Low and Slow Smoked Pulled Pork

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-04 · Updated 2026-04-04

A tender, fall-apart pork shoulder slow-cooked with a smoky-sweet rub, perfect for sandwiches or bowls. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 680 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, smoked paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds pork shoulder
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1/4 cup mopped pork shoulder

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Trim excess fat from the 3 pounds pork shoulder, then rub 2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon dry mustard evenly over all sides.
2. Step 2: Place the rubbed pork shoulder fat-side up in a slow cooker, pour 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon liquid smoke over it, and add 1/4 cup mopped pork shoulder to the bottom of the pot.
3. Step 3: Cook on LOW for 10-12 hours until fork-tender, then shred the meat with two forks until it falls apart.
4. Step 4: Return shredded pork to the slow cooker, stir in any accumulated juices, and cook on LOW for 1 more hour to meld flavors.