Southern-Style Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Tangy Barbecue Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

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 slow-cooked pulled pork infused with smoky spices and served with a tangy homemade barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches or plates. This Southern American-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, brown sugar, smoked paprika 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: 20 min Cook: 480 min Serves 6 Southern American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs pork shoulder
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp smoked paprika (for sauce)

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp chili powder. Rub this spice blend all over 3 lbs pork shoulder.
Step 2: Place pork shoulder in slow cooker. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1 tsp smoked paprika. Pour half the sauce over pork.
Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until pork is fork-tender and pulls apart easily.
Step 4: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Mix shredded pork with remaining barbecue sauce and serve warm on sandwiches or plates.