Slow Cooker Missouri-Style Pulled Pork with Spiced Rub

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

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.

Tender pulled pork slow-cooked with a Missouri-inspired spice rub, perfect for sandwiches or hearty plates. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (pork butt), brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 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: 15 min Cook: 480 min Serves 8 American cuisine 390 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs pork shoulder (pork butt)
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp yellow mustard

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. Rub this spice mixture evenly over all sides of 3 lbs pork shoulder.
Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder into the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, and 2 tbsp yellow mustard. Pour this mixture around the pork in the slow cooker.
Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
Step 4: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Return shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir to coat in the cooking liquid. Let sit on warm for 15 minutes before serving on buns or over rice.