It may sound crazy, but this recipe for Dr. Pepper pulled pork might just be my favorite way to make pork.
Not only does it come out tender and juicy, it’s packed with flavor that you just don’t get anywhere else.
Cooking meat in soda isn’t anything new, and you could use cola if you prefer.
But using Dr. Pepper adds fruity, somewhat spiced notes to the pork that works so well with the BBQ sauce.
And the best part? It cooks in a slow cooker for a super easy, hands-off feast!
Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
Pulled pork can technically be made with most pork cuts, but the shoulder is by far the best.
It has marbling of fat throughout for a super juicy and tender end result.
I’ve used pork loin before, but it doesn’t quite soften in the same way and lacks that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Incorporating Dr. Pepper into the mix not only adds a ton of flavor, but it also works to tenderize the meat even further.
Starting with a layer of onion that will soften up as the meat cooks, all you have to do is throw everything into the pot.
The combination of mustard seeds, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire Sauce complements the sweet soda and tang from the BBQ sauce.
Once you have everything mixed, just set the heat to high and try to be patient for the next four to five hours.
After that time, you should be able to shred the pork with little to no effort.
Another hour in the pot will give all those amazing juices time to seep in for a final pulled pork that you’ll be fighting over.
Ingredients
The ingredients used here are tried and true. Follow them to the letter for a perfect piece or pork.
But don’t be afraid to experiment! Once you see how easy this is to cook, you’ll be itching to try different variations once a week!
Our recipe for Texas Pulled Pork is still my go-to!
For this recipe, you will need:
- Pork Butt/Shoulder – You’ll want a boneless pork roast with some fat marbled throughout. I like to trim the thicker pieces of fat before cooking.
- Dr. Pepper – Since you won’t really taste the soda, you could use any darker soda. But the spice and fruity flavor of Dr. Pepper makes a really nice change.
- Onion and Garlic – Is there ever a recipe without this duo?
- Ground Mustard, Salt, and Pepper – Mustard adds some heat to the dish, and salt and pepper are to taste.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – This will help to further tenderize the meat as it cooks.
- Worcestershire Sauce – For some extra salt, if you leave this out, you’ll need to up the salt at the end.
- BBQ Sauce – Use your favorite BBQ sauce or take the opportunity to try something different. How about a cabernet and rosemary sauce?
- Rolls or Buns – Anything soft will work well with his pulled pork. As much as I love a crunchy roll, I find the filling spills out too much.
Tips for Making Pulled Pork
This recipe is truly a simple dish. Once you have the ingredients, it’s as easy as putting it in the slow cooker and waiting.
Of course, there are a few things you can do to take it to the next level!
- When buying your pork cut, make sure you get a piece that will fit comfortably in your cooker. Even if you’re going to cut it down, overcrowding might affect the cook and you will likely have to cook it for longer.
- Pork shoulder is the best choice here, but if all you can find is neck or loin, that’s totally fine! Neck has lots of marbling and will cook just as well. You may find that you need to cook the loin a touch longer, as it doesn’t become as tender since it’s a leaner piece.
- Try rubbing the pork with your choice of seasonings the night before for an extra kick.
- When aiming for pulled pork, check your temperature! Use a meat thermometer and don’t remove the pork until it reaches at least 195°F/90°C. This is when it becomes truly fork tender.
For more tips and some fantastic options for how to use any leftovers, check out our Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork.
Why Cook the Meat and Soda Together
Adding dark soda to your pot is a wonderful way to infuse extra flavor into the meat.
Where Coca-Cola has caramel notes and Dr. Pepper can be somewhat spicy, root beer can add vanilla and even anise to the dish.
You won’t be able to taste it and know it’s Dr. Pepper, per se. But you’ll definitely notice new and exciting flavors.
Not only that, but adding the acidic juice will make sure your meat is juicy and perfectly soft after cooking.
How to Shred Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Given how popular Marvel and pulled pork is in my house, it will come as no surprise to find out I have not one, but two sets of meat shredder claws.
They are more than worth the investment and make you feel like the Wolverine slicing through butter.
If you haven’t bought these yet, once your pork reaches that golden temperature, you can take it from the pot onto a board and shred with two forks.
I like to hold one fork steady and gently pull with the other. This way, I get some pieces that are a little bigger along with the shreds.
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Ingredients
2 1/2-3 lb pork butt (also known as a pork shoulder)
24 oz. 24 (2 cans) Dr. Pepper (or any caramel colored soda pop, each will provide a slightly different flavor)
1 medium onion, cut in quarters and then again in half
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons 1 1/2 dry ground mustard
1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on personal taste.)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup 1/4 apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons 3 Worcestershire Sauce
bbq sauce of choice
rolls or buns of choice
Instructions
- Chop onions and cover the bottom of the cooking pot. Carefully place the pork cut on top of the onions. Sprinkle the garlic, ground mustard, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper over the meat. Pour the apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and the Dr. Pepper on top.
- Cook on high for four to five hours (or low for eight).
- Check that the pork has reached an internal temperature of at least 195 degrees F/90 degrees C before carefully lifting out and onto a cutting board.
- Place two forks together in the meat and pull apart, shredding carefully. Once the meat is all shredded, very carefully add back to the slow cooker. Cook for another hour.
- Drain the excess juices and stir the BBQ sauce through the meat and onion mixture until it is all tossed together and coated.
- Lightly toast the buns under the grill and fill with the pulled pork. Serve with crunchy slaw and sweet potato fries.
