Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork with Smoky Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-05 · Updated 2026-05-05

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Fall-apart tender pulled pork cooked low and slow, coated in a smoky, spicy chipotle barbecue sauce perfect for sandwiches or tacos. This American-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 480 min Serves 6 American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs, trimmed and cut into large chunks pork shoulder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp chipotle powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 medium, sliced yellow onion
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup water

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Instructions

Step 1: Rub 3 lbs pork shoulder chunks evenly with 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp chipotle powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder, massaging the spices into all sides.
Step 2: Place 1 medium sliced yellow onion at the bottom of a slow cooker and add the seasoned pork shoulder chunks on top.
Step 3: In a bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1/2 cup water, then pour the sauce mixture evenly over the pork.
Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the pork is tender and easily shredded with a fork.
Step 5: Remove the pork from the slow cooker, shred it with two forks, then return it to the slow cooker and stir well to coat with the smoky chipotle barbecue sauce.
Step 6: Serve the pulled pork hot on toasted buns, tortillas, or over rice with extra sauce on the side.