Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Smoky BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 slow-cooked in a smoky, tangy BBQ sauce served on soft buns or as a main dish. This American-inspired Fourth of July recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, smoked paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this dry spice mix thoroughly all over 3 lbs pork shoulder.
  2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder into a slow cooker. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 2 tbsp honey, and 1 tsp chili powder, then pour over the pork.
  3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the pork is very tender and easily shredded with forks.
  4. Step 4: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks, then stir back into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cook uncovered on low for an additional 30 minutes to thicken the sauce before serving.

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