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Dr. Pepper™ Pulled Pork

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  • Prep 10 min
  • Total 8 hr 0 min
  • Servings 12
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Delicious slow-cooker pulled pork with a secret ingredient: Dr. Pepper™!
by: Macheesmo
Updated Jan 18, 2017
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Ingredients

  • 3 pounds pork shoulder
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 3-4 dried guajillo chiles (optional)
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 whole cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 20 oz. Dr. Pepper™ soda

Steps

  • 1
    Place all ingredients except Dr. Pepper™ in a slow cooker.
  • 2
    Pour in Dr. Pepper™ and stir ingredients to combine. Cover and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours or overnight until pork is very tender.
  • 3
    Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with a fork. Carefully pour the cooking liquid into a large bowl and strain out any solids (chiles, garlic, etc.).
  • 4
    Return shredded pork and 1 cup cooking liquid to the slow cooker. Switch heat setting to warm and keep covered until ready to serve. OPTIONAL: For a delicious homemade barbecue sauce, pour the rest of the cooking liquid into a small pot and simmer 10-15 minutes over low heat until thickened.
  • 5
    Serve with buns, barbecue sauce and pickles, if desired.

Expert Tips

  • tip 1
    If you have leftovers, allow pork to cool almost completely before storing in your fridge or freezer.
  • tip 2
    Making slow-cooker pulled pork is one of my favorite weekend activities. It makes the whole house smell amazing and is perfect whether you’re entertaining (hello, football fans) or stocking the fridge with meals to enjoy throughout the week. One awesome trick to making slow-cooker pulled pork is to use Dr. Pepper™ as a base for your cooking process. The soda actually helps break down the pork and gives it just enough sweetness. Getting started couldn’t be easier. Just add all your ingredients to a slow cooker, then pour in your Dr. Pepper™. It’s okay if the liquid doesn’t cover the pork entirely. Stir everything together a bit and then cook on low heat for 8-10 hours. (I usually just let mine cook overnight.) The results are pretty spectacular! At the end of the cooking process, you also have the base for a great “Carolina-style” barbecue sauce to serve with the pulled pork. This style of sauce is thinner than the bottled stuff you might be used to, but tastes great spooned over the pulled pork in a sandwich. If you prefer a thicker consistency, just combine a little cornstarch with water and add it to the pot.

Nutrition Information

260 Calories, 13g Total Fat, 23g Protein, 12g Total Carbohydrate, 9g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
260
Calories from Fat
120
Total Fat
13g
20%
Saturated Fat
4 1/2g
23%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
70mg
23%
Sodium
430mg
18%
Potassium
390mg
11%
Total Carbohydrate
12g
4%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
9g
Protein
23g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
2%
2%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
6%
6%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Making slow-cooker pulled pork is one of my favorite weekend activities. It makes the whole house smell amazing and is perfect whether you’re entertaining (hello, football fans) or stocking the fridge with meals to enjoy throughout the week.

    One awesome trick to making slow-cooker pulled pork is to use Dr. Pepper™ as a base for your cooking process. The soda actually helps break down the pork and gives it just enough sweetness. 

    Getting started couldn’t be easier. Just add all your ingredients to a slow cooker, then pour in your Dr. Pepper™. It’s okay if the liquid doesn’t cover the pork entirely. Stir everything together a bit and then cook on low heat for 8-10 hours. (I usually just let mine cook overnight.) The results are pretty spectacular!

    At the end of the cooking process, you also have the base for a great “Carolina-style” barbecue sauce to serve with the pulled pork. This style of sauce is thinner than the bottled stuff you might be used to, but tastes great spooned over the pulled pork in a sandwich. If you prefer a thicker consistency, just combine a little cornstarch with water and add it to the pot.
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