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Tender Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork

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A tender, juicy pulled pork recipe slow-cooked with root beer for a subtle sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for easy dinners and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), well-marbled
  • 12 ounces root beer (natural brand like Barq’s or Boylan recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (50 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (120 ml), your favorite brand or homemade

Instructions

  1. Trim any excessive fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some for flavor and tenderness. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder (if using), salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub.
  3. Rub yellow mustard all over the pork to help the dry rub stick. Generously apply the dry rub mixture, massaging it into the pork. Let sit at least 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.
  4. Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker. Pour root beer around the pork, avoiding washing off the rub. Add apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours without lifting the lid.
  6. Check for doneness when the pork easily shreds with two forks and reaches an internal temperature of 195–205°F (90–96°C).
  7. Remove pork from slow cooker and shred finely with two forks or meat claws, discarding large chunks of fat.
  8. Stir in BBQ sauce to the shredded pork while warm. Return to slow cooker to keep warm and let flavors meld for about 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use a good-quality natural root beer for best flavor. Let pork rest a few minutes before shredding to lock in juices. Save some cooking liquid to spoon over pork for extra moistness. For a quicker version, use an Instant Pot with sauté and pressure cook functions. BBQ sauce can be swapped for sugar-free varieties for a lighter option.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker pulled pork, root beer pulled pork, easy pulled pork recipe, tender pulled pork, BBQ pulled pork, slow cooker dinner

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/tender-slow-cooker-root-beer-pulled-pork-recipe-easy-perfect-dinner-idea/