Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Pork

Name: Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Pork
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 9 h
Total time: 9 h 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cup ketchup; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup red wine vinegar; 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 cup bourbon; 1/2 teaspoon salt; pepper; 4 lbs boneless pork roast

June 3, 2013 by Tanya Schroeder · 37 Comments · Last updated: December 11, 2021

Pork

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It’s too hot to cook but you need an idea for what to do for dinner, then get out your slow cooker!

Pulled pork is so easy to make in the slow cooker! Throw in a little bourbon for sweetness and flavor!

This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is perfect for an easy meal made with little prep. While the anticipation will make you crazy, the waiting is well worth it. The end results are always satisfying. It doesn’t take long to put together. Mix everything in the slow cooker, put in your pork, and walk away. In a matter of hours, you will have the most mouth-watering, saucy, and tangy pulled pork you’ve ever tasted! The bourbon adds a sweet, woodsy undertone to the sauce. Pile the pulled pork on your favorite bun along with some pickles, hot peppers, or slaw. It’s seriously crazy good!

What is Pulled Pork?

Pulled pork is an American meat dish often served with barbecue sauce. It starts with a pork shoulder or similar cut of meat and is then slow cooked to perfection so that the meat can easily be shredded apart with two forks. Mixed with sauce or seasonings of choice. Pulled pork is often a favorite for serving at barbecues and parties and there are many variations but most involve serving the shredded meat between two buns.

Ingredients

Ketchup
Brown sugar
Red wine vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Garlic cloves
Bourbon
Salt
Pepper
Boneless pork roast

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How to Make Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Pork

Making this pulled pork recipe is super simple and easy all you need to do is dump everything in the crockpot and let it simmer for a few hours. Perfect for a low maintenance meal that everyone can enjoy!

Place all of the ingredients inside of your slow cooker.
Add in the pork shoulder and turn to coat so that it can embrace all of the sauce.
Cook on high for 1 hour.
Reduce the heat to low and cook for another 7 hours.
remove the pork from the crockpot and shred it between two forks.
Return your shredded pork to the slow cooker and cook for another hour.
Serve warm with bread buns as desired.

FAQs

Can I use Whiskey instead of Bourbon?

Yes, if desired you can choose to use your favorite whiskey in place of the bourbon but please note that the flavor of this dish will be different as whiskey and bourbon both have different flavors and profiles. I recommend starting off with a little bit of whiskey and slowly adding more until you get to a taste that you can enjoy. You don’t want to add in too much and overpower the other flavors in the sauce.

Can I make this alcohol-free?

If you do not wish to use bourbon in this recipe you can simply replace it with some chicken broth. It won’t taste the same but it will still taste really good.

How many people will this feed?

This amount of meat will feed about 6-8 people depending on their appetites but you may be able to stretch it out further by offering more side dishes like Oven Baked Cottage Fries or a Quick and Easy Coleslaw Recipe. Adding delicious and easy side dishes to your meal is a great way to help make the servings stretch a little further without leaving hungry tummies behind.

What goes well with pulled pork sandwiches?

Some of the most commonly seen side dishes to serve alongside pulled pork are coleslaw, french fries, potato chips, and even mac and cheese. my Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe is a perfect complement to this saucy meat sandwich but even my Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad would be a great pair if you’re looking for something incredibly easy to throw together. There are so many options and possibilities that it really just depends on what you’re in the mood for. But whatever you choose to serve alongside your pulled pork sandwiches, I’m sure it’s going to taste great!

Need more slow cooker meals? Check out some of my favorites!

Yield: 12 servings