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    Home | Recipes | Slow Cooker Recipes

    Pork Shoulder In Crock Pot (Recipe)

    Dated: May 19, 2015 Last Modified: February 9, 2023 by Sarah Mock 12 Comments. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links.

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    Boston butt cooked in a slow cooker or Crock-Pot will make the most delicious pulled pork. Make this recipe for crock pot pulled pork at the beginning of the week as part of your weekly meal plan.

    Boston butt cooked in a slow cooker or Crock-Pot will make the most delicious pulled pork. Make this recipe for crock pot pulled pork at the beginning of the week as part of your weekly meal plan.

    shredded pulled pork in a slow cooker with serving tongs in the pot
    Jump to:
    • 🤩 Here is why this recipe is amazing:
    • 🥫 Ingredients needed:
    • 🗒️ Pork Butt Rub Recipe:
    • 🍳 How to make slow cooker pulled pork
    • 🔥 How to sear a Boston Butt
    • 🤏 How to pull a pork butt:
    • 📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
    • Boston Butt Pulled Pork
    • Comments

    🤩 Here is why this recipe is amazing:

    • Use my recipe for dry rub and your choice of pork butt cut, Boston Butt (bone-in pork butt), boneless pork butt or pork shoulder to make these delicious easy crockpot pulled pork sandwiches.
    • Using your slow cooker or Crock-Pot to cook is an easy way to make delicious pulled pork without turning on your oven or stovetop.
    • Make the pork once and use it in many recipes over the week. A great meal prep recipe!

    🥫 Ingredients needed:

    • Boston butt, (bone-in pork shoulder)
    • pulled pork rub - see recipe
    • vinegar - or other flavorful liquid such as pineapple juice, apple cider, beer

    🗒️ Pork Butt Rub Recipe:

    pulled pork rub ingredients on a plate
    • 1 Tablespoon Salt (kosher is best but table salt will do)
    • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
    • 1 ½ Teaspoons Ground Cumin
    • 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
    • 1 ½ Teaspoons Garlic Powder
    • ¾ Teaspoons Onion Powder
    • ¾ Teaspoons Oregano

    Combine everything together. Done.

    🍳 How to make slow cooker pulled pork

    seared boston butt in a crock-pot with seasoning
    1. In a screaming hot cast iron pan, sear the meat of the Boston butt, if you are choosing to sear.
    2. Place the pork butt in the crockpot, fat side down.
    3. Sprinkle the entire recipe of pulled pork rub over the pork.
    4. Pour 1 cup white vinegar into the bottom of the crockpot. Do your best not to wash off the rub.
    5. Place the lid on the crockpot. fully cooked boston butt pulled pork sitting in a slow cooker in its juices
    6. Set on low for 12-18 hours.

    🔥 How to sear a Boston Butt

    boston butt being seared in a cast iron pan
    1. Heat a heavy bottom, wide open or cast iron pan to the point of smoking.
    2. Place the meat, joint side down, in the pan, allowing it to sear for 5 minutes.The pork should easily pull away from the pan when it is properly seared.
    3. Carefully turn the meat so that you sear all sides of the meat. No need to sear the fat side.
    4. Place the seared pork, fat side down in the crock-pot slow cooker. Cook as directed.

    🤏 How to pull a pork butt:

    I am a huge fan of my crock pot and one of my favorite recipes to make in it is crock pot pulled pork sandwiches! It is like the pork butt and the slow cooker were made for each other. A marriage made on my countertop!
    1. Allow the pork to cool enough to handle.
    2. Pull sections of meat away from the bone and gently separate with your fingers.
    3. Remove any excess fat, if desired.

    📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:

    How do you serve crockpot pulled pork?

    I am a huge fan of a potato roll for my pulled pork sandwiches! If you have never had a potato roll with your sandwich, do yourself a favor and try one next time. Feel free to add your favorite BBQ sauce, vinegar or coleslaw to your sandwich.

    What do you do with the juices leftover in the slow cooker?

    I just strain the pork drippings through a mesh strainer getting out the larger bits. Keep the juices in the refrigerator, allow the fat to congeal and remove it when it solidifies. I use the drippings to help add moisture and layers of additional flavor to the pulled pork when I heat it up for service.purged juices from a boston butt in a clear glass measuring cup

    How long do you cook a Boston butt?

    When cooking a Boston butt in a slow cooker for pulled pork allow a minimum of 8 hours and up to 12 hours for the meat to cook fully. The meat will fall apart easily in your hands when you pull the pork.

    What is a Boston Butt?

    Bone-in pork butt, also known as a Boston butt, is the cut of the pig located in the upper part of the shoulder in front of the front leg. The Boston butt will contain a joint bone and often the shoulder blade. These bones will give additional flavor to the meat but will add to the total weight of the purchase.

    Can a boneless butt be used?

    A boneless pork butt can be used. There are no bones to work around and the price may be higher for this convenience. But I feel like you are sacrificing flavor for convenience. Everyone has their preference.

    Why do you sear the pork butt?

    As you know, I am a big advocate that color equals flavor especially when it comes to meat. By searing meat you are caramelizing the surface, giving it another layer of flavor to add to the pulled pork.boston butt in a cast iron pan showing the sear

    What if I don't have the extra 10 minutes to sear the pork?

    If you do not have time to sear the pork in a screaming hot pan before transferring the meat to the slow cooker, your pulled pork will still be delicious. Just like salt enhances the taste of food, searing pork before cooking it will enhance the flavor of the pulled pork. But you are able to do without salt and you are able to do without searing.

    Other great Slow Cooker recipes:

    • Crockpot Chicken Corn Soup
    • Crockpot Hashbrown, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Casserole
    • Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
    • Crockpot Granola Bars That Are Vegan and Gluten Free!
    • Crockpot Lasagna

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    click to visit my amazon store front as an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Boston Butt Made In The Slow Cooker square image

    Boston Butt Pulled Pork

    Sarah Mock
    Use my recipe for a dry rub and your choice of pork butt cut to make these delicious Easy Crockpot Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
    4.78 from 49 votes
    Print Recipe
    Note From Sarah

    There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 18 hrs
    Total Time 18 hrs 5 mins
    Prevent your screen from going dark, toggle to button to the right to turn GREEN
    Course Pork Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 pounds
    Calories 27 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    1 Pork shoulder, bone in

      Pulled Pork Rub Recipe:

      • 1 Tablespoon Salt (kosher is best but table salt will do)
      • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
      • 1 ½ Teaspoons Ground Cumin
      • 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
      • 1 ½ Teaspoons Garlic Powder
      • ¾ Teaspoons Onion Powder
      • ¾ Teaspoons Oregano
      • 1 cup vinegar

      Instructions
       

      • Place the pork butt in the crockpot, fat side down.
      • Sprinkle the entire recipe of pulled pork rub over the pork.
      • Pour 1 cup white vinegar into the bottom of the crock pot. Do your best not to wash off the rub.
      • Place the lid on the crockpot.
      • Set on low for a minumum of 8 hour but preferably 12-18 hours.

      Notes

      How to sear a Boston Butt

      1. Heat a heavy bottom, wide open or cast iron pan to the point of smoking.
      2. Place the meat, joint side down, in the pan, allowing it to sear for 5 minutes.The pork should easily pull away from the pan when it is properly seared.
      3. Carefully turn the meat so that you sear all sides of the meat. No need to sear the fat side.
      4. Place the seared pork, fat side down in the crock-pot slow cooker. Cook as directed.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 27kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1748mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg

      Nutrition Disclosure

      Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

      Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected. SavoringTheGood®

      published May 19, 2015

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      5755 shares
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      About Sarah Mock

      Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

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        Recipe Rating




      1. Sarah Mock

        November 17, 2021 at 1:53 pm

        Kim,

        Thanks for the heads up. I have switched to a different recipe card and not everything transferred as it should have. I thought I caught all the glitches but I guess not. I have updated the recipe card thanks to your comment. I hope it is more clear.

        Sarah

      2. Kim

        November 16, 2021 at 11:31 pm

        Is it 8-12 or 13-18 hours? 1/4 cup of vinegar or 1 cup of vinegar? The card vs. the blog directions differ. Thank you!

      3. Sarah Mock

        November 02, 2021 at 8:03 am

        You can! I just prefer the low and slow. But I know that some people need to have dinner on the table in less time.

      4. Sarah Mock

        October 30, 2021 at 4:33 pm

        Oh my goodness! I need to fix that. I have a new recipe card program and it looks like it is glitching out. Let me get on that for you. Thanks Briana!

      5. Renee

        October 27, 2021 at 11:53 am

        Can you cook on high in crockpot for less time ??!

      6. Briana

        October 25, 2021 at 10:53 pm

        How many calories is a serving? Is that 7,000 in the nutrition facts?

      7. Sarah Mock

        May 21, 2015 at 8:28 pm

        Thanks Estelle! I hope you make this soon!

      8. Sarah Mock

        May 21, 2015 at 8:27 pm

        I must say, it IS pretty amazing. ;)

      9. Sarah Mock

        May 21, 2015 at 8:25 pm

        I hope you like it as much as I do!

      10. MamaCheaps

        May 20, 2015 at 7:56 pm

        I'm definitely trying this!!

      11. Sarah Donza-Hughes

        May 20, 2015 at 12:28 pm

        Oh that looks amazing!!

      12. Estelle Sobel Erasmus

        May 20, 2015 at 10:19 am

        Yum. This looks delicious. My hubby loves pork!

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      Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
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