Step by Step Recipe for Crock Pot Pulled Pork – Pulled Pork Recipe Without BBQ Sauce

Crock Pot Pulled Pork (no BBQ sauce) is an easy recipe that uses three ingredients to season a pork butt – kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Using a slow cooker is an easy method to achieve perfectly tender and moist pulled pork. The prep is quick, and the result is a favorite of my family.

A Crock Pot pulled pork recipe without BBQ sauce, is a great way to eat pulled pork if you love BBQ pulled pork but don’t care for BBQ sauce.

Crockpot Pulled Pork Recipe (No BBQ Sauce)

For any family gathering, party, birthday, or holiday, I love serving pulled pork.  It’s easy, and it serves a crowd. I typically purchase an 8 pound pork shoulder which also is known as a pork butt. This cut has a large slab of fat on top. When cooked slow, the fat renders out to make a very moist pulled pork.

The trick is to score the fat before cooking. Scoring means taking a sharp knife and cutting a diamond pattern in the fat all the way down to the meat. My caterer friend, Lori, taught me this, and she makes the absolute best pulled pork. She taught me this Oven Pulled Pork recipe.

Pulled Pork Seasoning can go in a thousand different directions, but I feel as if simple is best, and it can’t get much simpler than this three ingredient pulled pork seasoning. I’m betting there’s a good chance you already have the ingredients for my recipe for pulled pork seasoning in the pantry – kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder.

Ingredient List

• Pork Butt or Boston Butt
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder

Our Favorite Pork Recipes

I love pork. It might be my favorite meat.  Maybe it’s because I grew up on a pig farm, and we ate a lot of pork – pork chops, bacon, ham, pork steaks. You name it, we ate it growing up. For this reason, you will find numerous pork recipes at These Old Cookbooks.

Here’s some of our favorites:

• Grilled Pork Steak
• Mom’s Oven Pork Ribs
• 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Spiral Ham
• Crock Pot Pork Roast and Gravy
• Fancy Baked Pork Chops
• Mom’s Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
• See all of our Pork Recipes here.

How to Make Pulled Pork Using the Crock Pot

Step By Step Instructions

1. Mix together kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl; set aside.
2. Take a sharp knife and score fat on pork shoulder.
3. Rub the pork all over with the seasoning blend.
4. Let the pork marinate in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours if possible.
5. Cook the pork in a slow cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours or until the internal temperature reads 200 degrees F.
6. Shred, and add back to the juices.
7. Serve on buns with pickles and onions for pulled pork sandwiches, or eat a big pile just as it is.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. To freeze, store cooled pulled pork in a freezer bag or container. I prefer to store it in a vacuum-sealed bag.

What’s the best way to rewarm pulled pork in a vacuum-sealed bag?

If it’s in a vacuum-sealed bag, place the meat directly into boiling water until warmed through, approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

For the full recipe for slow cooker moist pulled pork without BBQ, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Notes about Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

• For a moist pulled pork, use a fatty piece of pork like a pork shoulder (also known as a pork butt).  There should be a large layer of fat on one side of the pork (called the fat cap).  Leave this attached. Do not trim.
• As long as the pork has a fat cap, there is no need to add additional liquids to the crock pot.
• The fat should be facing up in the slow cooker insert for a moist pulled pork.  As the pork slowly cooks, the fat will render out to keep it tender.
• For my crock pot pulled pork, I use a simple pulled pork seasoning with only three ingredients – kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
• I prefer kosher salt to iodized salt.
• Use a digital thermometer to make sure the pork gets to the desired temperature of 200 degrees F.  This prevents the urge from opening the lid to check the meat which causes the pork to lose heat and take longer.
• To shred the meat, you have a couple options.  If you prefer larger chunks of pulled pork, use two forks or shredding claws.  If you prefer smaller chunks and a softer texture, try using the paddle attachment on your large mixer.

Recipe FAQs

• After you remove the large, cooked pork butt, you have the option of separating the fat that is in the liquid. Use a fat separator just like you do for your Thanksgiving turkey. You can choose to leave the fat. As it cools, a large fat layer will form and harden at the top. I typically leave mine because fat means flavor.  When you reheat the meat, the fat will re-incorporate.
• If you are looking for a recipe for pulled pork in the oven, try ours!  Or, if you prefer a pulled pork with a barbecue sauce, try our Sweet Crock Pot version.

Recipe Variations

• Onion powder, paprika, ground cumin, chili powder or any other spice of your choice can be added to the dry rub.
• If you are set to add some liquid to the crock pot insert (not necessary if you have a nice fat cap), then chicken broth is a great option.
• For more flavor, add a couple drops of liquid smoke or a splash of apple cider vinegar.
• Substitute garlic salt for garlic powder and kosher salt.

Should pulled pork be covered in liquid in slow cooker?

If you have a nice fat cap on your piece of pork, then there’s no need to for extra liquid. During the cooking process, the fat melts down (called rendering). This fat turns into liquid form keeping your pulled pork nice and moist.

Do you put fat cap up or down?

The fat cap should be facing up when slow cooking a meat; that way the fat slowly renders out over the meat keeping it moist. This helps prevent a dry and tough meat.

What are some ways to use pulled pork other than sandwiches?

• Serve over sweet potatoes or baked potatoes.
• Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
• Quesadillas
• Pork tacos

Pulled Pork Recipes

Pulled Pork Spice Rub

Crock Pot Sweet Pulled Pork

Quick Crock Pot Pulled Pork

What goes with pulled pork?

Make an easy side such as coleslaw, macaroni salad, potato salad or potato chips to go along side pulled pork. Macaroni and cheese or cheesy potatoes are also great side dish options.