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    Pulled Pork

    Updated July 6, 2026 / By Holly Erickson

    Cooked low and slow, my classic, easy pulled pork recipe yields tender, juicy meat with a classic BBQ flavor. Make it in the oven, slow-cooker, or Instant Pot! 

    A pot of homemade pulled pork drizzled with barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches, sliders, and family dinners.
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Succulent, juicy, and bursting with flavor, my pulled pork recipe is a lot easier to make than you might think! Plus, It can be made in the oven, slow-cooker or an Instant Pot, whatever feels easy to you. Whichever method you choose, know that you’ll need time. Even my Instant Pot pulled pork recipe takes about 90 minutes. 

    Once pulled pork is made, though, you’re set! Serve it on a bun, in a pineapple-pulled pork sandwich, piled into heavenly pulled pork tacos, or even on top of a taco salad. If you want to branch out a little, try this sweet-spicy honey chipotle pulled pork recipe.  For more BBQ flavor goodness try pork ribs with some baked beans on the side. 

    pork shoulder, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar and spices in prep bowls to make pulled pork

    Featured Comment

    Wow! I’ve tried a number of different pulled pork recipes and always been left disappointed. This one is INCREDIBLE. Crisps up in the oven perfectly while being so tender on the inside with the perfect flavor combination. Perfect as a barbecue base or literally just on its own its so good!! - Jenna

    boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock being added to a pot to make tender pulled pork
    boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock cooking in a pot to make juicy tender pulled pork

    The Best Cut Of Meat for Pulled Pork 

    The best pork for pulled pork is boneless pork shoulder. Pork shoulder is a term that can be vague, because it refers to a “primal cut” of pork, meaning a large piece of the pig that is cut off during butchering and then typically broken down into smaller, “sub-primal” cuts, each with a different name (though all coming from the pork shoulder). The best piece of shoulder meat for making pulled pork is the “pork butt.” Sometimes, pork butt is labeled “Boston butt” or even “pork shoulder roast.” Worth noting: My pulled pork recipe has you cut the pork butt into quarters, but you can very nicely ask your butcher to do it for you and save yourself some work. Why? It cooks better that way, especially in a slow-cooker or Instant Pot. You’ll get more crispy edges, and it’s just one of those little things that makes this recipe the very best pulled pork recipe ever. 

    pork shoulder cooking in a pot ready to be shredded with forks
    cooked pork shoulder being shredded into pulled pork with 2 forks perfect for sandwiches, tacos, sliders or meal prep

    My BEST Pulled Pork Seasoning Mix

    • Brown sugar. A hint of sweet to caramelize those crispy pulled pork edges. 
    • Mustard powder. A BBQ-flavor classic, a little zingy! 
    • Garlic powder. In this house, we do not cook without garlic. 
    • Onion powder. A hint of sharpness!
    • Chili powder. A slightly smoky kick! 
    • Cayenne pepper. Nothing but a hit of heat!
    • Salt & pepper. Always. 
    A pot of homemade pulled pork drizzled with barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches, sliders, and family dinners.

    How To Make Pulled Pork In The Oven, Crock-Pot Or Instant Pot

    1. Combine stock and cider vinegar in your vessel of choice. The cider vinegar will help to break down the pork and ensure that that tough pork shoulder becomes totally juicy and tender. 
    2. Put the pork butt pieces into the Dutch oven, slow-cooker or Instant Pot. 
    3. Time for the pulled pork seasonings! Rub that quartered pork butt with a whole mess of slightly smoky, spicy, sharp and sweet spices. 
    4. Cover and cook! Cooked in the oven, pulled pork takes four hours. Instant Pot pulled pork will take a little over an hour. Crock-Pot pulled pork will take 8-10 hours on low, or 4-6 hours on high. 
    5. Now, watch for doneness! The official pulled pork done temp is 205°F on an instant read thermometer, and you’ll know that it’s done when the pulled pork is fork-tender, meaning just a hint of pressure from the tines of a fork causes it to absolutely fall apart. 
    6. Serve! Get some really good-quality buns. You can douse the pulled pork with either BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce (homemade or store-bought), depending on your mood, and squish all that goodness between the buns. 
    A pot of homemade pulled pork drizzled with barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches, sliders, and family dinners.

    Serve pulled pork with classic BBQ side dishes, like: 

    A pot of homemade pulled pork drizzled with barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches, sliders, and family dinners.

    How To Freeze + Store Leftover Pulled Pork

    • Leftover pulled pork is the best! It will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days in the fridge. Use leftover pulled pork in pulled pork hash, pulled pork quesadillas, or this juicy pineapple pulled pork sandwich! 
    • Yes, you can freeze pulled pork! Frozen pulled pork will keep for 3-4 months. It’s best to store the meat in portion sizes that work for your household, and to make sure that they are as airtight as possible so the meat stays as fresh as possible. 
    a bbq pulled pork sandwich made with homemade pulled pork on a toasted bun

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    A pot of homemade pulled pork drizzled with barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches, sliders, and family dinners.

    Pulled Pork Recipe

    Updated July 6, 2026

    By Holly Erickson

    • Serves:  10
    • Prep Time:  10 min
    • Cook Time:  5 hrs 50 min
    • Calories:  307

    Description

    This easy Pulled Pork recipe turns pork shoulder into tender, juicy shredded pork that's perfect for sandwiches, tacos, sliders, and meal prep. Cook it in a Dutch oven, slow cooker or Instant Pot. Great for feeding a crowd or stocking your fridge with versatile leftovers!

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      Ingredients

      • ½ cup chicken stock
      • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
      • 4 -5 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 6 pieces
      • ¼ cup brown sugar
      • 2 teaspoons mustard powder
      • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
      • 2 teaspoons onion powder
      • 1 tablespoon chili powder
      • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
      • 1 teaspoon finely cracked black pepper
      • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
      • 10 rolls or hamburger buns, for serving
      • 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce, store-bought or homemade

      Method

      1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position.

        pork shoulder, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar and spices in prep bowls to make pulled pork

      2. In a large Dutch oven, combine the chicken stock and vinegar. Nestle in the pork and sprinkle with the brown sugar, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne.

        boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock being added to a pot to make tender pulled pork

      3. Cover and roast in the oven for about 3 hours. Uncover and roast 1 to 2 hours more, or until the pork is tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork.

        pork shoulder cooking in a pot ready to be shredded with forks

      4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl or baking dish, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces.

        cooked pork shoulder being shredded into pulled pork with 2 forks perfect for sandwiches, tacos, sliders or meal prep

      5. Serve the pulled pork on the rolls and top with as much bbq sauce as you like. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

        A pot of homemade pulled pork drizzled with barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches, sliders, and family dinners.

      Notes

      To cook the pork in an Instant Pot:

      1. To the bowl of an Instant Pot, add the chicken stock and vinegar. Nestle in the pork and sprinkle with the brown sugar, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Lock the lid in place, close the vent valve, and cook on high pressure for 1 hour. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, then quick release if needed.
      2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl or baking dish, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces.
      3. Serve the pulled pork on the rolls and top with as much bbq sauce as you like. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

       

      To cook the pork in a slow cooker:

      1. To the bowl of a slow cooker, add the chicken stock and vinegar. Nestle in the pork and sprinkle with the brown sugar, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6 hours, or until the pork is tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork.
      2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl or baking dish, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces.
      3. Serve the pulled pork on the rolls and top with as much bbq sauce as you like.

       

      Note: Want to make this teriyaki? Skip the chili powder and swap in teriyaki sauce for the BBQ!

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      Nutrition Info

      • Per Serving
      • Amount
      • Calories 307
      • Protein 35 g
      • Carbohydrates 7 g
      • Total Fat 15 g
      • Dietary Fiber 0 g
      • Cholesterol 122 mg
      • Sodium 326 mg
      • Total Sugars 6 g

      Pulled Pork

      Questions & Reviews

      Rated 5 stars by 7 readers

      or
      • Rebecca

        What would be the best way to serve/assemble these for a baby shower?

        You could just set up a ilttle DIY pulled pork bar with the pork, buns, bbq sauce and maybe some coleslaw. These are super good with our red cabbage and apple slaw. You can pre-assembled them but you won't want to do it too far in advance so the buns don't get soggy. Hope you enjoy!

      • Rebekah

        I would like to make this dish on Sunday while at church, but I won't be able to uncover the dutch oven for the last 2 hours... Will this have major consequences? If it stays covered the entire cook time? Thank you!

        It cooks covered for 3 hours. Uncovering it will help the outside get a little crust. So just uncover it when you get home and you should be good.

      • Ali

        What is 1 serving equal to? 4oz? 1 cup?

        If you use a 5lb pork shoulder you should get about 10 (4 ounce servings ) of pork. Hope you enjoy!

      • Heather

        Hi, my pork butt has a large fat pad on one side. Should I trim that off when cutting the butt into pieces? Also do you recommend cooking with the fat side up? Thank you!

        You can trim it if it's pretty hefty. Fat up or down, either way it will be fine. Hope you enjoy!

      • Deidre

        Do I save the juices ? If I want to have this for a dinner the day after I make it ?!

        You can leave the juices in the meat in the fridge overnight to keep it moist. Hope you enjoy!

      • Hilary

        Would using a pork butt w/ a bone in it be detrimental to the recipe or would I need to make any adjustments to cooking time? It's called Pork Shoulder Blade Roast - Boston Butt. Lol. It was all I could find at the store. Lemme know...thanks!!

        Nope! You can also just cut all the meat away from the bone once you get it home! Hope you loved it!

      • Robert

        i didn’t have chili powder so i substituted with taco seasoning. i also took the drippings from the instant pot added 3 tbls of corn starch and 2 tbls of brown sugar and simmered until plum sauce consistency. i used that for the “barbecue sauce” and it turned out fantastic. the family loved it and didn’t have to fight over type of bbq sauce for it.

        Yes! Great idea! Glad it was a hit.

      • Julien

        5-star rating

        THIS WAS AMAZING. My first time making pulled pork and it was incredible. I added in some smoked paprika and cumin, but otherwise followed the recipe.

        I took out the pork 30 minutes early. It reached 205 degrees after 30 minutes uncovered and was extremely tender. I recommend checking your pulled pork after 30 minutes of cooking uncovered to check for doneness.

        Thank you so much for sharing!

        Thank you, we are so glad you loved it!

      • Paula

        5-star rating

        This recipe was way off! I did it exactly and it was way too done. I'm wondering if the temperature should be lowered. Very disappointing.

        Sorry about that. We've never had it over cook in the timing that the recipe calls for. Maybe your oven runs hot.

      • Jenna

        5-star rating

        Wow! Ive tried a number of different pulled pork recipes and always been left disappointed. This one is INCREDIBLE. Crisps up in the oven perfectly while being so tender on the inside with the perfect flavor combination. Perfect as a barbecue base or literally just on its own its so good!!

        Thanks Jenna, so happy you love it!

      • Robin

        5-star rating

        HOLY SMOKES! Your recipe is spot on. I’ve never reviewed a recipe before because I’ve never had a recipe turn out THIS good. Thank you!!

        Thanks Robin, we are so happy you loved it!

      • Tresa

        5-star rating

        This was so delicious and so easy. I was nervous because I had never cooked pork shoulder before but decided to give it a try and it was so simple. I did the slow cooker method and it was perfect. I cooked it for 5 hours on high. It came out tender, juicy and so much flavor! I just ate it plain with bbq sauce and others used it for sliders.

        So glad you liked it!

      • Tina

        5-star rating

        Great recipe! Made this twice and both times it came out perfect! Everyone loved it!

        Thanks Tina, so happy everyone enjoyed it!

      • Lisa

        5-star rating

        Made this pulled pork recipe in my Dutch oven for 4th of July. It was delicious and everyone loved it!

        Yay! Love hearing this.

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