This slow cooker apple cider bbq pulled pork will melt in your mouth. It’s cooked to perfection with a delicious sweet & spicy bbq rub and a mouthwatering homemade apple cider bbq sauce. Pile it up high on a toasted buttered bun and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Apple Cider BBQ Pulled Pork is Great for:
- Busy families on the go. (Put it in the slow cooker in the morning and that evening dinner is done.) Leftovers freeze well for another meal.
- A party or a large family get together. (I love to make it when company is coming!)
- Potluck party.
- A Summertime backyard bbq.
- A fall harvest party.
- A casual Christmas Eve dinner!
What You Need for Apple Cider BBQ Pulled Pork:
A 5 to 6 pound boneless Boston butt or pork shoulder roast. Either one will be good in this recipe. (6 pounds if you are feeding an extra-large group)
A BBQ rub. I’ve included a delicious homemade bbq rub in the recipe below.
Apple cider and apple cider vinegar, plus a tad of Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke. The apple cider, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, and liquid smoke gives the pork roast a delicious taste along with the sweet & spicy rub. That’s why it’s mouthwatering- delicious.
- Next, a great tasting bbq sauce. I’ve also included a recipe for the best tasting bbq sauce. It will make you want to slap your moma it’s so good! But, of course, I won’t want to slap your moma! Anyway, It’s a delicious finger-licking good, sweet & spicy bbq sauce that I know you will love.
A medium to large slow cooker. After the pork is done, place on a cutting board or serving platter and shred with a fork. Drizzle bbq sauce over the pork. Serve with hamburger buns or Texas toast. Delicious side ideas: Potato chips, homemade potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, pickles, etc. Enjoy!!
Tips on Reheating and Freezing Apple Cider BBQ Pulled Pork:
This does make a lot of pork so you may have leftovers, but don’t worry it reheats and freezes very well. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let the pork cool completely before placing it in the refrigerator. Pour the pan juices from the slow cooker over the pulled pork before storing it. To Freeze, let the pork cool completely, pour the cooking sauce/juices over the pork. The sauce or pan juices will keep the meat moist and prevent it from drying out. Place in ziplock freezer bags. Cooked pork will freeze up to 6 months.
To reheat from the refrigerator, place the pork in a slow cooker and add bbq sauce or in the oven on very low heat. To reheat from the freezer, let the meat thaw out in the refrigerator overnight and either reheat in a slow cooker or low-temperature oven. If reheating in the oven, be sure to cover tightly with aluminum foil to prevent the meat from drying out. Baste often with sauce.
I hope you enjoy this recipe much as I and my family do!
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Slow Cooker Apple Cider BBQ Pulled Pork
Prep Time: 20 minutes- Cook Time: 8 to 8 1/2 hours
- Total Time: -28568081.25 minute
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
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Pin RecipeDescription
This slow cooker bbq apple cider bbq pulled pork will melt in your mouth. It’s cooked to perfection with a delicious sweet & spicy homemade bbq sauce and rub. Pile it up high on a toasted buttered bun and enjoy!
Ingredients
For the bbq rub:
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (You can also use light brown sugar)
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons allspice
For the pork:
- 6 pound boneless Boston butt pork roast or a pork shoulder roast, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 ½ cups of apple cider
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons of liquid smoke
For the bbq sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh jalapeno (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (32-ounce) bottle ketchup ( I prefer Heinz because it’s extra thick and has a great flavor)
- 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅔ cup fresh apple cider or apple juice
- 1/2 cup sorghum syrup or molasses
- ¼ cup of liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons celery seed
- 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a medium-size bowl, combine all the ingredients for the bbq rub. Trim any excess fat off the pork roast. Pat the rub all over the entire pork roast and gently massage the rub into the meat.
- Place the pork roast in a 6- quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix the apple cider vinegar, apple cider, worcestershire, and liquid smoke together. Pour the apple cider mixture in. Cover with the lid and cook on low for about 8 to 8 1/2 hours or until roast is fork-tender.
- Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Let the meat rest for at least 15 to 20 minutes before shredding. Shredded with two forks or with your fingers. (NOTE: If you are serving the pork later on in the evening or the next day, do not shred. Refrigerate the pork with the pan juices after cooling and shred just before serving. This will prevent the meat from drying out and will keep it moist. Reheat in the slow cooker with cooking juices on low heat.)
- To make the bbq sauce: Saute minced garlic and jalapenos in hot olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, apple cider, sorghum, liquid smoke, worcestershire, salt, pepper, paprika, dry mustard, celery seed, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Pour over pulled pork or serve beside the pork. This bbq sauce will keep up to 1 month in the refrigerator. Makes about 3 cups. This is a sweet and spicy bbq sauce. It’s delicious!!
Notes
Freeze/Do-Ahead Tip: You can make the pork 2 or 3 days ahead. Store in the refrigerator in the cooking juices. Do not shred until serving time. This will prevent the pork from drying out and will keep it moist. You can freeze leftover pork for up to 5 months. Be sure to freeze in the cooking juices or bbq sauce to keep the pork moist. To reheat, let the pork thaw out in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the slow cooker on low.
