Dr Pepper Pulled Pork (Crock Pot Recipe) + Video
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Dr Pepper Pulled Pork is incredibly moist, tender, and delicious. Even better, this scrumptious BBQ meal is beyond simple to make with this easy pulled pork crock pot recipe!! Everyone will love this easy recipe and the simple cooking process!
You will be amazed at how much flavor a can of Dr. Pepper adds to pork.
Not only that, but the sugars in the cola help to tenderize the crockpot pork, making it fall-apart tender.
Give this shredded pork recipe a try. You just need a few minutes of prep, and you’ll have the best cut of meat that is super tender and delicious.
You can use this recipe to make pork sliders, pork sandwiches, pork tacos, pork nachos, or any simple dinner option that you want.
I love using simple ingredients like this to make a complete meal!
Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
If you tailgate or have a lot of summer cookouts, this Dr Pepper pulled pork crock pot recipe is a must-make.
It feeds a huge crowd, yet we never have any leftovers. It’s one of our most popular game day recipes.
The best part is that the slow cooker does all of the hard work for you, so you can spend more time enjoying your guests or making side dishes to go with your Dr Pepper pulled pork.
We always make Southern style macaroni salad, a big batch of slow cooker baked beans, and some creamy cucumber salad.
Ingredient Notes and Swaps
- BBQ Sauce – Try our Kansas City Barbecue sauce. It is divine in this recipe!
You could also use Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce, your own homemade BBQ sauce, or any favorite barbecue sauce that you love. - Dr. Pepper – You can use a generic brand, or swap out the Dr. Pepper and use root beer or Coca Cola if you prefer. Slow cooker recipes this easy have lots of flexibility!
Just be sure to use a dark cola with sugar in it. Sugar-free pop won’t give you the same results. - Spices – A simple blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, plus salt and pepper are all you need to make flavorful Dr pepper pulled pork in the crock pot.
You could also add a little bit of liquid smoke to this slow cooked Dr. Pepper pork recipe to add more flavor.
No matter how you cut it, this is a great go-to recipe and my favorite way to make slow cooker Dr. Pepper pork.
This recipe is a great option for the summer months to create delicious slow-cooked meat to use throughout the week.
Leftover pork means that you cook once, and you get to enjoy the flavor of this pork shoulder roast multiple times!
Best Pork for Pulled Pork
Any time you are slow cooking, it’s important to use a cut of pork that has a good amount of fat and marbling.
As it cooks, the fat will render down, creating moisture and lots of flavor in the pork.
For our pork crock pot recipes, we use boneless pork butt, also known as pork shoulder.
Depending on where you live, it could also be labeled blade roast, shoulder roast, Boston butt, or picnic roast.
Crockpot Pork Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don’t over-shred. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will dry out!
Gently shred into smaller chunks before smothering in the sauce, then shred further as needed before serving. - Keep it moist. If you transfer your Dr Pepper pulled pork to a serving tray, ladle some of the slow cooker liquid over the top.
- Toast buns for serving. You can brush them with a little butter as well.
This creates a lovely contrast in texture between the crispy bun and the tender crockpot pork.
Tools You’ll Need
- Slow Cooker – The slow cooker is almost my most used kitchen gadget, especially during fall/winter!
It’s so convenient, and let’s face it — it makes comfort food taste even better!
Pork Crock Pot Recipes FAQ
On average, a boneless pork shoulder weighs 4 to 5 pounds. If you’re using a bone-in pork butt, it will likely weigh an average of 6 to 8 pounds.
For a 4 to 5-pound boneless cut, expect a cooking time of 7 to 8 hours on Low heat, or 4 to 5 hours on High. Bone-in pork butt can take up to two hours longer to cook.
While you certainly can, it doesn’t make much of a difference in the end results.
Skipping this step saves you the extra dishes, making this one easy pulled pork crock pot recipe!
Dr Pepper pulled pork is best served right away, when it is most tender and juicy.
That said, leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
Pro Tip
Cooking on Low is recommended for pork crock pot recipes to get the best-tasting and most tender meat.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Dr Pepper Pulled Pork (Crock Pot Recipe) + Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 pounds pork butt, trimmed of visible fat
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 cups Dr Pepper
- 3 cups KC Style Barbecue Sauce, divided (or your favorite)
- 12 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
- 12 pickle slices
Instructions
- Combine spices in a small bowl, mix well. Massage spice mix into pork and place in crockpot. Pour soda over pork. Cook on low 5-7 hours, until pork is tender and pulls apart easily.
- Drain completely, shred pork using 2 forks, add 2 cups barbecue sauce and cook on low for one hour. Serve on toasted bun with a pickle slice and more of the remaining 1 cup barbecue sauce.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published April 2013. Updated and republished May 2024
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for your support; it allows us to keep creating new recipes.
Ur recipe calls for 3 cups of bbq sauce. However, in the cooking instructions it says to add only 2 cups?
Hi Chris! The remaining cup is for topping the sandwiches when you serve it.
Hope that helps. I really recommend using the KC BBQ Sauce found here http://www.theslowroasteditalian.blogspot.com/2012/08/kc-style-barbecue-sauce-kansas-city.html
Enjoy!
divided – 2 for cooking – the other cup for serving with the sandwiches
When do I put the crockpot in my smoker? ha ha ha just kidding
I put two pork butts (errr Boston Roast since all the pork names are changing now, thanks Guvment) on my Egg Friday night and I spent the next 14 hours keeping an eye on them, not sleeping. The crockpot is a reasonable option for people who aren't insane like me 🙂
First time I used my crockpot the glass lid shattered!! Thank god I was up!!
can you use something other than dr pepper? I don't drink that and hate to waste
Maple syrup or Cane Syrup is even better
Ginger Ale
Ginger Ale works great
You can use Root Beer. Excellent.
I have seen another recipe that used Coke or Diet Coke.
i think coke i better …as it's natural sugar ..better then diet ,,which is chemicals ,,
My opinion 🙂
A brown sugar and water mixture might work.
I've used GingerAle before because I didn't have Dr. Pepper. You can use any soda. I've seen recipes using orange soda even.
I am trying Pepsi. Just happened to have a can.
I am trying Pepsi. I just happened to have a can.
Is the pork roast used boneless?
I buy mine with bone if its cheaper and just cut it out.I also use the cheapest pork on sale like newyork shoulder roasts.Just cut the fat and bone and divide into what you want
We use rootbeer and it is really good!
I live in Australia. It seems that most recipes ask for kosher salt. I can not find. what is it? reg salt?
Basically, it's just larger crystal salt.
Or sea salt
Basically, it's larger crystal salt
Can you use regular salt?
Yes! Just substitute 3/4 teaspoon table salt for each 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Enjoy!
Can I just say "YUM"!!! Pinned it!!
Thank you for this recipe. I don't have a pulled pork in my database so I might as well start with the best. And perfect for football season. Pinned.
I've made this before and it is YUMMY. Also used with root beer. To the viewer who hates Dr. Pepper, I also hate the taste, but believe me, you do not taste Dr. Pepper in the finished product. Just YUMMINESS.
I got a Crock Pot for Christmas, I tried this recipe and it was fantastic, I used regular salt and pepper, and I used a regular Coke.
Can you use Diet pop?
Can you use diet pop?
Can you use diet pop?
I'm really not sure why pop needs to be added at all. I smoke pork butts regularly and mop them hourly with just apple juice.
This looks so good!! We're all about pulled pork over here. Also wanted to say how much I love your branding. I always know when a recipe is yours just by the fonts you use on your photos. You're awesome! Alli @ Cupcake Diaries
Can you not use the BBQ sauce for the Jack Daniels recipe for the pork chops that yall shared Donna
Do you have a recipe for South Carolina style barbecue sauce? True pulled pork has this on it.
Wow, this would be perfect for Memorial Day!
Cn this be made in an instant pot pressure cooker?