Southern-Style Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Tangy 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 slow-cooked pork shoulder infused with smoky spices, finished in a tangy homemade barbecue sauce perfect for sandwiches or plates. This Southern-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 315 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, boneless, brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 430 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: 300 min Serves 6 Southern cuisine 430 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Slow cookers worth buying for this → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Small appliances → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper to create a dry rub.
  2. Step 2: Rub the 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder evenly with the spice mixture, pressing it into the meat. Place the pork into the slow cooker.
  3. Step 3: In another bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, 2 tbsp honey, and 1/2 cup water to form the BBQ sauce. Pour half of this sauce over the pork in the slow cooker.
  4. Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the pork is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
  5. Step 5: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Mix the shredded pork with the remaining BBQ sauce. Serve warm on buns or over rice.

Related recipes