Slow Cooker Chipotle Pulled Pork with Apple Juice makes a simple, fuss-free recipe for busy weeknights or weekly meal prep! Just pop it in a slow cooker and let it cook to perfection.
Pulled pork is an absolute STAPLE in my household. It's easy, full of flavor, and feeds a crowd.
Another bonus of pulled pork? The wide range of versatility for spice rubs and sauces to alter the flavor profile. Oh, and the sides you can serve it with! It's pretty clear that this is one paleo, Whole30, low carb recipe to keep on hand.
The best cut of pork for pulled pork
I have two favorite cuts for pulled pork — the pork shoulder and pork butt. They both come from the shoulder of the pig, and they're both tougher, fatty cuts.
Leaner cuts (like pork tenderloin roast, for example) tend to get dry and tough when you cook them low and slow.
Pork shoulder and pork butt actually benefit from low and slow cooking, allowing the fat to melt and loosen up the tougher meat without drying it out.
Pork butt is most commonly used for pulled pork, but most grocery stores in my area carry one or the other, not both. So I pick up what's available!
What to serve with pulled pork
Here's the fun part! As you can tell from the pictures in this recipe, you've got lots of different topping options.
I ADORE the tanginess of pickled vegetables with pork. And I'm sure many of you automatically think of coleslaw when you think of pulled pork.
That said, in no particular order, these are some of my favorite toppings and sides for pulled pork:
- Pickled onions, radishes, or jalapenos
- Baby dill pickles or bread and butter pickles
- Coleslaw
- Plantain patties or tostones
- BBQ sauce (here's my current favorite!)
Need a new slow cooker?
This chipotle pulled pork recipe is very forgiving; you can use any slow cooker as long as it's big enough to fit your roast!
But if you're in the market for a slow cooker, I've got my eye on this one.
That said, if you've got the trendy Instant Pot at home, it works as a slow cooker too! So you can use that in place of a dedicated slow cooker.
More slow cooker recipes for fuss-free meals
- Simple Crockpot Cabbage Roll Soup
- Crockpot Dry-Rubbed Pulled Pork
- Low Carb Slow Cooker Gumbo
- Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
Did you try this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think! Comment below or tag me on Instagram.
Slow Cooker Chipotle Pulled Pork
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Description
Slow cooker pulled pork works perfectly for busy weeknights or weekly meal prep! Just pop it in a slow cooker and let it cook to perfection. Serve with pickled onions, pickles, and coleslaw for a full meal!
Ingredients
- 4-5 pound pork shoulder or pork butt roast
- 2 tablespoons chipotle powder
- 1.5 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 cups apple juice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chipotle powder, sea salt, paprika, mustard, cumin, garlic powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Spread the spice rub over the pork shoulder evenly, coating every nook and cranny of the meat.
- Pour the apple juice into the slow cooker crock. Place the pork shoulder inside. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Using kitchen tongs or two forks, gently shred the pork into large chunks. Use tongs to toss the pork with the liquid in the bottom of the crock.
- Serve the pulled pork with simple coleslaw, pickles, and/or pickled onions. Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to a week in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Keywords: slow cooker, crockpot, chipotle pulled pork, paleo, whole30, low carb, keto
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