Have you heard of the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond? It’s almost a rhetorical question, right? She’s a culinary icon, known for her approachable recipes, heartwarming blog, numerous cookbooks, and popular Food Network show. Her influence spans beyond just cooking, with her own store, cafe, and even a home goods line at Walmart. It’s safe to say she’s a household name. Today, we’re diving into a fantastic recipe inspired by her classic repertoire: Pioneer Woman Shredded Pork, adapted for the convenience of your crockpot!
A close-up shot of delicious Pioneer Woman shredded pork piled high, showcasing its tender and juicy texture.
Like many home cooks, I admire Ree Drummond’s knack for creating recipes that are both delicious and accessible. I personally own several of her cookbooks and have consistently been impressed by the results. What’s particularly helpful is that her cookbooks often include step-by-step photos, making it easy to follow along. Recently, while browsing for budget-friendly meal ideas after spotting a Boston Butt roast on sale, her Classic Pulled Pork recipe immediately came to mind.
Raw Boston Butt roast seasoned with spices, ready to be slow-cooked for Pioneer Woman shredded pork recipe.
However, the original Pioneer Woman pulled pork recipe calls for a lengthy 10-hour oven cooking time. In today’s fast-paced world, that can feel like an eternity! Thinking about spending that much time cooking prompted me to adapt her recipe for the slow cooker. This crockpot version captures all the delicious flavors of the original while significantly reducing the hands-on time and overall cooking effort. For those interested in comparing, you can find the original Pioneer Woman Pulled Pork recipe here.
Pioneer Woman Crockpot Shredded Pork Recipe: Simple & Flavorful
This recipe transforms a humble Boston Butt into succulent, flavorful shredded pork with minimal effort. The slow cooker does all the work, infusing the pork with a smoky, sweet, and savory blend of spices and sauces. Perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or topping your favorite BBQ sides, this Pioneer Woman inspired shredded pork will become a family favorite.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s everything you need to create this mouthwatering Pioneer Woman shredded pork in your crockpot (affiliate links included for your convenience):
- 5lb Boston Butt (also known as pork shoulder)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (High-quality brown sugar for rich flavor)
- 1 tbsp chili powder (Authentic chili powder for a smoky kick)
- 2 tsp garlic powder (Garlic powder for savory depth)
- 2 tsp salt (Essential salt to enhance flavors)
- 1 tsp black pepper (Freshly ground black pepper for a touch of spice) (Note: The original recipe includes cayenne pepper, which is omitted here for a milder flavor, but feel free to add a pinch if you like a little heat)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (use your favorite brand!)
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- Potato buns or hamburger buns, for serving
Step-by-Step Crockpot Instructions:
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Prepare the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Close up of spice mixture being prepared in a bowl for Pioneer Woman shredded pork recipe. -
Season the Boston Butt: Rub the spice mixture generously all over the Boston Butt, ensuring every surface is coated. Place the seasoned pork in your crockpot. For easy cleanup, consider using a crockpot liner – This is the Crock-Pot I personally use.
Boston Butt roast placed in a crockpot, seasoned and ready for slow cooking, showcasing the initial stage of Pioneer Woman shredded pork preparation. -
Add Aromatics and Sauces: Scatter the chopped onion over the pork. Pour in the BBQ sauce and ketchup. Feel free to use your favorite BBQ sauce to customize the flavor profile!
Ingredients including chopped onions, BBQ sauce and ketchup being added to the crockpot with the seasoned Boston Butt for Pioneer Woman shredded pork. -
Add Water and Slow Cook: Pour 2 cups of water into the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Note: Cooking times may vary depending on the size and fat content of your Boston Butt and your specific slow cooker. It’s best to check the pork periodically to ensure it doesn’t overcook. You want it to be tender and easily shreddable.
Crockpot filled with Boston Butt, spices, onions, BBQ sauce, ketchup and water, ready to be slow cooked for Pioneer Woman shredded pork. -
Shred the Pork: Once cooked, remove the Boston Butt from the crockpot and place it in a large serving bowl. Shred the pork using two forks. The pork will be incredibly tender and should fall apart easily.
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Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Pioneer Woman shredded pork on your favorite hamburger or potato buns. Potato buns are particularly delicious and complement the savory pork beautifully!
Close up of Pioneer Woman crockpot shredded pork served on potato buns, ready to eat.
A Husband-Approved Recipe
The ultimate test of a recipe’s success in my house is my husband’s appetite. He devoured 4.5 of these shredded pork sandwiches! Need I say more? This Pioneer Woman shredded pork recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
A close-up shot of delicious Pioneer Woman shredded pork piled high, showcasing its tender and juicy texture.
Don’t forget to save this recipe for later! Happy Crockpot cooking!
