This crock pot pulled pork recipe makes the best pulled pork sandwiches! The smoky pulled pork cooks all day in the slow cooker while you’re busy, and it’s ready to eat in just a few minutes. If you have leftovers it’s great to freezer or make Pizza, Chili, Nachos and more with the leftovers. This recipe is perfect for busy nights and meal planning!.
Do you ever know you want to make a certain food but never do? This is one of those for me.
I have bookmarked, cut out, highlighted etc. None of this ever helped me actually make BBQ Pulled Pork. It couldn’t be that hard, but every recipe I looked at called for different rubs, homemade sauces, and other things. The recipe had to be easy enough that I could put it in the crock pot and leave for work. When I got home, it would be almost done.
I was also inspired by the fact that I wanted to find recipes I could make without making the whole kitchen too hot, which made me think of the crock-pot. But this recipe works all year long – love that!.
It’s really simple, tastes great, and the meat fell apart when I tried to take it out of the crock pot. My husband loved it too, which is good because, as you all read in my last post, I’ve been really struggling lately. This totally redeemed me and I’m sure he thinks I’m the best wife in the world again!.
Try this recipe even if you have a different one you usually use. The secret ingredient is the hickory flavored smoke so make sure you use it. The local grocery store didn’t have boneless pork shoulder, so I used a 4 lb bone-in shoulder. It still turned out great, but I used a little less BBQ sauce. We had leftovers so stay tuned for what I used them for the next night! Enjoy!.
Together with my pulled pork, I love making Mac and Cheese. Talk about comfort food!
I can’t believe a recipe can turn out so amazing with only a few ingredients involved!
Pulled pork is a quintessential BBQ dish that’s beloved for its super tender and flavorful shredded meat. Typically made with pork shoulder or pork butt the low and slow cooking renders the fatty cuts meltingly tender. But did you know you can also use boneless pork chops to make delicious pulled pork right at home? With just a few simple ingredients and techniques boneless pork chops become fall-apart shredded pork perfection.
In this guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to turn inexpensive boneless pork chops into amazing pulled pork. We’ll cover choosing the right chops, prep, seasonings, cooking methods, shredding techniques, and serving ideas so you can enjoy budget-friendly pulled pork anytime. Let’s get pulling!
Selecting Boneless Pork Chops for Pulled Pork
Not all pork chops are created equal when it comes to suitability for pulled pork. Here are tips for picking the right boneless chops:
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Go thick – Choose chops at least 1-inch thick so they hold up to long cooking. Thin chops will dry out.
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Get boneless – Boneless chops mean more edible meat and easier eating.
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Find bargains – Check for sales, markdowns, and value packs to save money.
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Avoid chops with lots of fat cap – Excess fat cap won’t render well and you’ll just trim it off later.
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Go for center cut – Center cut chops tend to be more uniformly thick and shapely
With the right boneless pork chops, you’re ready to prep them for the smoker or slow cooker.
Preparing Boneless Chops for Pulled Pork
Proper prep is key to pork chop pulled pork success. Follow these steps:
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Trim excess fat and silver skin – This helps prevent buckling when cooking.
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Pat chops dry – Removes moisture for better browning.
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Apply rub generously – Coat all sides with flavorful BBQ dry rub.
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Refrigerate 1 hour – Allows rub to penetrate meat.
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Arrange in single layer – Cooks evenly when not stacked.
Now the chops are ready for low and slow cooking to tender, pullable perfection!
Cooking Methods for Tender Pulled Pork
The key to making boneless pork chops into succulent pulled pork is using the right cooking method. The low, moist heat breaks down fibers over time. Options include:
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Slow cooker – Easy set and forget method. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
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Oven – Bake low and slow at 300°F for 2-3 hours until fall-apart tender.
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Smoker – For authentic BBQ flavor. Smoke 4-6 hours at 225°F.
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Instant Pot – Speedy pulled pork in under 1 hour!
Any of these methods will transform your pork chops into mouthwatering pulled pork as long as you allow plenty of time.
Shredding and Saucing the Pulled Pork
Once the pork chops are butter-soft from the low and slow cooking, it’s go time!
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Use 2 forks to shred the pork right in the cooking vessel.
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Discard any unwanted fat as you shred.
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Mix in your favorite BBQ sauce to taste.
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Optionally return to cooker on warm to let flavors meld.
Now you’re ready to pile the insanely delicious pulled pork onto buns or serve it up for tacos, nachos, or baked potatoes!
Serving Ideas for Pulled Pork Made from Pork Chops
Pulled pork is very versatile, so get creative with how you use up your batch of shredded boneless pork chops:
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Pulled pork sandwiches with slaw – Classic!
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Pulled pork tacos with pineapple salsa – Sweet meets heat.
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Pulled pork nachos loaded with cheese – Cheesy goodness.
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Pulled pork stuffed potatoes – Savory and satisfying.
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Pulled pork omelets or breakfast burritos – Wake up to pork.
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Pulled pork pizza with bbq drizzle – Tasty anytime.
With the right preparation, cooking method, shredding technique, and serving style, boneless pork chops can absolutely stand in for traditional cuts in pulled pork. Follow this guide and you’ll be enjoying budget-friendly batches of falling-apart tender and full of smoky flavor pulled pork in no time. Just be prepared for requests for “the recipe” every time you make it!
For even more pulled pork inspiration, check out these recipes:
[Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork]
[Instant Pot Hawaiian Pulled Pork]
[Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese Sandwiches]
Grocery List for Pulled Pork Recipe
- boneless pork shoulder or pork loin
- hickory-flavored smoke
- barbecue sauce
- salt and pepper
Do you put water in a crock pot when cooking pulled pork?
Yes, you’ll need about two cups of water.
How to Make Easy 2 Hour Pulled Pork~Pork Chops in the Toaster Oven
FAQ
Can you use boneless pork chops for pulled pork?
Can you boil and shred pork chops?
Can you use boneless pork chops instead of bone in?
Can you use any cut of pork for pulled pork?
Are pork chops good for pulled pork?
Pork chops are great for pulled pork. They don’t have as much fat as a traditional pork shoulder, so they will need plenty of sauce and liquid to keep them tender and juicy, but that doesn’t stop them from being an option.
How to cook pork chops in a crock pot?
Start by oiling your crock pot to prevent the pork chops from sticking. For this recipe, you won’t even need to brown the pork beforehand. Next, melt your butter and fry the onions and garlic. Just sweat down the ingredients enough to release the flavor and scent – only around 2-3 minutes.
How long to cook pork chops for pulled pork?
Cooking pork chops for pulled pork could not be easier. There’s no specific recipe or length of time you need to stick to, really. You could cook it for as little as 5 hours, or as long as 8 – it all just depends on the time you have.
Can you cook pulled pork in a slow cooker?
This easy Pulled Pork recipe is made with pork shoulder (or butt), pantry spices and coke to tenderize the meat and add sweetness to the seasonings. The result if perfect, tender and juicy pork cooked in the oven, slow cooker or instant pot! Serve pulled pork in a sandwich, with nachos, tamales, tacos, burritos, or quesadillas.