Slow Cooker Louisville-Style Pulled Pork with Bourbon BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-11 · Updated 2026-06-11

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.

Tender pulled pork slow-cooked and smothered in a bourbon-infused barbecue sauce, capturing Kentucky regional barbecue flavors. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (boneless), 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: 15 min Cook: 480 min Serves 6 American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs pork shoulder (boneless)
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp black pepper
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 cup bottled barbecue sauce
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder to create a dry rub.
Step 2: Rub the 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder evenly on all sides with 1 tbsp olive oil, then massage the dry rub over the pork, coating thoroughly.
Step 3: Place the seasoned pork shoulder into a slow cooker.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup bottled barbecue sauce, 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 2 tbsp honey.
Step 5: Pour the bourbon BBQ sauce mixture over the pork in the slow cooker.
Step 6: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until pork is fork-tender and easily shredded.
Step 7: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks, discarding any excess fat. Return shredded pork to sauce in slow cooker and stir to coat.
Step 8: Serve warm on sandwich buns or over rice for a hearty meal.