Slow Cooker Carolina BBQ

4.6
(635)
473 Reviews
48 Photos

A perfect Carolina pulled pork recipe. Just find yourself a slow cooker, a big pork shoulder, some cider vinegar, and get cooking! While ground and crushed red pepper will provide the basic heat, go the extra mile and find some Texas Pete (or Trappey's) pepper sauce to bring the taste of Carolina to your kitchen.

Submitted by coolmonkshoes
Updated on April 18, 2023
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
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Close up on a slow cooker Carolina bbq sandwich, topped with coleslaw.
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
12 hrs
Total Time:
12 hrs 15 mins
Servings:
10
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 10 servings

  • 1 (5 pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

  • 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 ½ tablespoons hot pepper sauce

  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

  • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

  1. Place pork shoulder into a slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Pour vinegar around the pork. Cover, and cook on Low for 12 hours. Pork should easily pull apart into strands.

    Pork shoulder placed in a slow cooker, seasoned with salt and pepper.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Remove pork from the slow cooker and discard any bones. Strain off the liquid, reserving 2 cups (discard any extra). Shred pork using tongs or two forks, and return to the slow cooker.

    Pork shoulder being shredded after cooking for 12 hours.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Stir brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes into the reserved liquid. Mix into pork in the slow cooker.

    Sauce ingredients mixed together.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Cover and keep on Low setting until serving.

    Sauce added to slow cooker with pork, keeping on low until serving.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Close up on a slow cooker Carolina bbq sandwich, topped with coleslaw.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

To Make Pork Sandwiches:

Scoop pork onto a white bun and garnish liberally with your favorite coleslaw.

1,135 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

293 Calories
17g Fat
4g Carbs
28g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 293
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 91mg 30%
Sodium 776mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 28g 55%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 405mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.