Originally published August 23, 2015. Last updated October 4, 2019.
This easy slow cooker pulled pork is a healthy pulled pork recipe made with simple seasonings. This easy recipe is a staple in our house because pulled pork is perfect for batch cooking and meal prep. Only five minutes of prep for an easy Paleo, Whole30 + Keto pulled pork recipe!
Simple Seasonings
Slow cooker pulled pork is so easy because a pork shoulder or boston butt doesn’t need much help to give you tons of rich and hearty flavor. For this recipe, you’ll just use a simple rub with basic seasonings. Remember, sometimes simple is better! You don’t need a bunch of ingredients for an easy and delicious slow cooker pulled pork.
A big batch for meal prep
We have found that a four pound pork shoulder or boston butt is a good size for this recipe. This size fits perfectly in most standard size slow cookers and makes a large batch to feed a crowd or meal prep with. We love using this easy recipe for meal prep because you can pair it with just about anything. It keeps well in the fridge and can be frozen too.
How to make this easy slow cooker pulled pork recipe
What’s great about this recipe is how easy it is to make! Just start with a pork shoulder (or boston butt), add a simple rub and throw it in the slow cooker with a little chicken broth to cook on low. Cook it “slow and low” as they say for about eight hours and you’ll have a batch of fall off the bone pork that will shred easily with a couple of forks.
You don’t need to sear the pork first
A lot of people ask if you need to sear the pork to brown it before it goes in the slow cooker. You can do this, but that’s entirely optional. The pork will cook just fine in the slow cooker without searing. Save yourself an extra step and just throw it in the slow cooker and walk away!
Some other easy slow cooker recipes
- Mexican Shredded Beef
- BBQ Pulled Chicken
- Mojo Pork
- Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
- Beef Barbacoa
Your turn to try this easy slow cooker pulled pork recipe
If you need a big batch of pulled pork to feed a crowd or are looking for an easy and healthy recipe for meal prep, give this a try! It’s healthy comfort food that your whole family will love. Leave a comment below and let us know how it goes. Also, take a pic to share on Instagram, and tag us @realsimplegood. Make sure to give us a follow if you don’t already. We’d love to stay connected!
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Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork (Paleo, Whole30 + Keto)
Ingredients
- 4 lb pork shoulder (or boston butt)
- 1 tbsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp Garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Onion powder
- 1 tbsp Chili powder
- 1 tbsp Smoked paprika
- 1 cup Chicken broth
Instructions
- Place all of the seasonings in a small bowl and mix well to make the spice rub.
- Massage the spice rub all over the meat. You may have some left over if you have a smaller cut of meat.
- If you have the time, wrap and refrigerate the meat for 3 hours or as long as 24 to let the rub set in. If you are planning ahead, I recommend letting the rub set in. If you don’t have the time, just season the pork and start cooking.
- Place the pork into the slow cooker and pour the chicken broth in.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Remove the pork from the crock pot and place it on a cutting board.
- Shred with two forks or tongs and serve. You can spoon some of the juices from the slow cooker on to the pork for serving.
I’m making this today with smashed plantains! I see pickles in your picture do you have a good recipe for them?
Hi Kasia – We are spoiled because my Mom makes the best pickles and she always gives us some. Those are what are in the picture. I’ve made her recipe but I don’t have it written down anywhere. But here’s a link to an easy refrigerator pickle recipe.
https://smittenkitchen.com/2014/07/easiest-fridge-dill-pickles/
I’ve made these before and they are easy because you don’t have to seal the jar or anything. I added garlic to the recipe too and they turned out great.
Let us know how the sliders turn out!
Justin
Can you use this recipe with boneless pork shoulder? Just cook it for less time?
A boneless pork should work just as well! We’d even still cook on low for 8 hours. Hope you give it a try! Let us know what you think. 🙂
I have an 8# roast how long should that cook?
If you can fit that large of a roast in your slow cooker I’d recommend cooking it for 12 hours on low.
my crockpot recently broke, how could I make this in my oven?
We haven’t done this in the oven, but here is a recipe where you could use our rub and the cooking instructions here:
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/oven-roasted-pulled-pork-sandwiches-recipe-1941398
Also, it sounds like it’s time to get a new crockpot!
If my pork shoulder roast is only 3 lbs, how long should I cook it for in the slow cooker? Thank you!
You can stick with roughly the same amount of time cooking on low. Let us know how it goes! 🙂
Delicious! We really enjoyed the flavors and how little effort is required 🙂
Glad you enjoyed is Lacy!
What do you serve this with so is low carb?
We like to serve it with cauliflower rice and some greens. You could also make a slaw to serve it with or choose low starch veggies to roast. Good options would be mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini, cauliflower, etc. Hope that helps!
Mine is 9 lbs should I double the amount of seasoning?
It might not take quite double the seasoning, maybe 1.5 times the recipe.
This is one of our favorite recipes. We use it for tacos, meal prep for lunch during the week or just a quick dinner. I usually cook two pork roasts and freeze some for later. Thanks for the great recipes.
We are very happy to hear that Kellie :). This is one of our favorites too. Thanks for coming back to share your review.
How long would it take on high for 3 to 5 lbs of meat, I need high mode as I dont have time for the low mode before my guests arrive.
High mode usually takes about half the time as low mode. So, 4-5 hours for a cut of meat your size. Enjoy!
I love, love, love this recipe! The only changes I made were searing the meat both sides before going into the crock pot, and the addition of a few Bay leaves in the chicken broth. This literally fell off the bone when I took it out of the crock pot!
So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe Janine :).
I am new to having a croc pot and not good at adding to recipes. I want to cook the pulled pork with at least one side (to make my life easier). For example if I wanted to make this with those tiny potatoes could I just throw them in or do I have to do anything to them? Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks!
If you cook the potatoes in the slow cooker for 8 hours they will get mushy. Adding the potatoes in halfway through is a good option. Or, simply roast some potatoes in the oven with some seasonings.
This is amazing and didn’t need any sauce at all, the flavor is perfect. So easy to make, I didn’t marinate mine, but it was perfect anyway! We will definitely be saving this recipe.
Glad you enjoyed this simple recipe! Thanks for the kind review :).
Have you done this in the instant pot?
At the time we wrote this recipe we hadn’t, but you can follow the instructions for the recipe linked below for cooking times/method.
https://realsimplegood.com/instant-pot-carnitas/
Made this for dinner last night. Son came home from school and had to text me “the meat smells amazing!” Husband came home from working OT and devoured a plate. It is a great, simple, keto-friendly, family-friendly meal!
So glad everyone liked the recipe Kim! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment :).
Of course! It was so good I am making it for brunch at my house this weekend. 🙂
Can leftovers be frozen?
Yes! This one freezes well! We recommend freezing it in the extra juices.
what portion is considered 1 serving?
A portion is about a cup to 1.5 cups. We didn’t measure portions exactly, but if you divide the pulled pork into 8 servings that’s approximately it.
Was very good, husband raved on its flavor and tenderness and easy recipe was very simple!
Like every recipe I’ve tried here- easy and delicious!
Happy to hear that Debrah, thank you!
I have a 2lb pork. Would we still cook it for the same amount of time or should we cook it for less? Cut the ingredients in half or leave as is?
You can cut the seasoning amounts about in half but you’ll still want to cook it about 8 hours in the slow cooker.
Wow, was surprised at how dang good this was!! So many uses for this pork, I had mine tonight over some cabbage slaw and plan on having some of the leftovers in a Siete taco shell. Yum!!
Glad you liked this easy recipe Michelle!