How to Make Easy Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork with Pork Loin

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Want to set dinner in the crockpot and walk away? Want to be able to make a bunch of BBQ pulled pork and then easily freeze it?

I’ve got you! This is an easy set it and forget it kind of dinner situation that can help you on those days you will be out of the house and need dinner ready and done when you get home!

Jump to Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

My papa used to make this when all 10 of the cousins plus family were coming over. He would have 3 Crock-Pots going with this and we would come home from church to lunch ready to go!

You literally put the meat in with the seasonings and go low and slow for a super simple hearty meal!

Tips for Making Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork:

Traditionally pulled pork is made with the pork shoulder which has a higher fat content, but using the pork loin is also a great option. It just has to be cooked low and slow, because it is a more lean part of the pork.

I think the low and slow option is best by cooking it on low all day in the crock pot or even overnight.

Tips for Freezing BBQ Pulled Pork:

After cooking the pork loin in the crock pot take a bit of the liquid out (I like to save the drippings for broth and flavor I can add to my taco soup).

Then shred the pork loin with two forks, then work the sauce into the shredded pork until the sauce is fully incorporated.

Then allow it to cool, then freeze the pulled pork in a freezer plastic bag nice and flat, so it will stack easily in the freezer. Label and freeze.

FAQ:

• Can I just cook the pork loin for 4 hours in the crock pot? I think it really needs 6 hrs at least on high, but you will get the best results low and slow (my favorite is cooking it overnight for at least 8 hrs on low)
• What’s your favorite BBQ sauce? My favorite and cleanest BBQ sauce is Stubbs, but Trader Joe’s Kansas City BBQ isn’t terrible ingredients.

Tools You May Need:

• Crockpot

Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork Ingredients:

• Pork Loin
• BBQ Sauce of your choice, I like Stubbs or Trader Joes
• 1 TBSP of garlic powder
• 1 TBSP of onion powder
• 1 TBSP of sea salt
• 1/2 cup of water
• optional chop onion into big chunks

How to Make Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork:

• Put pork loin into the crockpot (if it is a super long pork lion like they sell at Costco, only use one half of the pork loin
  • I typically cook one half in one crock pot and the other half in another crock pot OR I freeze the other pork loin until I am ready to cook it.
• Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the crockpot
• Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, and salt over the top of the pork loin.
• Cook 6 hours on high or 8-12 hours on low, sometimes I cook it overnight on low for lunch the next day.
• Drain a bit of the drippings off the pork loin into a bowl
  • Take two forks and shred the pork, if the pork seems dry add some of the drippings to the pork (consider freezing the remaining liquid to add to taco soup or lots of soups to give flavor and act like a broth).
• Add some quality 1 bottle of BBQ sauce over the top (Stubbs is the cleanest I have found) and some good salt, Redmond is my favorite!
• Then use the forks to work the BBQ sauce into the pulled pork.

Consider Making Your Own Buns to Go With It:

In this Freezer Batch Blog Post I include a no fuss sourdough buns recipe that is sure to be a hit! The buns freezer perfectly too!

Consider making your own buns (use recipe below called Freezer Sourdough Bread) with this sourdough freezer buns recipe, you can see me make the buns in this video.

More Real Food Recipes for You:

Freezer Batch Cooking Recipes

Easy Protein Bites

Pin for Later