This Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork recipe is sweet, tangy, and downright delicious. It’s perfect for entertaining, and the root beer barbecue sauce alone is worth the make!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Pork, slow cooker
Prep Time 1 hourhour
Cook Time 10 hourshours
Total Time 11 hourshours
Servings 12people
Calories 450kcal
Author Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!
Cost $29.37
Equipment
slow cooker
small mixing bowl
plastic wrap
strainer
Sauce pan
large liquid measuring cup
wisk
Measuring cups
tongs
Ingredients
SPICE RUB:
4Tablespoonspaprika
3Tablespoonsdark brown sugar
2Tablespoonschili powder
1Tablespoonground cumin
1Tablespoonground black pepper
2teaspoonstable salt
PORK:
5-6poundsboneless pork buttBoston butt, cut into 3 even pieces
In small bowl add all rub ingredients and stir to combine; set aside.
FOR PORK:
Coat each pork piece with spice rub. Place pork pieces into slow cooker insert, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
When ready to cook, remove plastic wrap and place slow cooker insert onto base. Pour root beer over pork, cover, and cook on LOW until pork is tender, 8-10 hours.
Carefully move pork to foil-lined cookie sheet. Using forks shred pork into large chunks and discard extra fat. Cool pork while you make root beer barbecue sauce.
FOR ROOT BEER BARBECUE SAUCE:
While pork cools, set strainer over large saucepan. Pour cooking liquid through strainer, and skim excess fat from surface (you should have 5-6 cups of liquid). Bring liquid to boil over medium-high and continue to cook to reduce liquid to 1 cup, 30-40 minutes.
While cooking liquid boils, in large liquid measuring cup whisk together vinegar, root beer (be careful because it will foam - that’s why you need a large measuring cup and pour slowly!), ketchup, and brown sugar.
Once cooking liquid is reduced to 1 cup, pour in vinegar mixture and simmer for 5-6 minutes to thicken slightly. Off heat stir in liquid smoke and root beer concentrate (optional). You should have about 3 cups of sauce.
TO FINISH:
Pour half of sauce over pork, and use tongs to toss to combine. Let pork sit to absorb sauce, about 10 minutes. Season pork with salt and pepper. Serve with the extra root beer barbecue sauce standing by!