Crock Pot Pulled Pork with Apples

Tender, flavorful Crock Pot Pulled Pork and Apples made easily in your slow cooker. Use it in pulled pork sandwiches, burrito bowls, tacos, and more!

This winter, I have been surviving – nay, thriving – off of crock pot meals.

Aside from the ease-of-preparation and the eventual comforting meal, one of my favorite parts about slow cooking is I can be reasonably assured the result will be nothing short of amazing.

Rummaging through the pantry and refrigerator and throwing whatever sparks my feelers into the crock effectively metamorphosizes my lazy take on food prep into actual genius. Saved by virtue of the fact that flavors and textures end up melding together into a beautiful dining experience.

This easy slow cooker pulled pork and apples recipe makes a delicious family dinner for busy days and special occasions alike. The combination of pork and apples jives so seamlessly and we end up with juicy pork.

All we need is basic ingredients, no fancy maneuvers, and 10 minutes of prep time. 15 if you’re easily distracted by Christmas lights and Netflix.

My favorite way of preparing shredded meat is using the slow cooker because it is a goof-proof way of achieving the tender result I’m looking for.

Slow cooking helps soften muscle fibers and connective tissues so that you end up with melt-in-your-mouth tender pulled pork. If this is your first time making pulled pork in the crock pot, this easy recipe is here to guarantee your success!

I usually set everything up the night before, allow the magic to happen during the sleeping hours, then awake with the luscious rich scents of slow cooked sustenance.

You guys are going to think I’m crazy, but I use apple cider as the liquid in this slow cooking extravaganza. Have you tried such a thing before?

It turns out we can use all sorts of liquids for slow cooker recipes, including but not limited to: juice, booze, tea, and even coffee. My Cider Chai Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe and my my Crock Pot Hawaiian Pulled Pork Burrito Bowls are testament to this.

Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this great recipe.

Ingredients for Crock Pot Pulled Pork:

Boneless Pork Shoulder: What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork? Any kind of boneless pork roast will work, but the most common cuts people use are pork butt and pork shoulder.

If you have access to a bone-in roast that fits in your slow cooker, feel free to use it! The bone adds a great deal of flavor. You can also use 3 to 4 pounds of pork loin here.

Seasonings: Sea salt, black pepper, paprika, ground cumin, and dried oregano. We use these seasonings as a dry rub for the meat so add some flavor.

If you have the time, you can dry brine the roast in these ingredients overnight prior to cooking. You can use any spice rub you’ve tried and enjoyed. Garlic powder and onion powder are great additions too.

Yellow Onion and Fresh Garlic: Fresh chopped yellow onion and fresh minced garlic bring bold flavor to the meat.

There is no need to sauté them ahead of time before adding them to the crock because we’re cooking for so long. There is plenty of time for the flavors to open up.

Fresh Apples: A couple fresh apples get chopped and tossed in. Pick your favorite kind of apples!

I like using sweet apples like gala apples, envy apples, or Fuji apples. Granny Smith apples hold up slightly better. You can omit them if you aren’t interested in eating soft apples.

Apple Cider: I like using unfiltered apple cider to add natural sweetness to the otherwise savory meal, without the need for refined sugar like brown sugar. If you prefer, you can use chicken broth here.

Apple Cider Vinegar: A little vinegar adds an acidic element for tangy flavor that balances out the sweet and savory flavors. Lemon juice, lime juice, or balsamic vinegar work too.

Molasses: Bringing rich flavor, a little molasses adds a unique flavor that makes you think, “Hmm…what is that?” In the most pleasant way.

Molasses flavor doesn’t shine through, but a richness does. If you enjoy the flavor of liquid smoke or Worcestershire sauce, you can add 1 teaspoon to this pork crock pot recipe as an alternative.

There are many different ways you can change up the flavors of this recipe! Reducing some of the apple cider and adding your favorite BBQ sauce is a great option.

Let’s make the best slow cooker pulled pork!

How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork:

In the realm of slow cooker or one pot meals, this recipe is so silly easy, it’s almost laughable.

All you do is throw all of the ingredients in your slow cooker, turn the nob to low and wait patiently while your house fills with delectable aromas as the meat becomes tender.

There is no need to sear the pork roast ahead of time in a skillet, unless you want to go through the extra step. 

Remove the pork roast from its netting (if applicable) and set it on a large plate. If there is a lot of excess fat on the roast, you can carve some of it off if you’d like. Sprinkle all sides with paprika, oregano, cumin and sea salt and pat the seasonings into the meat.

Chop the onion and garlic and transfer it to the bottom of the slow cooker. Similarly, transfer the seasoned pork roast and chopped apples to the crock pot.

Combine the apple cider, apple cider vinegar and molasses in a measuring cup and stir well. Pour this mixture into your slow cooker.

Secure the lid of the crock pot and cook on low heat for 8 to 12 hours, or until the meat is very tender. You can also cook on the high setting for 5 to 6 hours, but I recommend the slow version for the best results.

Transfer the pork roast to a cutting board and shred it using two forks. Transfer the shredded pork back to the crock pot and stir well. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes to absorb some of the juices. Serve with your choice of side dishes, and enjoy!

To make crispy pork, transfer a small amount of shredded pork to a sheet pan in a single layer and broil it under the oven broiler until crispy. You can also perform this step using a large cast iron skillet on the stove top.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

How to Serve Pulled Pork:

The most common way of serving pulled pork is in pork sandwiches. If you go this route, toast up some hamburger buns or sandwich bread, spread a little butter on them, add cheese, then load it up with your shredded pork.

I include slices of fresh apple.

You can also smother pulled pork sandwiches with barbecue sauce if you like it. Serve pulled pork sandwiches with The Best Potato Salad.

Make pulled pork sliders using slider buns with your favorite barbecue sauce and any additional toppings like coleslaw.

I love making burrito bowls out of pulled pork, using brown rice, some sauteed veggies, avocado, and any salsa or sauces. You can also add grated cheese to this extravaganza. I drizzle the leftover juices over everything for plenty of flavor.

You can also use leftover pork for pork tacos or pork nachos.

Tips for Perfect Shredded Pork:

In my humble opinion, maximizing the cooking time is the best way of ending up with amazing shredded pork. While you can take the quicker approach by cooking pork on high heat, I recommend the low setting for a long period of time. In fact, I cook my boneless pork butt for an entire 12 hours.

I always recommend allowing meat to sit in its original juices for as long as possible after shredding it in order to maximize flavor and texture.

After I shredded my pork, I allowed it to sit untouched overnight in the juices…perhaps the longest night of my life as consuming the pulled pork was much anticipated. Shredded meat recipes like this are always better the next day! In this sense, don’t be shy about making this recipe ahead of time.

Wondering if you can prepare this recipe in a pressure cooker? For the Instant Pot version, make my Instant Pot Pulled Pork and Apples!

If you love easy crock pot recipes, also try out these reader favorites.

More Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes:

• Slow Cooker Pot Roast 
• 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken 
• Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs  
• Crock Pot Birria Tacos  
• Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon 

Put it in your crock and cook it!

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I originally shared this recipe on December 21, 2016. I added more information and updated the photos but the recipe itself remains the same.