Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

• servings: 8 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 5 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 small yellow onion (finely chopped)

6 ounces tomato paste

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons mustard powder

2 teaspoons Sriracha or hot sauce of choice

1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus additional for the pork)

1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional but super good)

1 3- to 4-pound boneless pork shoulder or pork butt

Ground black pepper

2 tablespoons cornstarch plus 3 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry

Buns

Healthy Coleslaw

Pickles

Pickled Onions

Directions

Whisk

In the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, whisk together the onion, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, honey, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, garlic powder, mustard powder, sriracha, 1 teaspoon salt, and liquid smoke (if using), until smoothly combined.

Salt

Season the pork all over with a generous amount of kosher salt and ground pepper.

Add the pork to the slow cooker and spoon the sauce all over the top to cover it.

Cook

Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW for 8 to 10 hours, until the pork is fall-apart tender. Transfer the pork to a large bowl, leaving the cooking liquid in the slow cooker.

Thicken

In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry. Pour into the slow cooker, then whisk to combine. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH, whisking every so often, until the sauce is thickened to your liking, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Shred

While the sauce thickens, shred the pork with two forks or, if it is cool enough to handle, with your fingers.

Stir the shredded pork back into the thickened sauce in the slow cooker. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired (you may need an extra pinch of salt or some additional hot sauce if you enjoy a kick). Spoon pork on top of buns with coleslaw and pickles to create a sandwich, or serve it any way you like.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 (of 8) without bun or
• Calories: 313 kcal
• Total Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 102 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 24 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Total Sugars: 18 g
• Protein: 40 g