Pulled Pork Spice Rub – A Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Spice Rub (Great for Pork Butt)
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Use this slow cooker pulled pork spice rub to make spicy, moist, tender pork butt right in your crock pot.
Looking for a slow cooker pulled pork recipe? The first step is to make a pulled pork spice rub to add a punch of flavor, and this recipe is simple as can be with just brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, dry mustard, black pepper and garlic salt.
Pulled Pork Spice Rub – A Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Spice Rub
There are three secrets to making the best pulled pork recipe.
Secret One: It’s all about the dry rub. The secret to a flavorful pulled pork recipe is in the pulled pork spiced rub. Do not discount the importance of a spice rub for added flavor for your pulled pork.
Secret Two: It’s all about the cut of meat. For a juicy, tender, mouthwatering pulled pork, you need to start with a fatty cut of pork. Fat = Flavor. Fat = Juiciness.
Secret Three: It’s all in the preparation. You’ve heard the term Low and Slow, right? Using a slow cooker or crock pot for a low and slow cooking process allows the fat in the pork to slowly render out which prevents a dry, tough cut of pork.
There’s nothing worse than dry pulled pork. Lucky for you, this crock pot pulled pork using a dry rub uses all three of the secrets that I just mentioned.
Pork Dry Rub Recipe Ingredients
- Brown Sugar
- Smoked Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Dry Mustard (ground mustard)
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Salt
How to Make Pulled Pork Spice Rub
Step By Step Instructions
- Combine brown sugar paprika, chili powder, dry mustard, black pepper and garlic salt in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle homemade pork rub onto pork butt, and massage into all sides.
- If possible, let marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight before cooking. This pork butt rub can be used for grilling or smoking too.
How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Dry Rub?
- Cover pork butt with pulled pork rub and let marinate for at least 3 hours (overnight if you have time).
- To the crock pot insert, add the spice-rubbed pork butt.
- Cover with lid, and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours or until meat falls apart easily.
- Remove pork butt from crock pot insert; take two forks and shred into small pieces. Remove and discard any bones or large pieces of fat.
- Return pulled pork to the crock pot juices and stir before serving. If desired, serve with bbq sauce, although it’s not necessary.
Storage Instructions
Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
For the full ingredient amounts and instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the page and view the recipe card.
Easy Pulled Pork Recipes
I’m no novice when it comes to pulled pork. I’ve been making it different forms and preparation methods for years. Check out some of our favorite pulled pork recipes, all of which are easy to make.
- Oven Pulled Pork
- Simple Crock Pot Pulled Pork
- Sweet Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Aunt Carol’s Pulled Pork with Onion Soup Mix
What goes with pulled pork for dinner?
Pulled pork is the ultimate dinner companion. Serve it up with a plethora of southern side dishes to please the entire family. Here are our top 20 favorite side dishes for pulled pork.
- Buttermilk Mac and Cheese
- Sweet and Simple Coleslaw
- Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
- Old Fashioned Stewed Tomatoes
- Cheesy Potatoes Topped with Bacon
- Sweet Potato Salad
- French Onion Rice Casserole
- Mashed Potato Pancakes
- Lazy Daisy Salad
- Sour Cream Cucumbers
- Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Red Bean Salad
- Texas Summer Squash Casserole
- Old Fashioned Fruit Salad
- Grandma’s Deviled Eggs
- Sour Cream Zucchini Casserole
- Dutch Green Beans
- Cheesy Cabbage Casserole
- Creamed Peas and New Potatoes
Can you slow cook pork without liquid?
Yes, absolutely. No liquid is required to make an amazing pulled pork recipe in a crock pot or slow cooker.
The trick, instead, is to use a fatty cut of pork such as a pork butt (also called a Boston Butt). During the cooking process, the fat from the pork butt with slowly render out of the meat to create it’s own liquid. No liquid is required for crock pot pulled pork!
Can you leave dry rub overnight?
Yes, leaving a dry rub on allows it to get deep into the meat fibers to season and tenderize it. The maximum amount of time for a rub is ideally no more than 24 hours. You don’t want to dry out the meat with the salt in the rub.
What is pork rub made of?
Pork rub can be made with any number of ingredients including brown sugar, salt (kosher salt, sea salt, garlic salt, or iodized salt), dry mustard powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder or onion powder, or pretty much any herb or spice in your cabinet. Modify the pork rub to your own tastes.
Recipe FAQs
- For the best pulled pork, use a pork butt which is also called a Boston butt or pork shoulder.
- This pork rub recipe can also be used on pork chops, chicken, pork tenderloin, pork roast or pork ribs.
- Make the dry rub ahead, and store in a mason jar.
- Do not trim off the excess fat from the pork butt. This is what makes a tender, juice pulled pork recipe.
- Use your hands to really massage the pork spice rub into the meat.
- For more flavor, marinate the pork in the pulled pork dry rub for a few hours or up to overnight; however, this step is not required if you’re short on time.
- If needed, substitute garlic powder or onion powder and salt for garlic salt.
- Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry and kitchen items.
Potluck Food Ideas: Best Recipes to Bring to a Pitch In
Pulled Pork Spice Rub – A Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Spice Rub
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon paprika
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard (ground mustard)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon garlic salt
- 3 – 4 pound pork butt
Instructions
Pulled Pork Dry Rub
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, dry mustard, black pepper and garlic salt.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Sprinkle onto pork, and massage gently into all sides.
- If time allows, let meat marinate in spice rub for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- To prepare, add spice-rubbed pork butt to slow cooker insert.
- Cover and cook on high for approximately 4 hours or on low for 8 hours or until the meat falls apart and is tender.
- Remove pork from crock pot. Discard bones and large pieces of fat. Shred with two forks. Return pulled pork back to crock pot juices, stir and serve.
Notes
- For the best pulled pork, use a pork butt which is also called a Boston butt or pork shoulder.
- Do not trim off the excess fat from the pork butt. This is what makes a tender, juice pulled pork recipe.
- Use your hands to really massage the pork spice rub into the meat.
- For more flavor, marinate the pork in the pulled pork dry rub for a few hours or up to overnight; however, this step is not required if you’re short on time.
- If needed, substitute garlic powder and salt for garlic salt.
- Looking for an oven pulled pork recipe? Try our favorite recipe, found here.
- The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. It should not be used for specific dietary needs.
Nutrition
