Pulled pork is is slow-cooked over low heat for a long period of time. Pulled pork is a versatile, healthy meal as it can be served as sandwiches, side item, or mixed with rice. Pull pork not only provides a delicious tender and juicy meat but also provides many health benefits.
There are many parts of pork that can be used for pulled pork, such as tenderloin pork, lean pork, shoulder pork. I recommend using a whole pork shoulder or a 'Boston butt' which is half of the shoulder and the other half being the picnic shoulder.
Keto diets can use low carb Keto-friendly buns or hoagie rolls. Gluten-free diets can use a GF-friendly bread option as well.
3 lb. whole pork shoulder roast
Dry rub or a Brown Sugar & Bourbon dry marinade packet
1 can root beer (Keto diets use diet sugar free option)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup yellow onion, sliced
18 oz bottle BBQ sauce (Sweet and/or Smoky-based. Keto diets use a sugar free low carb option)
Hamburger buns or hoagie rolls (Gluten-free and Keto use friendly options for sandwich bread)
Crock Pot slow cooker, slow cooker cooking bag, skillet, tongs, fork
Prep: 20 min Cook: 7 hours in slow cooker Ready: 7 hours, 20 min Serves: 6-8 servings
Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.
To make Slow-Cooked Root Beer Pulled Pork: 1. Sit the pork roast in room temperature for 30 minutes. Rinse the pork roast off with water and pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Apply dry rub or marinade mix to completely cover the whole pork roast. 3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Get the pan nice and hot and then add the roast.
4. Sear the pork roast on all sides so it has nice dark brown crust and will help seal in natural juices when slow cooking. Remove from skillet.
5. Add crock pot bag to slow-cooker to aid in easy clean-up.
6. Add roast, sliced onion, cinnamon, and can of root beer to the crock pot. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 5 hours.
7. Using tongs, shred the pork into pieces within the crock pot, cook for another hour. You may need a fork to help separate and shred tougher parts of the meat. 8. Using a ladle, remove as much residual fat and root beer mixture you can without draining.
9. Add the BBQ sauce and stir well to combine with shredded park. Cook the shredded pork for an additional hour on low.
10. Serve shredded pork as desired: As a sandwich on hamburger buns, rolls or hoagies. See variations below for how you can serve pulled pork in many different ways.
1 serving: 170 calories, 5 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 35 mg cholesterol, 670 mg sodium, 15 g protein. Sugar and carbohydrate content is dependent on the amount of grams of sugar in your BBQ sauce and root beer.
Pulled pork usually made with the pork shoulder (or sometimes pork butt) which contains high protein. The high protein in pulled pork becomes the main benefit to lose weight and maintain weight. In addition, the magnesium content of pulled pork is very good for the growth of teeth and bones.
Pulled pork is rich in high-quality protein. Maintaining muscle mass is important when you want to lose some weight. Maintained muscle mass can help to burn more fat in your body, so your body contains less fat which makes you healthier. Protein content also supports many chemical activities inside the body, including increasing your metabolism and thermogenesis. Your metabolism helps to burn fat, especially when you sleep. Pork also is a source of vitamin B-6 properties which helps your metabolism reduce the fats and maintains normal function of the nervous system.
Pork contains zinc properties that are immunity boosters. Having a good immune system will be help your body resist various kinds of diseases. Pork contains amino acids that are beneficial for body health, promote body building, as well as producing red blood cells.
A refreshing rosé wine. Rosé is a versatile wine and can handle just about anything you throw at it—from the salty to the sweet flavors of a barbecue sauce to the onion, pepper, and clove spice added into the mix. Specifically, you might want to consider a Montes Cherub Rosé, a varietal of Syrah and Grenache grapes; the wine has an intense and fruity nose with aromas of fresh red fruits.
Side Dish pairing: Beer-Soaked Rosemary Potato Wedges, Macaroni & Beer Cheese
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Vegan and vegetarian. Replace pork using both jackfruit and shredded carrots. Reduce cooking time to three hours. Kick the GLUTS and use gluten-free hamburger buns and BBQ sauce.
Pulled Pork & Rice. Prepare recipe as indicated above. Don't use buns to make sandwiches. Prepare your favorite rice. Top rice with pulled pork and chopped scallions.
Texan Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork. Rub pork with mesquite dry marinade mix. Add 1 TBSN Worcestershire sauce, 1 TBSN chili powder, 2 TBSN minced garlic, 2 teaspoons dried thyme at the same time that you add the root beer. Use a Smokey-based BBQ sauce such as A-1. Top with carmelized onions and Bread and Butter Pickles.
Macaroni & Beer Cheese Pulled Pork. Top basic pork recipe with prepared Macaroni & Beer Cheese (click for recipe), drizzle top with more BBQ sauce.
Mushroom & Swiss Pulled Pork. Rub pork with sweet and smoky dry marinade mix. Use a bold BBQ sauce like A-1. Top sandwiches with 2 slices of Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms.
Slow-Cooked Pulled Veggie Celebration. Replace pork with jackfruit and shredded carrots. Add TBSN of rosemary, TBSN of thyme. Use Vegan-friendly BBQ sauce. Slow cook on low for 2-3 hours. Top with Cole Slaw.
Bourbon & Brown Sugar Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork. Rub pork with brown sugar dry marinade mix. Add 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 fluid ounces bourbon whiskey at the same time that you add the root beer. Top with sliced sweet dill pickles. Drizzle with Jack Daniel’s BBQ sauce.
Spicy Mexican Slow-Cooked. Rub pork with chipotle dry marinade mix. Add 2 TBSN red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper at the same time that you add the root beer. Use a spicy or chipotle-based BBQ sauce. Top with roasted red peppers.
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