This quick and easy pulled pork crock pot recipe is perfect for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. It’s an easy weeknight dinner idea and a great addition to your list of dinner party recipes for guests. With simple ingredients, it takes just minutes to prep. We love it for Sunday lunch after church, too!

Best Ever Crock pot pulled pork piled on a bun and topped with a drizzle of bbq sauce.

I love the ease of “fix it and forget it” crock pot recipes, and this one is one of my favorites!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

After trying all kinds of pulled pork recipes, I reached for this one in my trusty wooden recipe file. It comes from a friend, and I love that it’s made with simple ingredients I always have on hand!

Pulled pork sandwiches are one of my favorite recipes to make when we want guests over for lunch after church on Sunday. I can put everything together the night before and let it cook on low in the crock pot while we sleep. Then, before I leave for church, I pull it apart and return it to the crock pot to stay warm while we’re away. When we all walk in the door for lunch, it’s ready and waiting. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Ingredients

See the printable recipe card below for specific ingredient amounts and instructions.

Pork shoulder roast – Boneless works best; look for a roast with ribbons of fat throughout for the most tender, flavorful pulled pork
Ketchup – Forms the base of the sauce and adds a touch of sweetness
Packaged onion soup mix – An easy shortcut to deep, savory flavor
Chili powder – Adds warmth without overpowering the sauce
Vinegar – Balances the richness of the pork and sauce
Worcestershire sauce – Brings depth and a little umami
Prepared yellow mustard – Adds tang and helps round out the sauce
Fresh garlic, minced – For bold, homemade flavor
Salt and pepper – To season and taste
Barbecue sauce – optional, for serving

Instructions for this Best Ever Pulled Pork Crock Pot Recipe

Pork roast in the bottom of a crock pot for this pulled.pork recipe — Salt and pepper the pork shoulder roast in the crock pot, and mix together the sauce.

pulled pork recipe sauce being mixed in a mixing bowl — Salt and pepper the pork shoulder roast in the crock pot, and mix together the sauce.

Sauce poured on top of a pork roast in a crock pot for this easy pulled pork crock pot recipe — Pour the sauce over the pork shoulder roast and slow cook on low for 8 to 12 hours.

Cooked pulled pork in a crock pot ready to be shredded — Pour the sauce over the pork shoulder roast and slow cook on low for 8 to 12 hours.

Pork being shredded with 2 forks on a plate for this easy pulled pork recipe — Use two forks to pull apart the tender pulled pork and return it to the sauce. (Or you can pull it apart with your mixer! See below for details.)

Shredded pulled pork added back into the crock pot for this pulled pork recipe. — Use two forks to pull apart the tender pulled pork and return it to the sauce. (Or you can pull it apart with your mixer! See below for details.)

A serving spoon dishing out pulled pork in crock pot — Letting the tender pulled pork simmer on low for at least 30 minutes helps it become even more flavorful.

Time-saving tip: Use your mixer for pulled pork!

Yes, you read that right! If you’re pressed for time and don’t want to pull the pork apart with 2 forks, put it in your stand mixer bowl and use the regular paddle on the meat. It will pull it apart in seconds!

You can see how to do this trick at the end of this short video:

What type of pork should I use for pulled pork sandwiches?

You want a pork roast with good marbling of fat. You should see white “stripes” running through the meat. This yields tender meat that falls apart when slow cooked.
Pork shoulder roasts also go by other names depending on where they’re packaged and purchased. Look for names like Boston butt roast, pork butt, or picnic roast.
And here’s my little secret: I use this same recipe for pulled beef sandwiches, too! It tastes just as great with a beef roast.

What sides go with pulled pork sandwiches?

Pulled pork sandwiches go well with lots of sides.

Pulled pork piled on a bun to make a pulled pork sandwich with potato chips on the side of the plate.

Here are some ideas:

Potato chips
Potato salad
Macaroni salad
Baked sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries
French fries
Macaroni and cheese
Baked beans
Spinach salad
Coleslaw

You can also get creative with toppings. Some topping ideas include:

Barbecue sauce
Coleslaw
Pickles
Cheese slices or grated cheese

A crock pot pulled pork sandwich with barbecue sauce drizzled on the top of the meat.

Equipment

Disclosure: the links below are affiliate links, provided for your shopping convenience.

For this recipe, I used my trusty crock pot, which I received as a wedding gift 32 years ago. The exact model I use is no longer available, but here’s one that is highly rated on Amazon. I don’t have a lot of gadgets and appliances in my kitchen, but my crock pot is one I can’t live without.

(Don’t forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite kitchen tools!)

How to store leftover pulled pork

Pulled pork can be stored safely in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Store the meat in a covered container or sealed ziploc bag. If you need to keep leftovers longer, it’s best to store them in the freezer.

To freeze leftover pulled pork, portion it into amounts that make sense for your family and place it in ziploc bags, squeezing out as much air as possible before sealing. A vacuum sealer works well, too. When stored properly, frozen pulled pork can last up to 6 months. Here’s a super helpful article on how to freeze pulled pork.

More Dinner Sandwich Recipes:

More Crock Pot Recipes

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