Let your slow cooker be your barbecue

People who crave barbecue know it?s not the burger on the grill that makes them happy. Barbeque specialty stores and top secret barbeque sauce recipes stir their taste buds and make them search for ways to recreate the experience at home. And since many people who work or run around all day with kids and other activities still have to feed their families, they have discovered how to make slow cooker pulled pork. 

What better way to end a long day with pulled pork sandwiches, some corn on the cob and maybe a beer or an iced tea? 

Barbecue ribs, barbecue beef brisket and pulled pork prepared the old fashioned way is every barbecue connoisseur?s preference, but most people do not have time to spend their day smoking meat and tending a slow fire. Drag out your Crock-Pot? if you have yet to discover its magic, and get ready to cook.

Pork Butt at the ready

Start with pork butt or brisket. Some people like to rub the pork butt with seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, just to name a few of the things that go into barbequers? secret rubs. You can use anything you like. Just make sure to add a little salt and pepper to liven the flavors.

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Into the pot

Put about a tablespoon of oil, a good one like olive oil, on the bottom of the crock. Make sure to rub it around the bottom and the sides a little rather than letting it puddle at the bottom. This helps keep the meat from sticking to the bottom of the crock. Place the meat in the pot and add a little bit (ª cup) of water into the crock. Use only a little bit of water as the meat will create its own juices.

Add some sauce

Pour in some barbecue sauce making sure the meat is fully covered. You can also just sit the meat in the sauce, but I like to get all of the flavors cooking together for the best flavor. It is all to taste. 

Let it cook all day

The best pulled pork is made by cooking it all day. Either set the heat to low and cook for at least 7 to 8 hours, or you can put it on high for about 5 hours. That?s it. It will cook while you are away for the day.

Time to assemble

Dig out your meat thermometer and poke it into the thickest part of your meat. When the internal temperature reaches 160˚, the meat is fully cooked. Take the meat out of the crock and place it on a large plate or cutting board. The best way to retain the juices of any type of meat is to let it rest before cutting. As little as 10 minutes, just enough to cool it slightly, will give you the juiciest meat.

After the cooked pork has rested, take two forks, or your hands if they can stand the heat, and start pulling the pork butt apart. This is how you get those long strings meat making your dinner guests wonder how to make slow cooker pulled pork, too. It is because it is literally pulled apart. The reason it can be pulled apart is because it has been cooked slowly causing the meat to be so tender it falls apart in your hands. When the meat has all been taken apart, discard any small bones you may find and put it all back in the crock to warm (about 10 more minutes).

How to make slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches

Take some good bread or buns and ladle the meat on one side. Top it with cole slaw or eat it as is. The fact that it has cooked all day long will make it tender and juicy beyond belief. You can also pour it over rice or pasta. Try different combinations! It is very easy to learn how to make slow cooker pulled pork.

Where?s the party?

Now that you have learned how to make slow cooker pulled park, it would be easy to pull together your own barbecue. Make it simple by using backyard barbecue party dinner plates and other backyard barbecue party supplies. You can have guests bring different dishes to share and make it an evening, afternoon or weekend to remember. 

Check out different ideas to spice things up such as Western party ideas, beach party ideas and ideas for graduation parties. Who wouldn?t love a graduation day barbecue?

If you learn how to make slow cooker pulled pork yourself, you can enjoy this delectable meal any time you want. While you are at work, the Crock-Pot? will also be working for you. It will steam and bubble with a ready-to-serve meal for your family, guests or just for yourself. How easy is that? Try it and see if it doesn?t at least come close to the real thing without traveling past your own kitchen.

 

Resources:

Oven-roasted Pulled Pork

Slow-cooker Pulled Pork Recipe