This slow cooker BBQ pulled pork is the easiest way to make pulled pork sandwiches! This version is made with a homemade paleo spice rub and BBQ sauce.

BBQ pulled pork served in a bowl with toppings on the side on counter top

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

We’re big pulled pork fans in this family, and it doesn’t get much better than a slow-cooked BBQ pulled pork! This American classic is easy, and perfect to make for sandwiches or pork bowls.

This BBQ pulled pork is made to be paleo, and can easily be made AIP-friendly!

The Ingredients Needed

  • Pork shoulder. You can also use pork butt, which is a very similar cut of pork.
  • Seasoning mix. You’ll combine salt, black pepper, cumin, mustard powder, and coconut sugar for this.
  • BBQ sauce. You can use a store-bought paleo version such as Primal Kitchen or you can use this for AIP.
  • Garlic cloves.
  • Yellow onion.
  • Chicken stock.
  • Liquid smoke. This is what will give this pork the nice smokey flavor. Technically, you can leave this out if you prefer. I like to use this.
  • Apple cider vinegar.
  • Green onion. This will garnish it nicely at the end.

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

  • Combine the spice rub and thoroughly rub the pork shoulder and add it to the base of the slow cooker. Top with garlic cloves and onion.

Spice rub mixed in a bowl with a spoon

  • Combine the sauce with bbq sauce, liquid smoke, chicken stock, and apple cider vinegar in a bowl and pour it over the pork shoulder, making sure to evenly cover.

Sauce ingredients mixed together in a bowl with a spoon

  • Cook the pork. Add the lid onto the slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours or until the pork shoulder is cooked through and easily shreds.

pulled pork in insert of slow cooker

 

What do you serve with BBQ pulled pork?

How to make pulled pork bowls

  • Build the bowls with cauliflower rice, pulled pork, and coleslaw!

How to make pulled pork stuffed sweet potatoes

  • Slice a baked sweet potato in half and stuff with BBQ pulled pork and coleslaw.

How to make pulled pork sandwiches

  • Use a bread of your choice. I like to use Breadsrsly gluten-free sourdough sandwich buns. You can use my affiliate code UNBOUNDWELLNESS for free shipping on your first order!
  • Build the sandwiches with the sandwich buns, pulled pork, extra BBQ sauce, and coleslaw!

bbq pulled pork served on a sourdough bun with toppings on a plate

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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

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  • Author: Michelle
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 8 hours
  • Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This slow cooker BBQ pulled pork is the easiest way to make pulled pork sandwiches! This version is made with a homemade paleo spice rub and BBQ sauce.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3.54 lb pork shoulder/ or pork butt
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
  • 1 tsp cumin (omit for AIP)
  • 1 tsp mustard powder (omit for AIP)
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce (I use this for AIP)
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • Green onion for serving

Instructions

  1. Combine the salt, pepper, cumin, mustard, and coconut sugar to make a spice rub. Thoroughly rub the pork shoulder and add it to the base of the slow cooker. Top with garlic cloves and onion.
  2. Combine the bbq sauce, liquid smoke, chicken stock, and apple cider vinegar and a bowl and pour it over the pork shoulder, making sure to evenly cover.
  3. Add the lid onto the slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours or until the pork shoulder is cooked through and easily shreds.
  4. Serve on top of buns, ladled with extra sauce and green onion with coleslaw.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 296
  • Fat: 6.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.2g
  • Protein: 42.1g

 

Recipe by Michelle, Unbound Wellness. Photos by Eat Love Eats