Description
Succulent Pulled Pork Perfection brings tender, smoky meat that melts in your mouth with minimal kitchen effort. Slow-cooked to juicy excellence, this classic dish delivers comfort and rich flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 4 pounds (2.2 kilograms) pork shoulder or pork butt
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (15 grams)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (8 grams)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder (23.3 grams)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (33.3 grams)
- 1 teaspoon cumin (2 grams)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (5.5 grams)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (2.3 grams)
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons oil (30 milliliters)
- 12 ounces (354 milliliters) Coca-Cola
- BBQ sauce (for coating meat, optional)
Instructions
- Examine pork shoulder, removing excess fat and cutting into uniform chunks to ensure even cooking.
- Create a robust spice blend, thoroughly massaging it into every surface of the meat for maximum flavor penetration.
- Optionally, develop a rich caramelized exterior by searing meat in hot oil, creating deep golden-brown crusts on each side.
- Transfer seasoned meat into slow cooker, gently pouring carbonated beverage around the protein to enhance tenderness and moisture.
- Allow slow cooker to transform meat over 8 hours on LOW setting or 4-5 hours on HIGH, ensuring meat becomes fork-tender and easily falls apart.
- During final cooking hour, consider removing lid to concentrate cooking liquid and intensify flavor profile.
- After cooking, let meat rest briefly to redistribute internal juices, then use two forks to delicately shred into succulent strands.
- Optionally, fold in tangy barbecue sauce to complement the meat’s rich, smoky essence, creating a harmonious final dish perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or standalone serving.
Notes
- Choose a well-marbled pork shoulder or Boston butt for maximum tenderness and flavor infusion.
- Skip searing step if short on time, but browning adds deeper caramelized taste and texture complexity.
- Adjust Coca-Cola quantity based on desired sauce consistency, using less liquid for thicker sauce.
- Experiment with different soda varieties like root beer or Dr. Pepper for unique flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (LOW) or 4.5 hours (HIGH)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 1.9 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 3.2 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg