This Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Recipe can be made in the slow cooker or crock pot. It's an incredibly delicious and easy way to make tender barbecue pulled pork without a lot of effort.
Why You'll Love it
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork is my go-to recipe for making the best shredded pork.
There are a million various methods to making juicy meat, but this easy recipe is all about the crock pot or slow cooker. (You could also use your Instant Pot, pressure cooker, or dutch oven but you will deifnitely need to adjust cooking times.)
Cooking the pork shoulder or boston butt on low heat easily renders the most tender and delicious texture. And because of this, this slow-cooked meat pulls apart like a dream.
With just a few minutes of prep work and some simple ingredients, this slow cooker dr pepper pulled pork will easily become your go-to recipe as well.
And whether you serve the best pulled pork recipe straight up witha little bit of your favorite homemade bbq sauce or turn them into pork sliders, your whole family will love easy recipe.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Pork Butt: The best cut of meat for pulled pork is a pork butt (bone-in or boneless pork butt or boston butt) or a pork shoulder. A pork roast is also a great option and will also render delicious pulled pork. To be honest, these terms all point to the same area of the pig but they can still be confusing. If you're unsure of choosing the best meat your local grocery store has for pulled pork, you can always ask your local butcher.
- Kosher Salt: If you're not using kosher salt, you will need to adjust the quantities. Kosher salt is the best for cooking because it makes the food taste like the food itself rather than just salty.
- Garlic Cloves & Garlic Powder: If you don't have garlic powder, you could also use onion powder, too.
- Cumin: Cumin adds depth and a slight smokiness to the shredded pork. It's kind of like the secret weapon for skipping the smoker without skipping the taste.
- Sweet Onion: You could use another type of onion like red onion, white onion or yellow onion. This is mainly to keep the bottom of the pork roast directly off of the heat.
- Dr Pepper: It's amazing what great flavor can come from a can of Dr Pepper. But luckily, this recipe works with coca cola, cherry dr pepper, or another dark sweet soda like root beer.
- Brown Sugar: I know you're probably thinking that the can of dr pepper has enough sugar but trust me on this one. A little bit more brown sugar adds so much more flavor and works wonders for the slow cooking process.
- Chipotle Peppers: Chipotle peppers also add smokiness and just the tiniest bit of heat. If you don't have them, you could swap it for a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Optional Add-ins: With my recipes, I always say the best part is making it your own! So if you want to add other ingredients like black pepper, apple cider vinegar or even a some coffee bbq rub, then go for it! I want this recipe to be your family favorite so if that means adding something your fam loves, then go for it!
How to make it - Detailed Instructions
Making this Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork is super easy! All you need is a couple minutes of prep work and then enough time to allow the slow-cooked meat to fall apart.
Season the Pork: To begin, place your pork butt on a cutting board and pat it dry. Sprinkle your pork butt with kosher salt, garlic powder, and cumin and use your hands to massage it into the meat.
Optional Sear: Get a large cast iron skillet super hot and start by searing the fat cap (aka the fat side of the pork butt). This will render the fat so that the other sides can sear in its liquid gold. This step is optional as the pulled pork will still be delicious without the sear but it truly does add so much flavor.
Load the Crock Pot: Begin by adding the onion to the bottom of the slow cooker or crockpot then add your pork butt followed by the Dr Pepper. You'll want to make sure that you have enough liquid so that half of the pork is submerged. Then add the brown sugar, garlic and the chipotles (if you're adding them!), to the liquid before putting the lid on.
Slow Cook it: Cooking time can vary depending on if you cook it on high or low. Because I don't have a lot of time to spare, I always turn the crockpot on high heat for 6 hours and let it work its magic. The meat will be perfect for shredding once it the internal temperature of the pork butt reaches 205F degrees. You can also cook it on low heat for 10-12 hours but I honestly haven't experience that much of a difference.
Shred the Meat: Once the boneless pork butt is done, carefully remove it from the liquid and let it rest for a few minutes on a cutting board. Then grab a couple of forks and use them to pull it apart. Ladle some of the crock pot liquid on top of the pork to make it more juicy. Or save it for when you need to reheat it later on.
Serve: Once you're ready to dig in, top the pulled pork with your favorite southern style bbq sauce and serve!
Save the Leftovers: If you have leftover pork, place it in an airtight container or some thick, good quality freezer bags. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to serve it
The best part about this Dr Pepper Pulled Pork is works for a ton of easy meals.
If you've got hamburger buns or slider buns then get excited because this is my favorite way to serve it!
All you need to do is drizzle some my southern homemade bbq sauce over the shredded pork. Then add a little bit of tangy coleslaw to make the ultimate pork sliders or pulled pork sandwiches.
For an easy lunch, you can crisp up the leftover pork meat in a pan with your favorite barbecue sauce. Then add it to the top of a salad with cornbread croutons. Or crisp it up under the broiler to make pork tacos then top with some cilantro and onion.
For gameday, I love to make pork nachos! Add the meat on top of tortilla chips and pop it under the broiler. Top with melted queso dip, and a ton of toppings like the recipe for these chorizo nachos.
What sides go with pulled pork
Making this pulled pork recipe into complete meal is easy! First, prepare a few of these southern sides. Then, toss the meat with some Homemade BBQ Sauce or Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce.
- Southern Cornbread Salad Recipe with Herby Buttermilk Lime Dressing
- how to make crockpot collard greens
- Southern Black Eyed Pea Dip
- Southern Cheesy Squash Casserole with Ritz Cracker Crust
- Southern Potato Salad with Bacon, Pimento Cheese & Sweet Pickles
- Creamy Gouda Mac and Cheese
- Hot Honey Butter Skillet Corn
More Slow Cooker Recipes:
Using the slow cooker is a great way to avoid overheating your house in the summer months. Here are some of my favorite slow cooker recipes.
- Caramelized Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham (Dutch Oven, Crockpot & Instant Pot)
- Cheesy Crockpot Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere & Crispy Breadcrumbs
- Crockpot Enchilada Casserole with Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese (Vegetarian)
- Cheesy French Onion Crockpot Potatoes
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Recipe
The Best Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Recipe (Slow Cooker)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb Pork Butt
- 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Cumin
- 1 large Sweet Onion thinly sliced
- 1 can Dr Pepper (or 2 mini cans)
- 3 cloves Garlic
- ½ cup Brown Sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon Chipotle Paste
Instructions
- Pat your pork butt dry and sprinkle with kosher salt, garlic powder, and cumin. Use your hands to massage it into the meat.
- **OPTIONAL** Get a large cast iron skillet super hot and sear the outside of the meat - on all sides. This step is optional because it will still be delicious without the sear but it truly does add so much flavor.
- Next, add the onion to the bottom of the crock pot or slow cooker then add your pork butt followed by the Dr Pepper, garlic, brown sugar. If you’re adding the chipotles, add them to the liquid before putting the lid on.
- Turn the crockpot on high for 6 hours and let it work its magic. If cooking on low, cook for 10-12 hours.
- Once done, carefully remove the pork butt from the liquid and let it rest for a few minutes before pulling it apart. Add some of the crock pot liquid to the top of the pork or save it for when you need to reheat it later on.
- Top with your favorite southern style bbq sauce and serve!
