Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

Name: Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 420 min
Total time: 425 min
Ingredients: 3 lbs. pork butt (also called pork shoulder); 12 oz. Dr. Pepper soda (not diet); 1 medium onion (cut in quarters); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 tsp paprika; 2 tsp garlic powder; 1 Tbsp salt; 1 tsp pepper; 1 Tbsp brown sugar; 1 cup barbecue sauce

This sweet and savory Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork is so incredibly juicy, flavorful and fall-apart tender. If you’re looking for the perfect stress-free meal, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe is ideal for an easy lunch or dinner option, or for those times when you are feeding a hungry crowd.

pulled pork on buns with cole slaw and Dr. Pepper on the side

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Shoulder

This is the last slow cooker pulled pork recipe you will ever need. It is just that awesome! With just a few ingredients and literally only minutes of prep, you will have the most amazing BBQ dinner! You can serve it so many ways too! Try it served as pork sandwiches, little pork sliders or pulled pork nachos for a game day party or with any of your favorite sides as a complete meal.

The best part about this recipe, other than how delicious it is, is that it’s a set and forget recipe. You just add everything to the insert and the slow cooker does the rest for you.

We are big on slow cooker meals at my house! Crockpot Beef Stew, Crockpot Meatballs and this delectable Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie are just a few of our favorites. But I have to tell you, this recipe for Dr. Pepper pulled pork has definitely made its way to the top of our list!

Why We Love this Recipe

Tender and juicy: This recipe makes fall-off-the-bone tender pulled pork. It is never dry or tough! It turns out perfect every time.

Easy: You don’t have to wait until the summer months to break out the smoker to enjoy this BBQ! This is super easy recipe you can enjoy any time of year regardless of what the weather is doing outside.

Versatile: You can create several different and easy meals with pulled pork. Other than a main course, you can serve it on top of a salad, in a lettuce wrap or you can even add the shredded pork to your favorite vegetable soup. Oh, don’t forget about pulled pork tacos…YUM!

Great for Meal Prep: This recipe makes a good bit of pulled pork which is great for meal prepping! Cook once and you can eat the rest of the week!

What’s Needed to Make Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pork

ingredients on counter: can of Dr. Pepper, raw pork loin, BBQ sauce, onion, seasonings, brown sugar, garlic

Pork butt: It sometimes called “Boston butt” or “pork shoulder.” It’s heavily marbled with fat which makes the most tender and juicy meat during the slow cooking process. For this recipe look for one that weighs around 3lbs.
Onions and garlic cloves: Both break down while the pork is cooking and adds incredible flavor to the meat
Homemade spice rub: we use a simple homemade rub using brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
Dr. Pepper: This is a secret ingredient that tenderizes and flavors the meat. You can use a can of Dr Pepper, but you can use diet Dr. Pepper, root beer, coca cola, or any dark soda.
Barbecue Sauce: Use any of the favorite barbecue sauce brands. (We like Sweet Baby Ray’s or Kraft sweet BBQ sauce)

How to Make the Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

looking top down into crockpot: onions in bottom of crockpot; pork loin on top with seasonings rubbed in; pork on plate with two forks shredded; shredded pork back in crockpot with BBQ

Place the chopped onion on the bottom of the slow cooker. Put the pork butt on top of the sliced onion.
In small mixing bowl combine paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Rub the pork with paprika mixture.
Pour the Dr. Pepper over the top of the pork and cook on high 5 hours or on low 7-8 hours.
Remove the cooked pork and place on a large plate. Drain the juices from the crockpot, saving them for later. Using two forks, shred the pork and place back into the crockpot.
Pour barbeque sauce on top of shredded pork with 1 cup of juice. Stir to cover shredded pork. (Add more juices or more BBQ sauce if it looks too dry for how you like your pulled pork.)
Leave in crock pot for 20 minutes to heat thoroughly.
Serve on hamburger buns for a delicious pulled pork sandwich or alongside your favorite side dish!

Tips and Variations for the Best Pulled Pork

Clean up: Slow cooker recipes already make clean up easy but if you want an even quicker way to clean up, use a crockpot liner. Once you are done cooking, you can lift out the crock pot liner toss it! You’re left with a clean insert with zero mess!

Tough pork: At the end of the suggested cooking time, if the pork is not falling off the bone, you need to let it cook a little longer. Check it in 30 – minute intervals.

Don’t peek: Once the mouthwatering aroma fills your kitchen, you may be tempted to take a peek. Please don’t! It’s really important to leave the lid on the slow cooker because it loses a lot of heat when you lift it. That just slows the cooking process down.

Smoky: You don’t have to break out the outdoor smoker to get a nice smoky flavored pork. Worcestershire sauce chipotle peppers in adobo sauce liquid smoke

Spicy: Like a little extra heat? Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the rub mixture or you can add a little bit of your favorite hot sauce to the liquid in the slow cooker.

Sweet: It’s super easy to make this a sweeter version. Just add more brown sugar to the rub. You can also add some honey or molasses in with the Dr Pepper.

BBQ drenched pulled pork on hamburger bun

What’s the Best Way to Store Pulled Pork and Freeze Leftovers?

Put leftovers in an airtight container with as much of the juice as it will hold. Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

You can also freeze pulled pork. Just make sure you add the leftover liquid from the crock in the freezer bag. This helps the meat from getting freezer burn. For a meal prep option, you could divide the leftovers into smaller portions before freezing. Then you can pull out of the freezer just the amount you need.

What to Serve with this Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pork?

This is such a flavorful recipe it is perfect served with just a basket of rolls and a fork. These Texas Roadhouse Rolls are easy to make and work GREAT with this recipe! But if you are serving it as a delicious dinner option, it really pairs great with just about any of the classic BBQ side dishes like potato salad or Deviled Eggs.

If you’re wanting to lighten things up a little, this Creamy Cucumber Salad or this Cole Slaw recipe are both amazing and super easy to make.

What’s the Best Cut of Meat for Pull Pork?

When it comes to slow cooking pork, you really want a well marbled piece of meat. The fat melts as it cooks and becomes moist and tender allowing the flavors of the seasonings to really soak in. That is why Boston butt/pork shoulder is preferred.

You can use a pork loin roast, boneless pork roast or pork tenderloin. They are much leaner cuts of meat and while they will still have great flavor, the texture will be much different

Can I Make this Recipe in the Dutch Oven?

You sure can! Though it does require a different cooking method though. To cook pork shoulder in the oven, put the seasoned pork in a large Dutch oven, fat side up, and roast, uncovered, until lightly browned, 45 minutes.

Pour the Dr Pepper over the pork, lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F, and cover the pot. Cook until the pork is completely tender and pulls easily from the bone.

Can I Make this Recipe in the Instant Pot?

Absolutely! You can take these same ingredients and use the cooking method for this Instant Pot Pulled Pork.

Want More Hearty Meal Recipes?

What's For Dinner?

Find a recipe for dinner tonight! Get our Top 10 Most Popular recipes ebook sent right to your email.