Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Slow Cooker style is the best. We will also share how to cook pork in the oven, in a smoker or in your pressure cooker too if you like. Here are tips on how to make pork fork tender for sliders for dinner.
Jump To
- Best Liquid to Cook Pulled Pork in Slow Cooker
- Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork
- How Long to Cook Pulled Pork in Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Frozen Pork
- How do you know when Dr Pepper pulled pork is done?
- Can you overcook pulled pork in a slow cooker?
- Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Slow Cooker Recipe
- What do I serve with pulled pork?
- Other pork recipes you’ll love
Do you love shredded pork but want to know about cook it yourself right at home?? Well let’s compare every method and tell you how they differ, and which way we like best. It is one of our favorite Crockpot recipes that is perfect cooked for a crowd.
Best Liquid to Cook Pulled Pork in Slow Cooker
Whether you are making this low and slow or Pork Butt in Instant Pot it is good to use a liquid that has flavor like homemade sauces, soda, apple juice or soda! Whether you use bottled or make your own you want something that will coat every single piece well.
If you want it plain without sauce I’d recommend using a dry rub in your smoker or use this Instant Pot pork shoulder recipe for a fraction of the time. Cooked using high heat it’s the quickest cook time, smoked pulled pork would take the same as this one here.
If we had to choose our best and least prep method it would be this recipe here. I will explain step by step below and you will see.
Low temperatures for a LONG time is generally the best method, until the pressure cooker came along. With that said if you do have an electric smoker or pellet grill you MUST try smoked pork as well as our Boston Butt in Oven and decide for yourself. If you ask me what is the best way to cook pork I would first ask you what you want to make.
Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork
Most people would say a pork shoulder. I have used a center cut pork loin that was boneless before (seen below) and in the Instant Pot I would say it was my favorite. Boneless pork roast can be used as well.
Does pork tenderloin work for pulled pork?
Typically that cut of meat is not used for this, however in a slow cooker it does work. The reason it isn’t recommended is that it is very lean and to get the tender texture you want you want there to be a decent amount of fat on there.
How Long to Cook Pulled Pork in Slow Cooker
To make slow cooker pork shoulder with this soda pop you are going to need a good 8-10 hours to break down the connective tissues, don’t rush things. You need to keep on low to get the ideal texture, any larger than about 4 lbs will need more time too.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Frozen Pork
We have directions on how to cook Frozen Pork Loin in Crock Pot too. With a shoulder it would work very similar to this. Believe it or not the timing doesn’t change a lot as long as the lid is securely closed the whole time. Trick to keeping the heat in is to put a dish towel over the top!
How do you know when Dr Pepper pulled pork is done?
It is all about the texture. You want it tender and moist. Your best way to check is with 2 forks. Dig them into the middle and pull. If it is easily to separate the two pieces and it literally falls apart it is done. If it takes really any effort at all to pull apart it needs more time, period.
Of course you can add additional seasonings or make sauce thicker like we did with our pork loin slow cooker recipe but I don’t feel that is necessary really.
Can you overcook pulled pork in a slow cooker?
It’s pretty hard to do, however if it is in too long it may get mushy and not the texture you desire. Keep an eye on it once it is fall apart tender and if you aren’t ready to eat just move it to the warm setting. This has never happened when making dutch oven pork, you should try that.
Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Slow Cooker Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix seasonings together and coat outside of meat all over. Add sliced onion to bottom of pot with half your can of soda on bottom. Place meat on top with rest of soda poured over the top of it.
- Close lid and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until meat pulls apart with 2 forks easily.
- Shred meat right in the pot and pour bbq sauce over the top. Use tongs to stir and coat every single piece well. If you need more sauce add to your liking, serve with buns.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What do I serve with pulled pork?
That is totally up to you but if you want to have a ton of options and need some side dish suggestions, here are a few: We usually use mini hamburger buns to make them into pulled pork sandwiches with these items as add ons to the meal.
- Crockpot cornbread is a great one.
- Small flour tortillas
- Hamburger or slider buns
- Cole slaw
- Salad
Other pork recipes you’ll love
Then we have our ever popular Instant Pot Hawaiian pulled pork you see below. Some pressure cooker carnitas using a pork steak
What great flavors! This is my favorite pulled pork recipe. Nicely done!
The flavor is amazing and the meat comes out so tender. It’s incredibly easy to make and always a hit with my family.
This recipe is loved by our whole family, from making it in the crockpot to the yummy flavor the Dr Pepper provides. Thank you for this amazing meal.
I make this pulled pork for dinner last night and it was delicious! We added it to our nachos!
great idea