Ultimate Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Bowl Recipe Easy Homemade Comfort Food
A comforting slow-cooker pulled pork bowl featuring smoky, tender pork shoulder cooked low and slow, served over rice or greens with fresh toppings. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours low or 5-6 hours high
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes to 10 hours 20 minutes (low) or 5 hours 20 minutes to 6 hours 20 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for searing)
- Rice or greens for serving (jasmine rice, brown rice, baby spinach, or kale)
- Optional toppings: sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, pickled onions, shredded cheese
Instructions
- Trim any excessive fat from the pork shoulder but leave some for flavor. Pat it dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this spice blend all over the pork shoulder evenly.
- Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork on all sides until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Place sliced onions and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour in chicken broth and apple cider vinegar.
- Nestle the seasoned (and seared, if done) pork shoulder on top of the onions and garlic. Pour the BBQ sauce over the pork to coat it well.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours until pork is fall-apart tender.
- Remove the pork shoulder carefully and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir to coat in the juices.
- Spoon a generous serving of rice or greens into bowls. Top with pulled pork and your favorite fresh toppings like avocado slices, cilantro, lime wedges, or pickled onions.
Notes
Searing the pork before slow cooking is optional but adds a deeper flavor and crust. Resist lifting the slow cooker lid frequently to maintain consistent heat. If pork seems dry after shredding, stir in reserved cooking liquid or extra BBQ sauce. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 bowl
- Calories: 0.45
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, pulled pork, comfort food, easy recipe, BBQ, pork shoulder, family dinner, meal prep