December 28, 2023
Review RecipeDr Pepper Pulled Pork
Table of Contents
Slow cooking this Dr Pepper Pulled Pork recipe in soda tenderizes the meat while honey, brown sugar and smoked paprika infuse it with classic barbecue flavor. Serve it as the star of the show at a weekend barbecue, top it with coleslaw in a yummy sandwich, and even use it to fill tacos or top a baked potato.
Round out your barbecue with this fun twist on corn, Fried Corn on the Cob. If you’re looking for more new recipes for time-saving slow cooker meals, you have to try our Crockpot Crack Chicken.
MORE PORK RECIPES:
Pork Tenderloin | Fried Pork Chops
DR PEPPER PULLED PORK INGREDIENTS
You will need:
- 1 medium-size sweet yellow onion (1 ½ cups), sliced thin
- 4 to 5 pounds pork butt or pork shoulder
- 1 ½ cups or 12-ounce bottle/can of Dr Pepper
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce
- Hamburger buns or deli rolls
- 15-ounce container of coleslaw, optional
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
DR PEPPER: Any dark soda including coca cola or root beer will work in this recipe. The soda works to tenderize the meat and keep it moist and juicy. Avoid diet Dr Pepper or other diet sodas, as the sugar substitutes don’t stand up to the heat well, and tend to leave an unpleasant aftertaste.
PORK BUTT OR SHOULDER: Although butt and shoulder are the best cut of meat for pulled pork, a pork loin roast is also a good choice. Tenderloin is leaner and won’t shred as well.
SPICY: If you are a fan of spicy pulled pork, you can add your favorite hot sauce, a dash of cayenne pepper or even smokey chipotle peppers to the slow cooker as well.
HOW TO MAKE THIS DR PEPPER PULLED PORK RECIPE
PRO TIP: To make cleanup easier, line the bottom of the slow cooker with aluminum foil or a crockpot liner, which can be found in most grocery stores.
STEP ONE: Lay the sliced onion evenly in the bottom of a 6 to 7 quart slow cooker.
STEP TWO: Place the pork on top of the onions then pour the Dr Pepper over the meat.
STEP THREE: Mix the liquid smoke, honey, and garlic in a small bowl. Evenly cover the pork with the sauce with a basting brush or pastry brush.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have a brush, you can spread the sauce evenly using the back of a spoon.
STEP FOUR: In another small bowl stir together the brown sugar, onion powder, kosher salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cumin.
PRO TIP: Smoked paprika has a distinctive, smoky flavor that adds an authentic barbecue taste to any dish. Along with the liquid smoke, it will make your slow cooker pork taste like it came from a smoker.
STEP FIVE: Evenly sprinkle the dry seasoning mixture over the smoke sauce.
STEP SIX: Cook on high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours. When pork is done, it will be tender and easy to shred.
STEP SEVEN: Shred the pork in the slow cooker or in a large serving dish or on a cutting board using two forks or tongs.
PRO TIP: To save time (and your hands!), you can also shred pork using either a stand mixer or sturdy hand mixer.
STEP EIGHT: Add the BBQ sauce and toss with the tongs to coat the shredded meat evenly.
HOW TO SERVE
Give yourself a night off from cooking by tossing the ingredients for this pulled pork recipe in the slow cooker earlier in the day and serving the finished pork on hamburger buns with store-bought coleslaw and chips for a new family favorite. Or if you’d prefer a homemade meal, try it with our Classic Coleslaw and Potato Salad, with Banana Pudding Cake for dessert.
There are plenty of great ideas to use this versatile recipe. Skip the BBQ sauce and use it to top nachos or fill tacos for another delicious dinner option. With or without the BBQ sauce, it makes a tasty baked potato topping. Depending on how many people you are serving, you can use this pork for 2 to 3 meals. This great recipe is designed with lazy cooks in mind.
STORAGE
IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container for up to five days
IN THE FREEZER: Freeze leftover pork in a container or freezer bag for up to four months. Thaw in the refrigerator the day before you plan to reheat and serve it.
This juicy, flavorful slow cooker Dr Pepper pulled pork is an easy and delicious meal that is so simple to make with only a few minutes of prep! You’ll love the tender juicy meat, perfect smoky taste, and all the ways you can serve it!
FAQ
Pulled pork can be used for so many different meals. Try pork sandwiches, pork tacos or even pork sliders.
To shred pork, use two forks. Holding one in each hand, use them to pull the pork apart.
You can store the leftover slow cooker Dr Pepper pulled pork in the freezer for up to four months.
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 1 medium-size sweet yellow onion sliced thin (1 ½ cups)
- 4 to 5 pounds pork butt or pork shoulder
- 12 ounces Dr Pepper 1 ½ cups
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon garlic fresh minced
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
- hamburger buns or deli rolls
- 15 ounces coleslaw optional
Instructions
- Line a 6 to 7 quart slow cooker with aluminum foil or a crock pot liner.
- Evenly layer the thinly sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the pork on top of the onions then pour the Dr Pepper over the pork.
- In a small mixing bowl add the liquid smoke, honey, and minced garlic. Stir to combine the ingredients. Use a basting brush to evenly brush the smoke sauce onto the pork.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the brown sugar, onion powder, kosher salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cumin.
- Evenly sprinkle the dry seasoning on top of the pork.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- When the pork has finished cooking, either leave the pork in the crockpot or transfer the meat to a large baking dish. Carefully use 2 forks or a set of tongs to shred the pork.
- Pour the BBQ sauce over the top of the shredded pork. Then use tongs to toss the pork and sauce.
- Serve on either hamburger buns or deli rolls, and coleslaw.
Comments
Hannah Griffin says
One of my new favorite pulled pork recipes!
Tin Lopez says
This is perfect to eat with my friends! So delicious!
Perry Adamson says
Excellent pulled pork and the slaw is out of this world. A perfect combination.
Nikki says
Would this work with diet and swerve brown subsitute? Being keto, I would just serve this on a simple bed of keto coleslaw, but I was hoping someone had tried it before I do.
Layne Kangas says
I have not tried it like that yet!!
Bonnalou says
I only use Swerve brown or white, it works perfectly.
As far as the diet soda, these recipes usually say don’t use diet soda.
Try the regular first time, unless an ingredient in there you absolutely cannot have.
Gloria says
Super easy and delicious – a go-to dinner for our family!
Erin says
Do you drain extra juices before adding bbq sauce or add shredded pork to the juice then add bbq sauce?
Emma says
Also wondering this!?
Layne Kangas says
No, we did not drain it. Enjoy!
Becky says
If I’m making a 10lb pork, do I need to put it in the crockpot longer?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Becky – we haven’t tried making that much before. I would double the ingredients and use an extra-large crockpot. I assume the cooking time will also need to increase, I would say about 8 hours on low or 6 hours on high but you’ll want to check it with a meat thermometer. Enjoy!
Sherry says
Loved this recipe!
I used tenderloins because that was what I had, and they worked great too.
I melted swiss cheese on the bun, added the meat & coleslaw… delicious!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!!
Faith Fehr says
I didn’t put liquid smoke or smoked paprika but it still tasted tender and amazing!
Kelly says
I would like to make this for a large crowd -say around 20 people- how many lbs of pork would I need ?
Layne Kangas says
The recipe as is serves 9, so I would double or triple the recipe to serve 20 people.
Sandra says
Made this for dinner today, very tasty. My whole family enjoyed it.
Marlee says
I do the rub (sugar, spices) and rub the pork 1-2 days ahead of time.
Then mix the wet ingredients and pour over the pork. (I didn’t use the raw onion)
Cook, and remove from liquid. Shred and add bbq sauce. Discard liquid pork cooked in.
Jessica Lake says
I absolutely loved this recipe and was surprised to not cook the bbq all together but don’t question it just do it! Add it at the end like the recipe suggests. I did however make a paste with all the ingredients and apply it on the butt Instead of doing separate by mistake and it stayed on the meat better than I think just putting it on tip because of the honey help it stick to to meat 10/10 would highly recommend
Claire Watson says
I agree. That’s what I did too.
Kathie Matta says
Can you use diet Dr Pepper soda?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Kathie – that should work ok, enjoy!
Rose says
could this recipe be made in a pressure cooker?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Rose – I’m sure it could, but we haven’t done recipe testing on that so I don’t have specifics for you to follow. Please let me know if you end up trying it! Enjoy!
Paulette says
Has anyone done this in an instant pot?? How long and how did it turn out?
Heidi says
So my crockpot low medium high do I cook it on low, medium for time suggested
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Heidi – you can cook it on low for six hours, enjoy!
Claire Watson says
Made this today and flavor is more complex than my usual recipe. It tastes great
One question though. Do you pour off the liquid and onions before adding barbecue sauce to shredded pork?
Claire Watson says
I have made several crockpot pulled pork recipes and thos is the most flavorful.
I do want to clarify–you don’t use any of the cooking liquid from the crockpot?