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Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork

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Pork is slow simmered with apples, onions, and root beer until it’s fall-apart tender, then mixed with barbecue sauce in this slow cooker root beer pulled pork recipe. Top off your root beer pulled pork with a scoop of coleslaw and then you‘ve got a heck of a sandwich.

A pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw sitting beside a dill pickle.

My husband’s best friend likes to joke that a trip to visit us isn’t complete unless he’s had some kind meat cooked in soda pop or cola. And it’s true, I do like slow roasting meat in soda. While I’ve got several different combinations I think of as tried and true, today I’m sharing a root beer pulled pork recipe.

Sliced apples and onions are layered in the bottom of the slow cooker.

My root beer pulled pork starts with a Boston butt roast that is seared and then placed in the crockpot on top of a bed of sliced apples and onions to slow braise in root beer for 8 hours until it is fall apart delicious. After cooking, the pork is shredded and mixed with your favorite barbecue sauce, for the juiciest, most flavorful pulled pork sandwich you’ve ever had.

Seared Boston Butt Roast is placed on top of the apples and onions in the slow cooker.

Here are a recipes that go well with these pulled pork sandwiches:

Root beer is poured over the pork, apples and onions into the slow cooker.

Does the meat have to be seared before it goes in the slow cooker?

No, this is optional and is just my personal preference. I like the added flavor and color this adds to the meat.

After braising for 7-8 hours on low heat the pork is nice and golden and ready to be shredded.

Why cook meat in soda pop or cola?

The long and the short of this is that the acidity in most soft drinks makes a great tenderizer for meat and it adds a lot of great flavor too. Check out this article for more of the science and some great tips on how to cook with cola. 

After slow cooking, the pork is shredded and returned to the slow cooker.

Can I use a different variety of soda pop or cola?

Yes. Cola and Dr. Pepper also work well with this recipe. However, do not use any diet soda or low calorie.

A bottle of barbecue sauce is added to the pulled pork.

What cut of meat works best for pulled pork?

There are two cuts of meat that I recommend:

  • Pork shoulder, also known as Boston Butt is my top choice. It’s inexpensive, shreds well, and no matter the preparation it never turns out dry.
  • The other cut I recommend for pulled pork is pork loin. This cut of meat is more expensive, but is also more lean, so there’s less trimming and less fat to pick out. If you can find it on sale, it also makes a great choice.
A root beer pulled pork sandwich.

What can I use leftover root beer pulled pork for?

  • -You can freeze it for later. Place it in a heavy duty freezer bag and it will last up to 3-4 months.
  • -Make BBQ Pizza.
  • -Use it for shredded tacos or burritos.
  • -Use it as a topping for baked potatoes.
  • -Add it to nachos or on top of french fries.
  • -So many possibilities.

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A pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw sitting beside a dill pickle.

Root Beer Pulled Pork

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes

Pork is slow simmered with apples, onions, and root beer until it’s fall-apart tender, then mixed with barbecue sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 3-4 pound Boston butt pork roast
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 gala apples
  • 12 ounces root beer
  • 1 18 ounce bottle barbecue sauce

Instructions

  1. Season the pork roast with salt and pepper and sear on each side.
  2. Slice the onions and apples and add them to the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker. Place the pork roast on top of the apples and onions. Pour the root beer over it all and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
  3. Remove the pork and shred. Discard the cooking liquids, apples and onions. Return the shredded pork to the crock pot and stir in one 18 ounce bottle barbecue sauce.
  4. Serve on buns.

Notes

To freeze leftovers, place in a heavy duty freezer bag and press out all the extra air and seal. Will keep for 3-4 months. 

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Pork is slow simmered with apples, onions, and root beer until it’s fall-apart tender, then mixed with barbecue sauce in this slow cooker root beer pulled pork recipe. #slowcooker #pulledpork #rootbeerpulledpork #porksandwiches #accidentalhappybaker

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