Traditional crock pot pulled pork isn’t always the healthiest option for two reasons: 1) pork shoulder and pork butt (the typical cuts of meat used) are a bit high in calories and saturated fat, and 2) most commercial barbecue sauces have a considerable amount of added sugar.
I’ve eliminated both of those problems for you in this recipe! This crock pot pulled pork uses pork tenderloin, a much leaner cut of meat. Most people are surprised that you can make pulled pork from this because they’re used to eating it roasted out of the oven. But a little time in the slow cooker works magic making this pork fall-apart-tender.
And instead of bottled barbecue sauce, you’ve got a homemade version here. It’s made with spices, tomato paste, vinegar, grape juice, and just a smidge of brown sugar. This means it contains far less sugar compared to the bottled sauces.
There is one secret ingredient in this too that you won’t want to leave out of the sauce – liquid smoke.
I know what you’re thinking – who the heck has liquid smoke lying around?! I was thinking that too when I was researching different styles of BBQ sauce and starting to develop this recipe. But wouldn’t you know that liquid smoke is actually really easy to find at the grocery store. I was so pleasantly surprised, and it is worth it to seek out that ingredient. That little bit of liquid smoke adds that scent and flavor like it’s been cooking in a BBQ pit all day.
This recipe is going to be more along the lines of Carolina style barbecue – a little more vinagery and less saucy than you might be used to. But I promise you that it has amazing barbecue flavor which will knock your socks off.
My favorite thing to do with this crock pot pulled pork is stuff it into a sweet potato, then top with a few green onions to garnish. It’s an easy, simple dinner that has a great balance of carbs and protein. Perfect for ‘fit moms’ who are on the go all day and want to come home to a healthy dinner that’s still family friendly.
[Tweet “A healthier pulled pork? Yes! And the best part is it’s made in the crock pot.”]
Now I’m going to let you in on a secret trick that not many people know about – you can actually cook your sweet potatoes in the crock pot at the same time you make the meat! {Mind blown, right?!}. Just wrap ‘em up in foil and place them on top or on the side of the meat in the crock pot. At the end of the 8 hours, you’ll have perfectly cooked sweet potatoes to load up with your pulled pork.
I have a smaller slow cooker, so I can only fit 2-3 sweet potatoes at a time in there – though that tends to work out perfectly for me, the hubby, and the little one. But if you have a larger slow cooker you can probably fit more. Of course, you can also go about it the old fashioned way and just bake ‘em or microwave them too. Whatever floats your boat!
Keep in mind the crock pot pulled pork from this recipe can be used in a variety of ways. I love it on the sweet potatoes – yummm – but you can also use it to make…
- Traditional pulled pork sandwiches, served on a whole wheat bun
- Pulled pork burrito bowls with brown rice, pinto beans, salsa verde, and pico de gallo
- Carribbean pulled pork bowls with brown rice, mango, and avocado
- Pulled pork pizza
Give it a try today and let me know what you think!
Crock Pot Pulled Pork {Serve Over Sweet Potatoes!}
Ingredients
Ingredients for Pulled Pork
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 lbs pork tenderloin
- 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)
- 2 tsp Hickory liquid smoke
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup grape juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
If making for stuffed sweet potatoes:
- 6 sweet potatoes
- 6 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Slice onion and add to the crock pot.
- Add all remaining ingredients for the pork to the crock pot (pork tenderloin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cayenne (optional), liquid smoke, tomato paste, brown sugar, grape juice, and apple cider vinegar).
- Optional: If making sweet potatoes for this dish, you can make them in the crock pot with the meat: poke potatoes with a fork a few times then wrap each potato tightly in aluminum foil. Add to the crock pot on top of or to the side of the meat. Note that a smaller crock pot will probably only fit 2-3, while a larger may fit up to 6.
- Cook on low for 8 hours. Turn off crock pot and shred meat using two forks. Use to top sweet potatoes, then garnish with green onions.
Notes
Nutrition
Share with me: Have you ever made crock pot pulled pork without using a bottled BBQ sauce? What’s your favorite way to use pulled pork?
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LOVE pulled pork and I love even more that you took a healthier twist! Also loving the idea of putting it on a dreamy bed of sweet potatoes! YUM!
Yes, sweet potatoes make such a nice ‘boat’ for so many toppings!
I love that this recipe for pulled pork has so little sugar in it. I once had pulled pork on a salad at a restaurant and it was delicious!
Ooooh, I really like the idea of putting it on a salad! I’ve never done that and now I can’t wait to try.
1. I have a bottle of Liquid Smoke. Once you discover this stuff, it’s hard not to use it all the time.
2. Slow-cooker potatoes are awesome. As you said, you can toss them in there and leave them all day.
I’m looking forward to trying this
Oh my gosh, it is amazing. How did I not know about this magical liquid smoke until now?!
My boys love pulled pork and this is an easy one thanks
Sure thing! Hope they enjoy it! 🙂
I never think about crockpots in the summer but I SHOULD because it’s way better than heating up the oven! This recipe looks great!
YES – I love it all year round because it doesn’t heat up the house!
Isn’t crock pot the best thing EVER!? Especially during hot summer. I love how easy this pulled pork meal is. I bet my boys will love it!
The crock pot is awesome. It’s by far the most used appliance in my kitchen. We use it at least 1-2x/week.
This looks amazing! Love that you put pulled pork onto the sweet potatoes!
Thanks Carmy! Yes, those sweet potatoes with the pulled pork are just perfect.
I have actually never made pulled pork before! Looks awesome over sweet potatoes!
I hope you get a chance to give it a try! 🙂
This looks so delicious! I don’t eat pork so I will substitute it with pulled chicken. Love that you used sweet potatoes!
You can totally sub chicken – it works great in this recipe too! The only thing is you’ll probably have to reduce the cooking time a bit since chicken can dry out quicker in the crockpot.
The crockpot should go on record as being the best kitchen invention ever. I make pulled meats in mine all the time!
I 1000% agree with you!! 🙂
My mouth is watering just looking at this! Ha! This is a must make this week, thanks.
Enjoy them Amy!