety of meals. Once it’s shredded and sauced, you can use it in so many ways beyond the list above. Leftovers are great to repurpose or build a completely new meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Tools to Make Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
Having the right tools makes this recipe even easier to pull together. These items help with prep, cooking, and cleanup, especially when working with larger cuts of meat. I’ve linked a few of my favorite tools from Amazon.
- Hamilton Beach 6 Qt. Slow Cooker
- cutting board
- knife
- measuring cups and spoons
- small saucepan
- Mixing spoon
- meat shredding claws (or two forks)
- air tight container
These tools are simple but essential for getting the job done quickly and cleanly. If you make slow cooker meals often, most of these are worth keeping on hand. They help streamline everything from prep to storage without adding extra hassle
Ingredients to Make Paleo BBQ Pulled Pork
This recipe keeps things simple with pantry staples and a lean cut of pork. Everything in the BBQ sauce is naturally sweetened and free of refined ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make the pulled pork and the homemade paleo BBQ sauce recipe:
- pork loin roast
- onion
- salt and pepper
- garlic
- beef broth
- tomato paste
- Dijon mustard
- apple cider vinegar
- raw honey
- paprika
- onion powder
- chili powder
- cumin
- cayenne pepper
These ingredients come together to create a balanced sauce, and the meat absorbs the flavor as it cooks, making each bite delicious. The sauce recipe makes quite a bit, but the good news is that it will keep fresh in your refrigerator up to a month in a sealed container.
How to Make Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
To make the BBQ Sauce: Simmer beef broth and garlic for 5 minutes. Whisk in tomato paste, Dijon, vinegar, maple syrup, and spices. Simmer on low to thicken, then cool for about 15 minutes. Store leftover sauce in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a month.
To make the pulled pork: Spray the crock pot with nonstick spray or use a crock pot liner. Season pork loin with salt and pepper. Layer onion slices on the bottom, then add pork, and sprinkle with garlic.
Pour 1 ½ cups of the cooked sauce over the pork. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours, checking after 6 hours to see if the meat is cooked and easy to shred. Once fork-tender, shred and return to the crock pot for one more hour. Cooking time may vary by crockpot brands.
We like to serve this over rice or piled high on a bakery roll. Whatever way you choose to serve this tasty crockpot pork loin with that amazing barbeque sauce, it will be the best pulled recipe you’ve had!
Get that slow cooker ready and experience the simple joy of tender, flavorful pulled pork. For a guaranteed delicious meal that fits your lifestyle, make sure to print or save this recipe – you’ll want to come back to it again and again!
Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
Equipment
- knife
- small saucepan
- Mixing spoon
- meat shredding claws (or two forks)
- air tight container
Ingredients
Pulled Pork:
- 3 pound lean pork loin roast
- 1 medium onion, sliced sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ cups of Paleo BBQ Sauce (recipe below)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced minced
Recipe for Paleo BBQ Sauce:
- 3 cups of unsalted beef broth (or beef stock)
- 4 -5 cloves garlic, minced finely
- 2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup raw honey
- 4 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 – 3 teaspoons chili powder (depending on your tastes)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
To make the Tangy BBQ Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, bring unsalted beef broth and garlic to a simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Simmer on low heat for 25 minutes, remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken during cooking time.
- Whatever sauce is not used in the Pulled Pork can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month in a sealed container.
To make the Pulled Pork:
- Spray crock pot with nonstick spray (this will aid in clean-up).
- Season roast with salt and pepper.
- Place onion slices on bottom of crock pot. Top with the roast. Then sprinkle the 2 cloves of finely minced garlic over the pork.
- Pour 1 ½ cups of prepared Tangy BBQ Sauce over pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 -9 hours, checking at about the 6 hour to see if it’s ready to be shredded. You’ll know when it is – it will just fall apart. When it is fork tender and falling apart, shred pork and return to crock pot. Let cook another hour. Depending on your crock pot, the cooking time can vary.
To Serve:
- If eating Paleo, serve as is or spoon into a baked sweet potato or over riced cauliflower. If not eating Paleo, spoon into rolls. Also, great over a white baked potato or white rice.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Enjoy!
Your Pulled Pork looks delicious, a great recipe! Happy to see you here at Full Plate Thursday and thanks so much for sharing with us.
Miz Helen