Great melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork butt is now an easy and economical BBQ dinner recipe. Cooked all day low and slow in your crock pot, pork butt becomes pull-apart tender for the best barbecue pulled pork sandwiches.
Introduction
I love pulled pork, but most of us do. I can fake it with other cuts of pork, but pork butt (AKA pork shoulder) is the "right" cut.
Cooking it low and slow is also the right way to melt the connective tissue. And, it should be cooked dry, not braised in liquids. Let's do it the right way like the smokers—low and slow in and not floating in fluid or fat.
There are many slow cooker recipes with condensed soup, packets of onion soup mix, broth, and many other things that should never touch a pork butt. Plus, the suggestion that it is "done" in 4-6 hours on low is impossible.
👨🍳What is "The Right Way" to make crock pot pulled pork?
The four easy secrets to the best-pulled pork in a crock pot the "right way."
- Use pork butt or pork shoulder only. No other meats qualify for this recipe. Recipes for other meats listed below and in the Pulled Pork Recipe Roundup.
- It is cooked dry with an appropriate rub. Not braised in cola, broth, or other liquids. Suggested rub included.
- It is not cooked in the drained liquid/fat. It drains away in the smoker, so it will here also. (Elevated with balls of foils.)
- Cooked to an internal temperature where it can shred correctly and the connective tissue melts. If you need a knife, it is wrong. (Long cooking time and check the temperature at the end.)
My Rating
A very nice 5. Almost equal to my oven and grill versions.
🐖About Pork Butt?
Pork butt, also called Boston butt, is the best cut of pork to make great pulled pork in your slow cooker. This low and slow method is not for leaner cuts of pork.
Like many cuts of meat, there are multiple names about the same or similar things. Pork butt and Boston butt are the same.
The pork shoulder is the thinner area of this cut but is commonly cooked and used the same as the butt. It has less marbling and less fat and is frequently not separated from the butt and sold as a pork butt.
If you are wondering, butt means thick, so that is why the term "butt" is used. Lastly, the picnic ham and picnic shoulder are not the same as this cut.
👨🍳How to Cook Crock Pot Pulled Pork
- Choose a large crock pot. Oval shape is better since pork butts are generally oblong.
- Use a 3-4 pound pork butt, with or without bone. With bone many take a bit longer to cook. You will get 3-4 servings per pound. Large butts will take longer to cook but if it fits without touching the sides, it will work. Smaller pork butts are will cook a bit faster.
- Wet the pork with some liquid smoke (optional) and then apply a pork rub of your choice—a suggested rub is in the recipe card if you don't have one.
- Place 6 crumpled up balls of alunimum foil in the bottom of the crock pot to elevate the pork out of the drainge that will occure.
- Place pork butt on the foil balls—fat pad up or down does not matter.
- Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours until you reach 195°+ (200°-205° preferred.)
- Wrap tightly in heavy foil for 15 minutes or more before shredding.
FAQs for Crock Pot Pulled Pork
No, but a good quality liquid smoke enhances the results. You could also coat with mustard if you want. Or use the dry rub alone.
If you use the liquid smoke, please only use one with water and smoke listed as ingredients and nothing else. Cheap liquid some will ruin this. I use Wright's.
No, it is unnecessary and will change the texture of the "bark" you are getting with the dry rub.
There needs to be some time for the fluid and melted connective tissue to reabsorb back into the meat cells.
Wrap with foil then a couple of towels then let the fluid absorb for at least 15 minutes, but one hour is better.
To help in timing, you can delay shedding time by 2-3 hours by wrapping the foil sealed butt in multiple towels and a small cooler if you have one.
Not a good idea—it will not shred well. Better to shred correctly while hot.
Some crock pots just won't do it. Do not try to shred pork butt that did not reach at least 185°, the connective tissue is not melted, and it just will not be good. I wouldn't stop under 195°.
You can move the pork butt to a 250°-300° oven on a tray and finish cooking in the oven.
🍽️How to Serve Crock Pot Pulled Pork
The most common serving method is pulled pork sandwiches with buns or slices of bread. But a pile of pork with some sauce on my plate works fine. Other options are casseroles, pork tacos, or pork enchiladas. But serve your pulled pork any way you want.
Side dishes: The usual coleslaw, potato chips, and potato salad are the standards. Hot sides like potato casseroles, French fries, mac & cheese, or baked beans work well as a side dish.
What BBQ sauce is best for pulled pork?
Barbecue sauce is a lot about personal taste. I like sweeter BBQ sauce like Kansas City or Memphis sauce. There are also Carolina vinegar-based sauces and the many types of Texas sauces.
I suggest my homemade Memphis Barbecue Sauce. This sauce always disappears, and others are left untouched at parties. But use any sauce you love.
I commonly use Gate's of Kansas City sauce and Cooks Illustrated like Bull's-eye Original or Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce.
One quick reminder, do not reheat in BBQ sauce. The acid in it will destroy the texture of the meat. Always add any sauce at the time of serving.
♨️How to Store and Reheat Pulled Pork
How to store pulled pork.
Pulled pork is good refrigerated for 3-4 days, but I prefer two days since the texture suffers.
Sealed airtight in the freezer, leftovers will freeze well for 3-4 months. Many will freeze the pork in reheatable sealed bags; then, they will reheat those in boiling water.
How to reheat pulled pork.
I suggest reheating on a sheet pan in an oven. Sprinkle with a bit of water, apple juice, or chicken broth (don’t overdo it). Cover tightly with foil and into the oven at 250° to 300° until hot. The time varies by how you shredded it and the amount on the tray—usually about 45 minutes in the oven for me.
You can then turn the oven down (keep it covered) or transfer it to a crock pot on low to keep warm. I know that is not very exact, but you get the idea.
Never reheat pulled pork in or with sauce applied—the acid in the sauce will destroy the texture.
📖BBQ Recipes
Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill – Not That Hard
Oven Pulled Pork from Pork Butt
Easiest Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Start with a 3-4 pounds pork butt. And a rub of your choice. I have provided a suggested dry rub if you don't have a favorite.
Prep a large crock pot with six balls of aluminum foil. Make about 2 inch balls of foil, then squish down to 1 inch high and arrange in the bottom of the crock pot.
You may use the rub of your choice or make the suggested rub. ½ cup dark brown sugar, 3 tablespoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Stir together in a small bowl.
Pat dry the pork roast and then coat with about two tablespoons of good quality liquid smoke (Optional).
Generously apply the rub. You could wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight at this point or cook right away.
Place on the foil balls and cook on low undisturbed for 9-10 hours.
Bake until internal temp of 190°+ about 9-10 hours, but will vary some with the thickness of the meat and the crock pot. If you can reach 195°-205°, the results will be better. Remove from crock pot onto a large sheet of heavy-duty foil.
Wrap tight with the foil, then wrap with several towels. Allow to rest for at least 15 minutes, but 2-3 hours is fine if wrapped well. Shred with forks. It will fall apart.
Serve as Pulled Pork Sandwiches or any way you wish, like tacos or nachos.
📖Recipe
Crock Pot Pulled Pork the Right Way
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds Pork Butt - aka Pork Shoulder
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke - good quality
- 1 cup dry rub
My Rub if you don't have one
- ½ cup dark brown sugar - light will do
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt - I tend to decrease this some
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Start with a 3-4 pounds pork butt. And a rub of your choice. I have provided a suggested dry rub if you don't have a favorite
- Prep a large crock pot with six balls of aluminum foil. Make about 2 inch balls of foil, then squish down to 1 inch high and arrange in the bottom of the crock pot.
- You may use the rub of your choice or make the suggested rub. ½ cup dark brown sugar, 3 tablespoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Stir together in a small bowl.
- Pat dry the pork butt and then coat with about two tablespoons of good quality liquid smoke (Optional).
- Generously apply the rub. You could wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight at this point or cook right away.
- Place on the foil balls and cook on low undisturbed for 9-10 hours.
- Done is really 200°-205° but some crock pots just can't get there. Don't settle for under 185°. But please try for at least 195° plus, and you will be happier. Remove from crock pot onto a large sheet of heavy-duty foil.
- Wrap tight with the foil, then wrap with several towels. Allow to rest for at least 15 minutes, but 2-3 hours is fine if wrapped well. Shred with forks. It will fall apart.
- Serve as Pulled Pork Sandwiches or any way you wish like tacos or nachos.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Notes:
- This is an all day recipe.
- I designed this for about a 3-4 pound pork butt. You can do bigger. Generally, if it fits in the crock pot without touching the sides, it will work. BUT the time will be longer.
- Bone-in or boneless does not matter. And fat pad up or down does not matter.
- I suggest a good quality liquid smoke, but skip if you want.
- Use a rub of your choice. I provided a suggested rub. You may decrease the salt if you want.
- Done is really 200°-205° but some crock pots just can't get there. Don't settle for under 185°. But please try for at least 195° plus, and you will be happier.
- If your crock pot can not get to the correct temperature, move to a 250° oven on a tray with sides to finish.
- Do not shred immediately. Wrap with foil and let the fluid absorb for at least 15 minutes but one hour is better.
- You can delay shedding time by 2-3 hours by wrapping the foil sealed butt in multiple towels and a small cooler if you have one.
- Good refrigerated for 3-4 days but I prefer 2 days since the texture seems to suffer. Will freeze well for 3-4 months.
- I like to reheat on a sheet pan, I sprinkle with a little water on my hand (don’t overdo it). Cover tightly with foil and into the oven at 250-300 until hot. The time varies by how you shredded it and the amount on the tray. You can then turn the oven down (keep it covered) or transfer to a crock pot on low to keep warm. (usually 45 minutes or so in the oven for me). I know that is not very exact but you get the idea.
- Never reheat with sauce applied, the acid will destroy the texture.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally Published April 9, 2016. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Thomas
I made this BBQ today using this recipe and it was fantastic!
DrDan
Hi Thomas,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Cheryl K Frank
Hiya! Can I add BBQ sauce? If yes, when?
DrDan
Hi Cheryl,
Welcome to the blog.
BBQ sauce??? I assume you mean to replace the rub. I don't see it as a good idea. That long of a dry cooking of a tomato based product probably will not be good.
I do always use sauce but at the end with serving.
Dan
Zach
I spread the pork out on a baking sheet after cooking and pulling, add some sauce and throw it in the oven for a few min.
DrDan
Hi Zack,
Welcome to the blog.
That sounds like great reheat method.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Jan
Making this as followed before bed at 11pm. Did a quick search and this recipe was the first one. I’m expecting a winning piece of pork in the morning.
DrDan
Hi Jan,
Welcome to the blog.
The house must have smelled wonderful in the morning.
Hope it worked well for you.
Dan
Sandy
Due to West Tennessee weather I was searching for a way to have BB smoked taste but not have to deal with forecast to cook outdoors. I found it with this recipe. The taste and tenderness will give our outdoor BB a run for the money. Delicious,juicy,tender and easy is what I got. Going to cook again this weekend due to cold temps and possible snow. Yummy yummy. Would give 10 stars if I could. I will change chili powder to paprika like I seen in comments.
DrDan
Hi Sandy,
Welcome to the blog.
Did you ever think you would do a pork butt in a crock pot. I never did.
Either chili powder or paprika is a personal choice.
I do love west Tennessee and trained at St. Judes years ago. Give me some Marlow BBQ any day.
Thanks for the not and very happy it worked well for you.
Dan
Kam Thomps
On January 5th, I made this recipe, sans liquid smoke, following the method precisely. Oh, my goodness. I have finally found the way to the pig I have been craving. I will never braise (read: boil) pig butt again. This was exceptional. I made a five pound roast, and if both my husband and my Golden Retriever were not so darned cute, I would have eaten it all myself. In time. Though, not too much time.
Thank you so much.
DrDan
Hi Kam,
Welcome to the blog.
I do love pulled pork (and golden retrievers). Glad it worked well for you.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Ann G
Hello! For the last couple of years I began making a non-traditional Christmas dinner, crockpot pulled pork for BBQ sandwiches using a eastern North Carolina sauce which is vinegar-based. I just throw my Boston butt in there for 8-10 hours, shred and then pour on the yummy sauce! (We love slaw on our bbq sandwiches!). I want to try the aluminum foil balls on the bottom to keep the meat out of the muck. I always thought the liquid would help keep it tender though. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Hana Jenkins
Went looking for slow cooker pork butt recipes this morning and when I scrolled down your page, I immediately thought, "Oh! I've done this before and I really liked it!" So I've just put it together for this evening. I only made one change: I used smoked paprika because I didn't have liquid smoke. I used almost a tablespoon (I didn't really measure...heh...) and then cut back on the pepper a little, but not too much. Thank you for the ingenious idea of foil balls under the meat!
Quinton
I put mine in the crock pot at 8am this morning, came home at 12 to check on it and my temperature was 200-208 throughout. Mine was 2.5 pounds-cooked on low the entire time. Have it wrapped in aluminum foil now. I’m assuming my crock pots rate of cooking is faster than others that need 10 hours? Once I take it out of the aluminum foil, what’s the best way to heat it back up for dinner around 6 pm?
Thanks!
DrDan
Hi Quinton,
Welcome to the blog.
That seems very fast, even for 2.5 pounds.
So what to do now? After wrapped for a little while, it needs to be shredded before it gets cold or it will firm up and be hard to shred.
The reheating of pulled pork is a long debated topic. Many "experts" like a plastic reheating bag with a bit of apple juice in boiling water. Others use a sealed oven pan with some apple juice or a bit of water. I like the oven method best for larger amounts. I admit to a covered microwave dish with a bit of water. Be sure not to overdo the microwave.
Lastly, I would be careful with other recipes in that crockpot.
Dan
Steve
Hi,
I’m trying this for the first time. In all of the text of the recipe is says “chili powder” yet in the photo of the ingred You Show PAPRIKA. Does it matter?
DrDan
Hi Steve,
Welcome to the blog.
It should be chili powder and I now have replaced the picture. I appear to have grabbed the wrong bottle for the photo. Paprika is made from different chili peppers and will taste a bit different but sometimes not a lot.
This recipe has been seen more than 1 million times and you are the first to notice it. So you are "one in a million"
Thanks for the proofread.
Dan
David Buckley
Can a plastic liner be used for this recipe.?
Thanks
DrDan
Hi David,
Welcome to the blog.
If by plastic liner you mean those very thin disposable liners that are made for crock pots. Definitely yes but still use the foil balls to elevate the meat to keep it out of the muck.
Dan
David
Hello.. thanks for the reply ..
decided to go your route .. got it wrapped in fridge .. got crockpot loaded with the foil ..
I even shopped around for the Wright liquid smoke .. ;-)
Thanks for the recipe advice..
Cheers !!
Gwen K
Wow impressive!!! I had a bone in 5 lb pork, was so confused on how is best to cook, sear first, roast last, 4 hours vs 8-10 hours, ect... but this was easier, and creative but made sense... so i decided to go with this one, so happy I did!!! I Marinated in Claude’s sauce for an hour prior, since I had run out of liquid smoke, then followed this recipe exact, got my 8 hours of sleep, this freed me up to do more cooking last night and this morning for a gathering... at 10 hours exactly it was at 205 degrees, juicy, tender and falling apart, and smells delicious!! Thank you for saving me!!!
DrDan
Hi Gwen,
Welcome to the blog. Glad it worked well for you.
I do love logical recipes. That crockpot is just a little oven so let it tend the food and free you up for other things (I love naps).
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Shane
Can i use light brown sugar instead?
DrDan
Hi Shane,
Welcome to the blog.
Yep that is fine. Brown sugar is just sugar with molasses. A little more in the dark and not much taste difference.
The rub is just a suggested rub. I use a similar rub for many things. I've used both light and dark so use what you have.
Dan
Kelly taylor
Hi Dan I did your recipe from the beginning to the end and mine's been cooking for 9 & a half hours now and it is about 6 lb but there's a lot of liquid in the bottom and it started to move around the tin foil balls should I take out the liquid? I know I need to cook it longer but I was wondering about so much liquid adding up? Thanks
Kelly t
DrDan
Hi Kelly,
I have never had more than 1/2 inch so yep if it is moving around, then remove some fluid as quickly as possible. You will lose a lot of heat so pop it up to high.
Dan
Steve Mulvenon
I made this yesterday and it was absolutely delicious. "Outstanding," was my wife's verdict. The only variations from the recipe were a 4.7 lb roast and not using liquid smoke. The rub I used already had smoke flavoring, so I was afraid of overkill on smoke flavor. It was done to perfection in 10 hours.
DrDan
Hi Steve,
Welcome to the blog.
Sometimes I think of this as an "odd" recipe since there is not much to it but the results are just so good.
If your rib is "smoky", then the liquid some is a bit redundant. My rib is straight up so I always add it but many seem to object or don't have it so skipping it is always an option. Or if they are not sure of the quality of their brand, I would definitely skip it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Kari
My family loved this! I loved how easy it was in a crock pot. Delicious! What is your best method for reheating? We have lots of leftovers.
DrDan
Hi Kari,
Welcome to the blog.
It is amazingly simple to get so much good.
The most common recommended reheating method is a plastic bag with a touch of apple juice in boiling water. Also, you can freeze it that way for easy reuse.
Now I never have apple juice. So I just put a dash of water in with the pork I'm reheating and then microwave just to a good reheat. Not hot-hot. Works fine for me but the pulled pork gods will strick me down someday.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Lisa
Hi there, Howdy!!
I have come across your recipe and am very anxious to try this. I ended up buying a 15 pounder at Costco, but will be cutting it in 1/2, so lets say it will be 7.5 pounds that I am going to cook and I'll freeze the other half. (This was the smallest that they had)!! On your recipe calculations, I entered in the weight, and it said 19/20 cups of brown sugar.
Does this literally mean 19-20 cups of sugar?? This seems like quite a lot. Please clarify!!
Please help!! Today is Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 and I would like to get this cooking by Wednesday!!
Thanks for your help!!
Lisa
Ingredients
7 3/5 lbs Pork Butt aka Pork Shoulder
3 4/5 tablespoons liquid smoke good quality
My Rub
19/20 cups dark brown sugar
5 7/10 tablespoons kosher salt
1 9/10 tablespoons chili powder
1 9/10 teaspoons garlic powder
1 9/10 teaspoons onion powder
1 9/10 teaspoons pepper
Servings:
19
DrDan
Hi Lisa,
Welcome to the blog.
That is 19/20 of a cup not 19 to 20 cups. So just under a cup. Keep it simple, just do a double batch. The amounts of various things in a rub can be varied some. So just rub on some liquid smoke to get it wet so the rub can stick than a generous amount of rub. Into the crock pot on low but elevated a bit on foil balls. Several people in the comments did 8 pounders and it took 10-12 hour. On the grill and in the oven, I like to take the internal temperature to 200-205 but in a crock pot, you just won't make that. Try for 195 but nothing under 190.
Dan
Jason
I have a 6 pounder in the crock pot right now.. and then I saw your recipe.. I just salt and peppered mine and cut up a sweet onion and threw in..on low.. I'm thinking 12hrs.. next time I will be trying your recipe the rub sounds amazing and using alum. foil balls to elevate it out of the fat is ingenious.
DrDan
Hi Jason,
Welcome to the blog.
I think your 12 hours is about right for pulled pork.
The foil balls are not my original idea but I can't remember where I saw it first but it works great.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Tracy jones
I tried this recipe and foil for the first time and it turned out amazing. I will continue to use the method. Thank for sharing..
DrDan
Hi Tracy,
Welcome to the blog.
It is surprising it came from a crockpot.
Thanks for the note.
Dan