Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork
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Juicy, flavorful and fall apart tender, this Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork makes amazing sandwiches but is also fabulous on tacos, mac and cheese, and salads. Made in the slow cooker, this pulled pork couldn’t be easier to get on the table!
The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Table of Contents
There’s nothing quite like a messy pulled pork sandwich on a summer day, the flavors of sweet and spicy pork mingling with crisp sweet and sour coleslaw, juices soaking into the bottom bun, making holding the sandwich a bit untenable, but delectable nonetheless.
It’s the kind of sandwich you won’t want to put down for fear of losing even one morsel of this delicious, saucy mess in the transfer.
We are in love with this Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork, which gets its smoky sweet heat from a spicy pork rub, apple cider vinegar, and honey.
Slow cooked for hours, the pork is so tender it’ll fall apart with nothing more than a stern look, and it has a flavor bold enough to stand on its own or be smothered in your favorite BBQ sauce, whichever you prefer.
My husband says this pulled pork beats the pants off City BBQ and I agree with him!
Why You’ll Love this Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork
- Minimal prep time– You can have this pulled pork in the crock pot in about 15 minutes!
- Super versatile– Because this pulled pork is made without ketchup or BBQ sauce, it’s incredibly versatile. Just like our favorite slow cooker shredded beef, this recipe can be repurposed for different meals all week. Toss it in tacos, salads, and more!
- Great for gatherings– The slow cooker does most of the work for this recipe, making it a fantastic make ahead option for parties.
Key Ingredients
- Pork Shoulder– Pork shoulder is the ideal cut of meat for pulled pork, benefiting from low and slow cooking that melts the fat and leaves the meat fork tender. This cut may also be referred to as a Boston butt, pork butt, or pork blade roast at the grocery store.
- Spices– Our pulled pork rub uses a combination of smoked paprika, Kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and mustard powder for layers of flavor that deliver both heat and smokiness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar– The tang of vinegar helps offset the richness of the pork and seasonings. You can substitute white wine vinegar or slightly less plain white vinegar if you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand.
- Honey– Balance out the heat with a touch of honey.
- Onion and Garlic– These aromatics add flavor and will also make your house smell amazing.
How to Make Spicy Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker
Step 1: Mix together the rub. In a bowl, whisk together all of the dry seasonings. Add the honey and apple cider vinegar and whisk until combined.
Step 2: Prepare the slow cooker. Place the onions at the bottom of the slow cooker and top with the pork. Pour the rub mixture evenly over both sides of the pork.
Step 3: Cook. Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours.
Step 4: Shred. Remove the pork pieces to a cutting board with a groove for catching liquids. Shred with two forks.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
One of the BEST things about this recipe is how easy it is to make ahead. Of course, with slow cooking, you’re already making the pork ahead of time, but the pork can be made up to 3 days in advance and reheated as needed.
If it’s possible, it might even be a tad better the second day!
- Leftover pulled pork should be stored in a sealed container in the fridge and will keep for up to 5 days.
- Reheat leftover pulled pork in the microwave for single portions, or reheat large portions in a crock pot on high for 1 hour or low for 2 hours. Make sure you include the juices when reheating in the crock pot!
- If you want crispy pulled pork, reheat on the stove top with a little bit of oil over medium high heat.
Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwich Toppings
Our perfect pulled pork sandwich is made with a squeeze of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and piled high with vinegar coleslaw on brioche buns. If we’re feeling brave, we also add fresh jalapenos.
That said, there are many other toppings for pulled pork sandwiches. Feel free to experiment with your favorite combo of pickles, fresh or pickled red cabbage and onions, or slices of cheddar or colby jack cheese.
FAQs
Some of our favorite sides for pulled pork include creamy mac and cheese, corn souffle and cowboy baked beans.
It also pairs well with fresh and tangy salads like cucumber tomato salad, Italian bowtie pasta salad, and That Good Salad.
Yes, if you have a large (6 quart+) crock pot you can double the recipe to feed a crowd.
Yes! The heat in this is totally customizable! Use more cayenne pepper for a bold heat or omit it completely if you don’t enjoy heat at all.
You can also add sliced jalapenos to the crock pot to increase the heat or top your sandwich with them.
Yes, you can use a pork loin for pulled pork, but note this is different than a pork tenderloin, which is a different cut that is not suitable for pulled pork. If you’ve got a tenderloin, try this Mediterranean Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.
What to Make with Leftover Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is great on so many things. It pairs well with almost any Mexican dish, including pulled pork tacos, quesadillas, and burritos, or sub pulled pork for beef in these cast iron skillet nachos.
Pulled pork also pairs well with eggs, so it’s perfect for a breakfast scramble or hash.
Of course, we also love pulled pork mac and cheese (the most ridiculously comforting meal!) or, for something lighter, these pulled pork rice bowls!
More Easy Slow Cooker Dinners to Try
- Loaded Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Steak Bites
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chilaquiles
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- ½-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 onion (sliced in wedges)
- 3 ½-4 pounds pork shoulder (cut in half)
For the sandwiches:
- brioche buns (toasted)
- BBQ sauce of your choice
- sweet and sour coleslaw
- sliced jalapenos (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the smoked paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and mustard powder. Whisk in the honey, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.
- Place the chopped onion at the bottom of your slow cooker. Lay the pork shoulder pieces on top of the onion. Pour half the spice mixture over top, then flip the pork pieces over and pour the rest of the spice mixture in.
- Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 9-10 hours.
- Remove pork pieces from the slow cooker and shred with a fork, removing any large pieces of fat. Return to the slow cooker and stir.
- To make the sandwiches, pile the pulled pork on the buns, top with BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and jalapenos, and serve.
Notes
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper will give this recipe a little kick. Increase it to a teaspoon (or more!) for more heat.
- The pork keeps well for in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or saute in a pan with oil for crispy pork.
Made this with left over roast pork. So very delicious. Husband is a fussy eater & loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
For larger cookers, do you think you should add water or anything?
I have a 6 quart so it’s pretty large and I don’t ever add water.
Hi Courtney!
I’m just about finished with making the pulled pork but I just lifted the lid of the slow cooker and it looks like some of the meat is still raw. I cooked it on high for 3 hours and low for 4 hours. Any thoughts?
It definitely shouldn’t still be raw. Was the pork loin frozen or whole instead of halved? Every crock pot is different so there may be some variation in temperature. If you’d like to speed up the cooking, you could cut the pork into smaller pieces and turn back up to high. Sorry it’s taking so long for you! I hope the taste makes it worth it. 🙂
Would smoked paprika would just as well with this recipe?
Smoked paprika would be awesome!
What a creative way to shred pork! I”m SO doing that. I hate wasting my time with a fork!
Wish I could say I came up with it, but I actually read it online somewhere. It works great for shredding chicken breasts too!
My mouth is watering. I did a fridge clean out last week before we went on vacation. This is the yummiest fridge clean out I’ve ever seen. Pinned. Enjoy your vacay!
Thanks so much Jennie! We had a fabulous time!
It look so yummy. I am going to enjoy my weekend with this recipe. Thanks for sharing 🙂
~Diana
I hope you loved this pulled pork as much as we do!
This looks wonderful, have a great trip!
Cleaning out the fridge makes for both the best AND the worst meals, I think. This would be of the best variety. Hope you guys have a safe and happy trip!
Love this Courtney! And I especially love the chips on top. It’s not a sandwich without chips :)Have so much fun on your vacation Courtney, you deserve it!!
Such a good way to prepare for your holiday. It looks delicious! Have a great time!