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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce

    Published: Jul 5, 2020 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Amanda Mason · 16 Comments

    Yield 8 people
    Cook 7 hours hours
    Prep 30 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe
    Pulled pork sandwich on table with additional buns and potato salad.
    Slow cooker pulled pork in a glass dish.
    Glass dish containing slow cooker pulled pork, spoon in dish.
    Pulled pork sandwich on table with additional bun and potato salad.
    Pulled pork sandwich on table with additional bun and potato salad.
    Bun on a plate, slow cooker pulled pork in serving dish.
    Pulled pork barbecue sandwiches on a table, side of potato salad.
    Slow cooker pulled pork in a glass dish.
    Slow cooker pulled pork in a glass dish.
    Pulled pork barbecue sandwiches on a table, side of potato salad.
    Slow cooker pulled pork in a glass dish.

    Juicy and delicious, this shredded pork is fall-apart tender and is easy to make in the slow cooker. Covered in a flavorful bourbon-peach barbecue sauce, this is a stress-free dinner recipe and a crowd favorite!

    Pulled pork barbecue sandwiches on a table, side of potato salad.

    Nothing beats a good pulled pork recipe, especially when it's slow cooker pulled pork. There are so many ways to cook a pork shoulder. It can be cooked in the oven or braised on the stove. Pork shoulder can also be smoked and let me tell you...it's extremely delicious when smoked.

    But there is just something about making a sweet pulled pork recipe in a slow cooker. It requires very little effort and makes life so much easier. That's just one of the many reasons why I love this slow cooker pulled pork recipe. And so many people love this recipe! Take a look at what one of my readers emailed me the other day:

    Not only is this the best PP BBQ I've ever made, it's the best I've ever tasted. Thank you for the recipe. Steve

    It really just doesn't get much better than that! When you make this slow cooker pulled pork recipe, try serving it with this healthy coleslaw, these baked beans made on the smoker, or this simple potato salad recipe. They pair amazingly well with this dish!

    ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works

    • It's easy to prep and super convenient because it's made in a slow cooker. And, I'm not heating the house up by using the oven!
    • Covered in a peach bbq sauce, pulled pork is very versatile! There are so many things to do with it! It's perfect for sandwiches, nachos, and even in macaroni and cheese!
    • Pork shoulder is an inexpensive cut of meat and yields a lot. It's great for leftovers!
    Glass dish containing slow cooker pulled pork, spoon in dish.

    Best Cut For Pulled Pork

    You're going to hear all kinds of different terminology for this particular cut of meat. Let me give you some examples so you can relate to what I'm saying.

    • If you hear the term "Boston butt", that comes from the pork shoulder. You'll typically find a pork shoulder used in a smoked pork butt recipe.
    • If you hear someone say "pork butt", that also comes from the pork shoulder.
    • When you hear the term "pork roast" and "pork shoulder", again - that's the pork shoulder.
    • Sometimes you'll hear people refer to it as "pork shoulder roast". Again...pork shoulder.

    Let me break this down for you so it's easy to understand. There are two parts to the shoulder and they consist of the pork butt and pork shoulder. Pork butt comes higher on the pig's foreleg while pork shoulder is a bit further down.

    It really is that simple. We've just complicated the terminology, a lot.

    The best cut for making pulled pork is pork shoulder. I prefer using pork butt when I want slow cooker or smoked pulled pork because it's well marbled and has more fat. Pork shoulder is better for roasting or braising.

    🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

    I prefer using a boneless shoulder, but you can also use a bone-in cut. Since I'm making a peach bourbon sauce made with molasses which tends to be a bit on the sweet side, I like to add red pepper flakes. The heat really helps tame the sweetness and blends incredibly well with the peach preserves and bourbon. The sodium from the chicken stock and the soy sauce also help balance out the sweetness, which results in the best barbecue sauce.

    Peach preserves, pork shoulder, molasses, salt, soy sauce, spices and other ingredients on a counter.

    📋 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

    To Prepare The Meat

    Start off by seasoning the meat with the smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Rub evenly over the shoulder until it's covered on all sides.

    Seasoned pork butt on a plate.

    Next, we're going to sear the seasoned pork in a large skillet. Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat on medium-high. Once the oil is hot, sear for 10 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Once it's been seared, place the shoulder in the slow cooker and set aside.

    Searing pork butt in a skillet.

    In a large saucepan, combine the chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, molasses, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine and bring to a low rolling boil, ensuring you scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Then, add the peach preserves and whisk until combined.

    Sauce pan containing peach bbq sauce.

    From there, pour the sauce mixture over the shoulder in the slow cooker.

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    Smothered pork shoulder in a slow cooker.

    With a sharp knife, thinly slice the onion and chop the garlic. Add the onion and garlic so they top the meat.

    Sliced onions and garlic covering meat in the slow cooker.

    Slow Cooking Pork Shoulder

    Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours. You'll know the meat is done when it's very tender and starting to fall apart. Expert Tip: You can use the fork test to tell when it's done. Simply take a fork and insert it into the center of the meat. If the fork easily turns and is starting to fall apart, the pork is done.

    Slow cooked pork in a slow cooker.

    Remove the shoulder from the slow cooker and set in 13x9 dish. With a slotted spoon, remove the cooked onions from the liquid and place them in a bowl. Set aside. While the meat is cooling, it's time to prepare the bourbon barbecue sauce.

    And oh my goodness...this really is the best bbq sauce!

    To Prepare The Bourbon BBQ Sauce

    To start, place the reserved liquid from the slow cooker and the cooked onions, remaining salt, garlic, and onion powder in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Slowly stir the bourbon into the sauce and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes or until mixture is reduced to about 1.5 cups. To slightly thicken the sauce, combine the water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Pour it into the sauce and whisk to combine.

    Bourbon sauce in a skillet.

    Once the meat has slightly cooled, use a pair of meat claws and start shredding the meat. Drizzle the bourbon sauce over the meat, ensuring you mix well to coat.

    Slow cooker pulled pork in a glass dish.

    Pulled barbecue is delicious on its own served with a couple of side dishes. But it also makes for the best pulled pork sandwich!

    Dish with barbecue pulled pork, buns and potato salad on table.

    Y'all, this is one of the best slow cooker pork recipes I've ever made and I really think you're going to love it! I just love a good pulled pork recipe!

    💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

    • You'll need a 6-quart electric slow cooker for this recipe.
    • A lot of people tie the shoulder with a piece of twine. Personally, I don't like to do that with this recipe. I want the meat to expand while it slow cooks so the moisture can really penetrate into the meat.
    • The best meat for pulled pork is pork butt, but some people use pork tenderloin. While this is an option, just know that it won't shred as well.
    • A lot of slow cooker pulled pork recipes will have you discard the fat by placing the reserved liquid in a gallon size Ziplock bag so the fat can rise to the top. I omit this step because I want the fat to remain in the sauce. The fat really enhances the flavor in this dish as well as contributes to the moisture in the meat.
    • We're making a vinegar based bbq sauce and whenever possible, I recommend using a flavored balsamic vinegar. A peach flavored balsamic vinegar is phenomenal in this recipe.
    • I like to add a hint of smoky flavor, so I use smoked paprika.
    • You can use the fork test to tell when the pork is done. Take a fork and insert it into the slow cooked pork. If the fork easily turns and it is starting to fall apart, it's done.
    • If you don't have meat claws, you can use two forks to shred the meat.
    Bun on a plate, slow cooker pulled pork in serving dish.

    📖 What to Serve With Pulled Pork

    When I make a pork sandwich, I love to serve it with potato salad. This particular potato salad recipe is dill based and is both smooth and velvety. If you're looking for a different type of salad, try my cauliflower salad. It's a cold salad that contains peas and cashews.

    Pulled pork sandwich on table with additional bun and potato salad.

    🍽️ More Pork Recipes

    If you're looking for more pork recipes and if you have a smoker, you just have to try my smoked pork tenderloin.  It's soaked in a citrus brine and coated in the most flavorful bbq rub. If you're look for low carb appetizers, I feature an amazing bacon explosion recipe here.  It's made with bacon and Italian sausage topped with cheese and jalapenos.

    I can’t wait to hear how this meal turned out for you! Leave me a comment if you make these and  tag me @recipesworthrepeating on Instagram and hashtag it #recipesworthrepeating so I can see what you made!

    Stay Updated! Get all the latest tasty goodness straight to your inbox by signing up to receive my weekly email for the latest and greatest recipes!

    Pulled pork sandwich on table with additional bun and potato salad.

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce

    Juicy and delicious, this shredded pork is fall-apart tender and is easy to make using a slow cooker. Covered in a flavorful bourbon-peach barbecue sauce, this is a stress-free dinner recipe and a crowd favorite!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: American, BBQ
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 hours hours
    Total Time: 7 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 418kcal
    Author: Amanda Mason

    Equipment

    • 6 quart slow cooker

    Ingredients

    • 3.5 lb pork shoulder (pork butt), fat trimmed
    • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, divided
    • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • ½ cup chicken stock
    • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ⅓ cup molasses
    • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ cup peach preserves
    • 2 cups onions, vertically sliced
    • 5 cloves garlic, chopped
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ cup bourbon
    • 2 Tablespoons cold water
    • 1 Tablespoon corn starch

    Instructions

    To Prepare the Meat

    • Start off by seasoning the meat with the smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, and the fresh ground black pepper. Rub evenly over the shoulder until it's covered on all sides.
    • Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat on medium-high. Once the oil is hot, sear for 10 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Once it's been seared, place the shoulder in the slow cooker and set aside.
    • In a large saucepan, combine the chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, molasses, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine and bring to a low rolling boil, ensuring you scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Add the peach preserves and whisk until combined.
    • From there, pour the sauce mixture over the meat in the slow cooker.
    • With a sharp knife, thinly slice the onion and chop the garlic. Add the onion and garlic so they top the meat.

    To Slow Cook

    • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
    • When done, remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it in a 13x9 dish.
    • With a slotted spoon, remove the cooked onions from the liquid and place in a bowl. Set aside.

    To Prepare the Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

    • To prepare the sauce, place the reserved liquid from the slow cooker and the cooked onions, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, garlic and onion powder in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    • Slowly stir the bourbon into the sauce and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes or until mixture is reduced to about 1.5 cups.
    • To slightly thicken the sauce, combine 2 Tablespoons of cold water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Pour it into the sauce and whisk to combine.
    • Once the meat has slightly cooled, use a pair of meat claws and start shredding the meat and then set aside. Drizzle the bourbon sauce over shredded pork, ensuring you mix well to coat.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • You'll need a 6-quart electric slow cooker for this recipe.
    • A lot of people tie the shoulder with a piece of twine. Personally, I don't like to do that with this recipe. I want the meat to expand while it slow cooks so the moisture can really penetrate into the meat.
    • The best meat for pulled pork is pork butt, but some people use pork tenderloin. While this is an option, just know that it won't shred as well.
    • A lot of slow cooker pulled pork recipes will have you discard the fat by placing the reserved liquid in a gallon size Ziplock bag so the fat can rise to the top. I omit this step because I want the fat to remain in the sauce. The fat really enhances the flavor in this dish as well as contributes to the moisture in the meat.
    • We're making a vinegar based bbq sauce and whenever possible, I recommend using a flavored balsamic vinegar. A peach flavored balsamic vinegar is phenomenal in this recipe.
    • I like to add a hint of smoky flavor, so I use smoked paprika.
    • You can use the fork test to tell when the pork is done. Take a fork and insert it into the middle of the meat. If the fork easily turns and it is starting to fall apart, it's done.
    • If you don't have meat claws, you can use two forks to shred the meat.

    WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

    Enter your email to receive this recipe, along with weekly food inspiration!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 1101mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @RecipesWorthRep or tag #RecipesWorthRepeating!
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    About Amanda Mason

    Hi! I'm Amanda, the founder and creator behind Recipes Worth Repeating! Simply put, I focus on creating delicious recipes for everyone. I offer variety. I offer convenience. I offer yumminess! And that's why people keep coming back. The recipes I create are absolutely worth repeating.

    Founded in 2012, Recipes Worth Repeating grew from people routinely asking me to email them the recipe for my latest dish. Recipe development comes naturally to me and I find cooking relaxing. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I developed a passion for cooking at an early age and I love to showcase a variety of recipes on my blog.Creating delicious new recipes, still photography, and video for Recipes Worth Repeating is the driving force behind what engages my readers to keep coming back for more recipes they will love.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 8 votes

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      Recipe Rating




       

    1. Heidy

      April 25, 2022 at 3:42 am

      5 stars
      This pulled pork recipe was so fabulous! I sincerely am glad I found it on Pinterest. We made it for our friends on Friday, and they even said it was awesome. I love when dinner guests are happy! Have a great day.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 27, 2022 at 8:17 am

        So glad to hear this, Heidy! It is a true crowd pleaser, for sure!!

        Reply
    2. Amita

      April 24, 2022 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe specially because its made in the slow cooker. Your note on keeping the fat worked really well.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 27, 2022 at 8:17 am

        I'm so glad it turned out so well for you and that the tips helped!!

        Reply
    3. Tammy

      April 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

      5 stars
      It's that bourbon peach sauce that does it for me! This looks and sounds so incredibly delicious. I haven't had pulled pork in so long and now I'm craving it!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 24, 2022 at 3:52 pm

        You're going to love it!! So good!!

        Reply
    4. Raksha Kamat

      April 19, 2022 at 8:41 am

      5 stars
      Slow cooker cooking is so easy. Loved the idea of not heating the house with the oven and cooking this sauce in a slow cooker. I am trying the sauce today.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 19, 2022 at 8:47 am

        I can't wait to hear how it turns out for you!!

        Reply
    5. Marta

      April 19, 2022 at 6:55 am

      5 stars
      I make pork shoulder roasts at least once a month, but I wanted to switch things up for Easter. The peach and bourbon combo on this pulled pork added so much flavor. We loved it!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 19, 2022 at 8:21 am

        I am so glad to hear how great it turned out, Marta!! Glad you all enjoyed it!!!

        Reply
      • Annie

        April 20, 2022 at 7:36 am

        5 stars
        I have a few pork roasts sitting in the freezer just waiting to be made into something delicious like this recipe! I like to make big batches of pulled pork and freeze them. Have you tried freezing leftovers? I'm curious how well this recipe freezes.

        Reply
        • Amanda Mason

          April 20, 2022 at 1:04 pm

          Yes - this recipe freezes amazingly well!! Definitely try it and let me know how you like it! I cant wait to hear!!

    6. Ann

      April 18, 2022 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      My mouth is watering - I am so excited to try this recipe! I love how you added molasses to the mix!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 18, 2022 at 4:02 pm

        You are going to love this, Ann! Let me know how it turns out for you!

        Reply
    7. Freya

      April 18, 2022 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      That peach bourbon sauce is so delicious! The meat was so tender and full of flavour!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        April 18, 2022 at 12:56 pm

        So glad to hear it turned out so good for you, Freya! Glad it was so good!!!

        Reply

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