Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce

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!

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.

Try serving this pulled pork with this healthy coleslaw, these baked beans made on the smoker, or this simple potato salad recipe.

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!

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.

📋 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.

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.

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.

From there, pour the sauce mixture over the shoulder 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

📖 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.

🍽️ 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!

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Update Notes: This post was originally published in July 2014, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in July 2020.

Inspired by: Cooking Light