Texas-Style Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

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.

Fall-apart tender pork shoulder slow-cooked in a smoky barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches or tacos. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs Pork shoulder, BBQ sauce, Smoked paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs (1.36 kg) Pork shoulder
1 cup (240ml) BBQ sauce
1 tbsp Smoked paprika
2 tbsp Brown sugar
1/4 cup (60ml) Apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Onion powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper

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Equipment for this recipe

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

Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer Stainless Steel (CPSCVC60LL-S) pack of 1
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Instructions

Step 1: Place 3 lbs pork shoulder in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix 1 cup BBQ sauce, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pour mixture over pork, ensuring even coating.
Step 2: Cook on low for 8-10 hours until pork is fork-tender and easily pulls apart with minimal resistance.
Step 3: Remove pork, rest 10 minutes, then shred with two forks. Return to slow cooker, mix with remaining sauce, and cook on low for 30 minutes until sauce thickens and clings to meat with a glossy sheen.