Brown's Tangy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Slow-cooked pork shoulder with a tangy-sweet barbecue sauce, shredded to perfection and served on crusty buns for a classic American picnic favorite. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs pork shoulder, brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 300 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

★ 4.1 (13 ratings) Prep: 20 min Cook: 480 min Serves 8 American cuisine 300 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Season 4 lbs bone-in pork shoulder generously with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, and 1 tsp cayenne pepper. Place pork in a slow cooker.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 cup barbecue sauce, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup water to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours until pork is fork-tender and easily shreds.
  3. Step 3: Remove pork from slow cooker, discard bone, and shred meat with two forks. Return shredded pork to slow cooker, stirring in any remaining sauce. Serve on 8 buns with extra sauce for dipping.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Brown's Tangy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork take to make?

Total time is about 500 minutes (20 min prep + 480 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Brown's Tangy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Brown's Tangy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Brown's Tangy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Brown's Tangy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork?

American slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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