This BBQ Pulled Pork Loin is a simple, quick dinner to prep and cooks all day without any fuss.
With just a handful of ingredients and a slow cooker, you can make tender, flavorful pulled pork. Plus, since it’s mostly hands off cooking, it’s perfect to let cook all day and come back to delicious barbecue pork.
Can I Make Pulled Pork With A Pork Loin?
Yes! You can absolutely make pulled pork with a pork loin. (Keep in mind we aren’t talking about pork tenderloin. These cuts of pork are need different cooking times and are not interchangeable, read about the differences here.)
Of course, it’s also very popular to use a pork shoulder roast or pork butt for pulled pork. You can find instructions for those pulled pork recipes, both for the crock pot and oven, if that’s your preferred cut of meat.
Tips For Tender Slow Cooked Pork Loin
Start by cutting the pork loin into quarters. This helps it to cook more evenly, ensuring that it’s tender at the end of the long cook time.
Unlike a pork butt, the pork loin muscle does not contain a lot of fat or connective tissue, so it needs a thick sauce to stay moist and tender. While a pork butt can be served with or without a sauce and still remain tender, a slow cooked pork loin cannot, and can sometimes feel chewy or dry. The sauce solves that.
The onion adds a lot of flavor and sweetness to the sauce, but also adds moisture. One large onion is all that should be added to keep the BBQ sauce from becoming too thin. If adding more than one onion, you should omit the chicken stock. You can use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce or try one of mine – Basic Barbecue Sauce or Sweet and Smoky BBQ Sauce.
For any pieces of pork not touching the liquid, the Maillard reaction will take place, browning the top of the pork and lending some caramelized flavor to the dish. Yum! So no need to worry about the pork not being completely covered.
How Long Does Pork Loin Cook In The Slow Cooker?
For tender pulled pork loin in your CrockPot or slow cooker, cook on high for 6 hours. If you prefer a longer cook time, you can cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
What To Serve With BBQ Pulled Pork Loin
Serve over cornbread, Texas toast, or on hamburger buns for pulled pork sandwiches. Complete the meal with potato salad and coleslaw and it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser!
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BBQ Pulled Pork Loin
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
The slow cooker creates tender, juicy pulled pork loin with little effort.
Serve on buns or over cornbread.
Ingredients
- 1 (2 and ½ lb.) pork loin, cut into quarters
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 cup barbeque sauce
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 large onion, sliced
Instructions
- In the base of the slow cooker add pork. Sprinkle salt and garlic powder on top of pork.
- Add barbeque sauce, chicken stock, and onion. Stir to combine.
- Cover slow cooker, set temperature to high. Cook 6 hours.*
- Remove cover. Using the tines of two forks, shred pork.
- Stir to combine with sauce. Serve warm.
Notes
*To cook on a “low” setting, increase cook time to 8 to 10 hours.
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