Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork with Smoky Chipotle BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

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 developed and reviewed.

Tender pulled pork infused with smoky chipotle peppers and simmered in a rich, tangy barbecue sauce perfect for sandwiches or tacos. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs, trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks pork shoulder
2 peppers, minced with 2 tbsp adobo sauce chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup water

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Instructions

Step 1: Combine 2 minced chipotle peppers with 2 tbsp adobo sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup ketchup, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper in a bowl to make the barbecue sauce.
Step 2: Place 3 lbs pork shoulder chunks in a slow cooker and pour 1/2 cup water over the meat. Pour half of the prepared chipotle BBQ sauce over the pork and toss to coat.
Step 3: Cook on low for 8 hours or until pork is very tender and easily shredded.
Step 4: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return shredded pork to the slow cooker, add remaining BBQ sauce, and stir to combine. Cook for an additional 20 minutes on low to absorb flavors before serving.