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Pulled pork on a sandwich with bbq sauce.
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5 from 23 votes

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder

Shallots and garlic along with wonderful spices make this crock-pot pulled pork perfect for parties!
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time6 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, BBQ
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Servings: 4
Calories: 468kcal
Author: Alicia

Ingredients

  • 1 3-4lb boneless pork shoulder aka "pork butt"*
  • 3 shallots, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 4 medium garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth

Instructions

  • Place shallots and garlic at the bottom of your slow cooker. If your pork is wrapped in twine, remove the twine/netting. Place pork on top of shallots and garlic in the slow cooker and add the broth.
  • Combine spices in a small bowl and rub onto pork. Cover and cook 7-10 hours on low. My 4lb pork shoulder took about 8 hours on low. Remove any fat that's accumulated on the top and pulled apart pork with two forks until shredded. It should shred very easily if done. 
  • If you want to remove the pork and then reduce the sauce in a separate pan you can. I usually just shred mine in the accumulated juices and serve.

Notes

  • Make sure you are buying pork shoulder or pork butt, NOT pork loin. 
  • Temperatures vary greatly on slow cookers, so judge the cooking time based on that. If yours normally runs hot, go with a lower cooking time. 
  • If the pulled pork doesn't shred easily you either got the wrong cut of meat, or it is not done cooking. 
  • For best results, cook on low heat. If you must, this can be cooked on high for about 6 hours. 
  • Do not use an instant pot slow cooker for this recipe. It is not the same thing as a real slow cooker or crock pot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 78g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 204mg | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 1397mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 4mg