Pulled Pork Recipes for Every Occasion This Season

By Mary Shannon Wells
Southern Living

Pulled pork is affordable and delicious, which makes it an ideal ingredient for weeknight dinners. Since most recipes are great for feeding crowds, it’s a go-to choice for tailgates and potlucks. These recipes will be hit at Sunday Supper, the church potluck, and your dinner party. With company-worthy options like Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms or our bite-size Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw, you can use these creative ideas for everything, from main dishes to appetizers. Since your pork must be tender, we have dozens of Crock Pot recipes that cook the meat low-and-slow without a smoker. Whether you need an easy weeknight slow-cooker solution or a tailgating recipe that will wow your sorority sisters, these dishes are easy, affordable, and kid-friendly too. Meet your new weeknight and weekend favorites.

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5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

If you ask any pitmaster, they're likely to agree that the key to perfect pulled pork has a lot to do with how long the meat has been cooking. Unlike quickly searing a steak or some shrimp, cooking a pork shoulder on low for hours allows the moisture and flavors of the meat to be sealed inside. This pulled pork recipe recipe mimics the 'low and slow' method, and the juicy result is certainly worth it. It's tender, soft, and melts in your mouth. Even better news? You've probably got most of the ingredients you need to make this exceptional pulled pork already in your pantry or fridge – now all you need is a great pork shoulder. This simple recipe calls for a few sweet onions, some seasoning blend, chicken broth, salt, and a tenderloin. That's it. Give the pork between eight to ten hours in your slow cooker, and it will be fork tender and ready to shred by dinner time. Plus, it'll fill your house with a mouth-watering aroma.

Pulled pork is a regional classic, and we believe that all Southerners should be able to make it. This slow cooker pulled pork is a great foundation for both amateur and seasoned cooks, and doesn't take much time to prepare in advance. When it comes to seasoning the meat, we recommend a spice blend of garlic powder, oregano, and crushed red pepper. You can often find this already blended in the spice aisle of your local grocery store, but don't be afraid to mix up the ingredients if you've already got them all on hand. We tested this recipe with McCormick Grill Mates Backyard Brick Oven Seasoning, but try swapping in your favorite pork rub if desired. If you'd rather not serve this great pork dinner recipe as a main dish, it can easily be subbed into many of your other favorite recipes. Try making Pulled Pork Nachos for game day or as a Friday night family dinner treat. Or, whip up some Pork Noodle Bowls as a cozy dinner recipe on cold evenings. We also love topping this juicy pork with our favorite local barbecue sauces – like Alabama white sauce – and serving as a pulled pork sandwich next to some creamy potato salad and a cup of banana pudding. If you're looking to share this recipe with friends, we definitely recommend preparing 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork for your next potluck or church gathering; you'll have everyone asking for the recipe.

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5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Video: 5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Dinner has never been easier than this five-ingredient, hands-off recipe.

 

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Pork Carnitas Nachos

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Recipe: Pork Carnitas Nachos

No one will protest when you announce you’re serving nachos for dinner. Your slow cooker helps slash hands-on time to make this recipe incredibly easy.

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Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms

Company coming? This meal is comforting and impressive. Slow-cooker grits make prep easier, and the pork can be made up to two days in advance.

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BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

Greg DuPree

Recipe: BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

This fun recipe might be your family’s new favorite way to eat barbecue. Make a toppings bar for the kids to customize their potatoes.

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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

A taco night recipe this delicious calls for a pitcher (or two) of homemade margaritas. Whether you’re celebrating a promotion or the end of a long week, any excuse is a good one to throw an at-home fiesta.

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Hard Cider-Braised Pork

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hard-Cider Braised Pork

All of the fall flavors you crave meet in this comforting dinner recipe that you’ll want to make all season long.

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Harry Young’s Burgoo

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Harry Young’s Burgoo

This storied Kentucky stew has changed over the years, but it’s still made with a big crowd in mind. Make some for dinner now, freeze some for dinner later.

 

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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings

This tender pork cooks in pineapple and chipotles in adobo for the perfect sweet and spicy mix. Fresh toppings like radishes, onion, cabbage, avocado, and goat cheese add flavor and texture.

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Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Southern Living

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Seven ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on time are all you need to get dinner on the table. Make sandwiches or platters with our favorite barbecue side dishes for a complete meal.

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Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos

Photo: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Recipe: Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos

Stop by the local barbecue joint to pick up pre-pulled pork and throw together the easiest dinner of the week. Make it again to watch the game on Saturday.

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The Southern Living Pulled Pork Sandwich

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: The Southern Living Pulled Pork Sandwich

Topped with our own chowchow blend, a homemade sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, and smoked pork butt made with our own spice rub, this is the ultimate barbecue sandwich, if we do say so ourselves.

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Championship Pork Butt

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas / Styling by Lisa Powell Bailey / Food Styling by Pam Lolley

Recipe: Championship Pork Butt

This pork butt is injected with marinade and coated in a dry spice rub for double the flavor. It’ll win the game at every tailgate you attend.

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Southwest Pork Stew

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Southwest Pork Stew

Would you believe you could have a cozy stew ready in just 20 minutes? With this easy recipe, you can.

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Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder

Soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar slow cook to form the ideal sweet and tangy sauce for tender pork shoulder.

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Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw

This big-batch recipe freezes well, so have these mini biscuits at this week’s tailgate or dinner party and next. With a bit of sweet and savory, these are the perfect bites. 

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Pulled Pork Griddle Cakes

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pulled Pork Griddle Cakes

Fresh cherry salsa is the ideal topping for these savory cornmeal griddle cakes and pulled pork. This recipe has a high yield, so invite the neighbors over to enjoy, too.

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Barbecued Pork Quesadillas

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Barbecued Pork Quesadillas

Video: Barbecued Pork Quesadillas

Pork quesadillas? Why not? This six-ingredient recipe has us convinced we can use barbecue pork with any style cuisine.

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Pork Noodle Bowls

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pork Noodle Bowls

This light recipe is an inventive way to use slow-cooked pulled pork. These noodle bowls come together quickly for an easy dinner or lunch recipe.

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Easy Brunswick Stew

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Easy Brunswick Stew

This Brunswick stew recipe has a simple, affordable recipe list. Make one batch on Sunday and heat it up at lunch for the week. 

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Barbecue-Peach Summer Rolls

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Barbecue-Peach Summer Rolls

Sweet, juicy peaches, savory pulled pork, crunchy cucumber and apple, fresh avocado and our sweet pepper peanut sauce for dipping? This light recipe will be the prettiest brown bag lunch you ever bring.

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Chalupa Dinner Bowl

Charles Walton IV

Recipe: Chalupa Dinner Bowl

This one-bowl meal isn’t confined to one serving style. Roll up the ingredients in a burrito, spoon them over tortilla chips to make nachos, or put them between tortillas for a quesadilla. Versatile recipes like this mean weeknights never get boring.

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BBQ in a Blanket with Buttermilk-Ranch Sauce

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: BBQ in a Blanket with Buttermilk-Ranch Sauce

Upgrade your pig-in-a-blanket recipe with pulled pork and a four-ingredient sauce that you’ll want to bottle and save for chicken fingers and barbecue sandwiches.

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Barbecue Mac and Cheese

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Barbecue Mac and Cheese

Video: Barbecue Mac and Cheese

This hearty mac and cheese recipe is filling enough to stand alone at dinnertime, and it’s ready in just 20 minutes.

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Quesadillas al Pastor

Skyler Burt

Recipe: Quesadillas al Pastor

Pineapple-avocado relish adds color and freshness to this easy quesadilla recipe that you can make for lunch, dinner, or football watch parties.

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Korean Cabbage Wraps with Sweet-and-Sour Cucumber Salad

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Korean Cabbage Wraps with Sweet-and-Sour Cucumber Salad

These low-carb wraps are a fun way to get a healthy meal on the table. Chili paste adds heat that’s evened out with a sweet-and-sour cucumber salad.

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Summer Brunswick Stew

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Summer Brunswick Stew

Soups and stews aren’t reserved for cold weather. With a light broth and summery additions like fresh corn, lady peas, and tomatoes, you can enjoy this recipe all summer long.

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Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

Southern Living

Recipe: Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

We prefer our barbecue pork sandwiches topped with a few Dill pickles. Want to add a personal touch to the lineup? Homemade pickles should do the trick.

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Smoked Pork Shoulder

Southern Living

Recipe: Smoked Pork Shoulder

If you’re serious about authenticity, our hickory-smoked pork shoulder should be your weekend recipe. It doesn’t get better than this.

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