Fall-Apart Pulled Pork Shoulder

Ingredients

• 4 lb boneless pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of large fat caps
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 yellow onion, sliced into thick rings
• 0.5 cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving

Instructions

1. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels; this helps the spice rub stick and is the only real prep this recipe needs.
2. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt.
3. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork, pressing it into every surface with your hands.
4. Scatter the onion rings in the bottom of the slow cooker insert to act as a rack, then place the seasoned pork on top.
5. Pour the chicken broth and apple cider vinegar around (not over) the pork so you don't wash off the rub.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours, or on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours, until the pork is deeply tender.
7. Check doneness by inserting two forks into the thickest part of the meat and twisting gently; it is done when the pork shreds apart with almost no resistance and reads at least 195F on an instant-read thermometer.
8. Carefully transfer the pork to a large cutting board or rimmed baking sheet, leaving the liquid behind.
9. Shred the pork using two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat, then discard the onion rings from the cooker.
10. Skim excess fat off the surface of the remaining cooking liquid with a large spoon.
11. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and toss it with 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and the barbecue sauce until moist and well coated.
12. Let the pork sit uncovered on WARM for 10 minutes so it soaks up the sauce, then taste and add a little more barbecue sauce if you like it saucier.
13. Serve piled onto buns, over rice, or alongside coleslaw, with extra barbecue sauce on the side.

Tips

Why You'll Love This

• Only 15 minutes of hands-on prep
• Feeds a crowd for very little cost
• Freezes beautifully for future meals
• No searing or special equipment needed

Nutrition

Nutrition values are estimated per serving based on the ingredients used.