Best Easy Pulled Pork Slow Cooker Or Instant Pot

Can’t get enough of this recipe? Try my Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork, Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, and my Shredded Chicken Sandwiches. Craving more pork recipes? Make plans to make some of my other popular recipes like these Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce, this Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes, or these Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos. You know how sometimes a recipe doesn’t really feel like a recipe? Like in order to be considered recipe-worthy, it has to have lots of ingredients and multiple steps and take up some of your precious time? Well, this slow cooker pulled pork is none of those things, it’s just a slight variation of my super popular instant pot pulled pork. I threw this recipe together for my nephew’s graduation party and everyone raved about it and asked how I made it. I told them the three ingredients and everyone was shocked and insisted that this recipe was all the more impressive!

Why this Recipe Works

I’ll give you four more good reasons why this recipe is a winner in every way! Versatile — You can make this BBQ pulled pork in the slow cooker or in the instant pot! Yep, that’s right, two small appliances, same result, you choose whatever is easiest for you! Simple — Did I mention you only need 3 ingredients?! It doesn’t get any easier than this folks, I promise! Feeds a crowd — Even if you don’t have a get-together or special occasion to make this instant pot pulled pork, you’re going to want to have leftovers! They heat up great too the next day, and the day after! Pantry staples — Not only is the ingredients list short as it can get, but you’re going to be reaching in your pantry for two of the three items — a bottle of BBQ sauce and some spice mix.

Here’s How you Make it

Instant pot directions Slow cooker directions Making the slaw

What is the Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork?

I almost always use a pork shoulder when making BBQ pulled pork. You might also find it labeled as a pork butt or Boston butt. I’m not sure why it’s sometimes a shoulder and sometimes a butt but that’s probably a question I don’t want to know the answer to? Anyway, I always choose a boneless roast as well just to make the cooking and shredding that much easier. But you can also get a bone-in one if you prefer.

Expert Tips

For the mesquite seasoning I always use McCormick Mesquite or their Smoky Mesquite Seasoning. It’s a product I love and it’s always in my pantry. I can’t get enough of it! My BBQ sauce preference is basically any brand that’s hickory flavored, because you get that nice smoky taste in the sauce as well. But, frankly, you can use any kind of BBQ sauce that you like, it will still taste great!

To mix up the kind of slaw you use, you can purchase any kinds of shredded veggies or “slaw.” I also like to use broccoli slaw and sometimes get a kale/shredded Brussels sprouts version too. I simply love Vidalia onion dressing! Sure you can purchase it in a bottle but if you want to make your own, I have a super simple, super delicious Vidalia onion dressing recipe for you to try!