A Spoon Full of Lovin'
Two pulled pork sliders on brioche buns with coleslaw on a silver tray

A Spoon Full of Lovin' · June 2026

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

A Texas restaurant favorite — tender, juicy, and impossibly easy

Back to Blog

I made this in my Texas restaurant and customers couldn't get enough of it. It's so easy to make — just rub the Boston butt generously with Old Bay and garlic powder, add the apple cider vinegar and unsweetened apple cider, and let the slow cooker do all the work overnight. When you serve it with buns, pickles, your own BBQ sauce, onions, and a tall glass of sweet tea, life in Texas just got a bit better.

Prep Time10 min
Cook Time8–10 hrs
Servings10–12

Ingredients

  • 1 (7 to 8 lb.) Boston butt roast
  • Old Bay Seasoning, generously applied
  • Garlic powder, generously applied
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup unsweetened apple cider
  • FOR SERVING:
  • Buns
  • Pickles
  • Your favorite BBQ sauce
  • Sliced onions
  • A tall glass of sweet tea

Instructions

01

Prep the Roast

Thoroughly rinse and dry the Boston butt roast.

02

Season Generously

Generously rub the entire roast with Old Bay Seasoning and garlic powder. Don't be shy — this is the flavor foundation.

03

Load the Slow Cooker

Place the seasoned roast in the slow cooker. Pour the apple cider vinegar and unsweetened apple cider around the roast.

04

Cook Overnight

Cook on low overnight, or for 8 to 10 hours, until the meat is fall-apart tender.

05

Cool & Shred

Remove the roast and let it cool until it's comfortable to handle. Separate the meat from the fat, bone, and broth. Shred the pork with two forks or your hands.

06

Serve

Pile the shredded pork onto buns and serve with pickles, your favorite BBQ sauce, sliced onions, and a tall glass of sweet tea.

Robin's Tips & Variations

  • The more generous you are with the Old Bay and garlic powder, the better the flavor. Really work it into every surface of the roast.
  • Cooking overnight on low is the secret — low and slow is what makes the pork fall-apart tender.
  • Save some of the cooking broth! A splash stirred back into the shredded pork keeps it moist and adds incredible flavor.
  • This freezes beautifully — make a big batch and freeze in portions for easy weeknight meals.
  • Robin's BBQ sauce (see the Condiments & Sauces page) pairs perfectly with this pulled pork.

Life in Texas just got a bit better!

If you make this, I'd love to hear how it turned out. Drop me a note on the blog page. Happy cooking — with a spoon full of lovin'!