Slow Cooker Chili Rubbed Pulled Pork
After grabbing the groceries that I needed for this week’s recipes, I had a few dollars to spare in my September Challenge budget, so I headed over to the meat aisle to see if I could nab anything on sale and just stock up for the future. I found a great boneless Boston pork butt for just a few dollars and if there’s one thing I love, it’s pulled pork. So I made this deliciously versatile Chili Rubbed Pulled Pork and will be enjoying it for quite some time!
Use a Slow Cooker for Tender, Moist Meat
Pulled pork is super easy to make, especially if you have a slow cooker. Slow cooking holds in all the moisture during cooking and slowly breaks down connective tissue, so the meat is so tender that it just falls apart and shreds with the touch of a fork. Combine those spectacular results with the fact that slow cookers are essentially hands off, and this is, without dispute, my favorite way to make pulled pork.
How To Use Chili Rubbed Pulled Pork
This delicious shredded meat can be used so many different ways. Pile the pork into rice bowls, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, or just enjoy on a bun. I also love using it to top salads for an extra shot of protein.
Freeze the Extras
This makes a BIG batch, so keep some in your fridge for the week and freeze the rest. To freeze the pulled pork, divide the pork into more manageable portions (I usually do 1-2 cup portions), then chill it completely in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer the pork to the freezer once completely cooled and keep frozen for up to 3 months. Any freezer safe container works.
Chili Rubbed Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. boneless pork butt ($3.84)
- 2 Tbsp chili powder* ($0.30)
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika ($0.15)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder ($0.05)
- 1 tsp salt ($0.05)
- Freshly cracked pepper ($0.05)
Instructions
- Cut the pork butt into 2-3 inch cubes. Place the cubes in a large bowl.
- Mix the chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper in a bowl. Pour the spice mix over the cubed meat and toss to coat.
- Place the seasoned meat in a slow cooker and cook on high for four hours.
- Carefully lift the meat out of the juices in the slow cooker to a large bowl or dish. Use two forks to shred the meat and remove any large pieces of fat or gristle. Serve immediately or portion and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
Equipment
Scroll down for the step by step photos!
How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – Step by Step Photos
I used a boneless Boston butt, which was 2.75 lbs. You can use a bone-in pork butt, but make sure to get one that weighs slightly more to make up for the bone’s weight. The bone can easily be removed after cooking. Cut the pork butt into large (2-3″) cubes. I don’t bother trimming the fat because a lot of it melts off the meat into the bottom of the slow cooker and the rest can be easily removed as you shred the meat after cooking.
In a small bowl, stir together 2 Tbsp chili powder, 1 Tbsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper.
Pour the spice mix over the cubed meat and toss until the meat is coated.
Place the seasoned meat in a slow cooker and cook on high for four hours. Because no extra liquid was added to the slow cooker, a lot of the meat is above the juices, which helps keep the spices on the meat. The meat that is above the liquid still cooks just fine from the radiant heat given off by the heavy duty ceramic liner of the slow cooker.
Carefully (because it will be tender and delicate) remove the chunks of meat from the cooker and place them in a large bowl or dish.
Use two forks to shred the meat and pull off any large pieces of fat or gristle.
My roast yielded three cups of shredded meat. OMG it was so hard to not just sit there and eat it out of the bowl!
I divided the pork into three 1 cup bags, each with two 1/2 cup portions. I kept one in the fridge to eat this week and froze the other two.
What can you do with this amazing Chili Rubbed Pulled Pork? Just about anything! Eat it in a “burrito bowl” (that’s what I did this week), stuff it into a real burrito, a quesadilla, or just eat it on a roll like a pulled pork sandwich. Heck, why not even use it to top a southwest inspired pizza? ANYTHING. It’s so good.
I love this recipe! I’ve made it multiple times. Does it work on low heat for 8-9 hours?
Yes you can!
This recipe sounds delicious! I’ve been searching for an easy recipe for the shoulder I’m currently defrosting in the fridge-you’d think I’d auomatically come here by now, but I went to a couple other sites first! I should just come here first from now on, huh?😄
Hi Beth
I just found your website and have already made slow cooker taco chicken and tikka masala with great success! So thank you.
I have a pork loin and want to use it for this recipe, do I need to add liquid given that the loin is less fatty than the butt?
Thanks
Leah
I’ve made it with loin before and I still like it quite a bit. Just be aware that the texture of the meat will be different because loins are quite a bit more lean. It won’t be quite as tender and juicy as the butt.
Hey, I make this recipe frequently and my family loves it! I’m thinking of making it for a work party and was wondering: would adding a few ounces of pineapple juice add anything to the flavor? Wanted to mix it up this time.
Thanks!
Oh I think that could be really delicious. Let us know how it goes!