Slow Cooker Kentucky-Style Pulled Pork with Smoky BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

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 slow-cooked pulled pork infused with a rich smoky barbecue sauce, inspired by Kentucky’s coal mining heritage and perfect for a comforting meal. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 560 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (bone-in), onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 540 min Serves 8 American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs pork shoulder (bone-in)
1 large, sliced onion
4, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp liquid smoke
1/2 cup water

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this dry spice mix evenly all over 3 lbs pork shoulder.
Step 2: Place 1 large sliced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves in the bottom of a slow cooker. Lay the seasoned pork shoulder on top.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp liquid smoke, and 1/2 cup water. Pour this sauce mixture evenly over the pork.
Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily with two forks.
Step 5: Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce for 10 minutes on warm to absorb flavor.
Step 6: Serve the smoky pulled pork on buns, with coleslaw or your favorite sides.