The Caramel Pulled Pork is a masterful blend of sweet and savory, slow-cooked to perfection until it practically melts in your mouth. The rich, sticky sauce infused with brown sugar, warm spices, and umami ingredients clings to every bite of the tender shredded pork, creating a flavor profile that’s both comforting and bold.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Whether served on a bun, over fluffy rice, or tucked into warm tortillas, this dish is versatile and crowd-pleasing. It’s the ultimate slow cooker recipe that delivers big taste with minimal effort, making it perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or any occasion where you want to impress with deep, irresistible flavor.
Full recipe:
Ingredients:
Pork & Marinade:
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4–5 lbs pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 tablespoon smoked paprika
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2 teaspoons salt
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1 teaspoon black pepper
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 teaspoon chili powder
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1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Sauce:
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1 cup brown sugar
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1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
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1/2 cup ketchup
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1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
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2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
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1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
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1 tablespoon minced garlic
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1 teaspoon ground ginger
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1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
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1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
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1/4 teaspoon allspice
To Finish:
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2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
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Optional: sesame seeds, green onions for garnish
Directions:
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Mix all dry seasonings together and rub all over pork.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear pork on all sides until browned.
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Transfer pork to a slow cooker. Whisk all sauce ingredients together and pour over the pork.
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Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours, until pork is fall-apart tender.
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Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks.
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Pour remaining juices into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, add the cornstarch slurry, and cook until thickened (about 3-5 minutes).
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Toss shredded pork with desired amount of sauce.
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Serve on buns, rice, or tacos. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 8 hours | Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Kcal: 440 kcal | Servings: 8 servings
Why Use Pork Shoulder (Pork Butt)?
Pork shoulder, also known as pork butt or Boston butt, is ideal for pulled pork due to its marbled fat content and tough muscle fibers. These properties make it the perfect candidate for long, slow cooking processes. As the meat simmers, the fat slowly renders, keeping the pork moist and flavorful, while the connective tissue breaks down into gelatin, which helps bind the meat together with a silky texture.
When prepared correctly, pork shoulder transforms into shreds of juicy, tender meat that soak up every drop of the caramelized sauce. It’s affordable, widely available, and hard to mess up, making it a favorite cut for home cooks and professionals alike.
The Flavor Profile: Sweet Meets Savory
What sets Caramel Pulled Pork apart from the usual pulled pork recipes is its well-balanced sauce. At its core, this sauce features brown sugar—a natural caramelizer—which, when cooked down with soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, and warm spices, develops into a complex, glossy coating. The sweetness isn’t overpowering, thanks to the acidity of the vinegar and the saltiness from soy sauce. Additional elements like garlic, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon provide warmth and depth, giving the dish an almost holiday-like richness without being seasonal.
This balance is essential for those who enjoy a dish that doesn’t lean too far into either the sweet or savory realm. Instead, it dances between the two, delivering a symphony of flavors in every bite.
Slow Cooking for Maximum Flavor
The beauty of this dish lies in the slow cooking method. Whether you’re using a traditional slow cooker or a multi-function appliance like an Instant Pot in slow cook mode, the goal is low and slow. Over the course of 8 to 10 hours, the pork soaks up all the flavors of the sauce while becoming incredibly tender.
One of the great advantages of this cooking technique is that it requires minimal hands-on time. After an initial sear to lock in flavor and develop a golden crust, the pork is left to gently bubble in the sauce while you go about your day. The result is rich, flavorful meat that practically shreds itself.
The Sauce: Your New Best Friend
Once the pork is cooked and shredded, the remaining liquid in the slow cooker becomes liquid gold. It’s then thickened with a simple cornstarch slurry to form a luscious, sticky sauce that clings to every shred of pork. This final touch is what elevates the dish from simply good to absolutely crave-worthy. It’s glossy, decadent, and complex in flavor—a finishing element that brings the entire dish together.
This sauce also stores incredibly well, making it easy to drizzle over leftovers or other proteins like chicken or tofu if you’re looking to diversify your meals throughout the week.
Serving Suggestions for Every Occasion
Caramel Pulled Pork is a highly versatile dish. Its sweet-savory profile pairs beautifully with a variety of sides and bases. For a casual meal, it shines when piled high on toasted brioche buns or slider rolls, topped with crunchy slaw for contrast. It’s also excellent served over rice, mashed potatoes, or creamy polenta for a comforting and hearty dinner.
Want something a little more adventurous? Use it in tacos with pickled red onions and a splash of lime, or make pulled pork bao buns with a touch of sriracha mayo for a fusion twist. It even works well in grain bowls with roasted vegetables, avocado, and a drizzle of the caramel sauce as dressing.
Whether you’re planning a holiday dinner, game day feast, or weeknight family meal, this dish adapts effortlessly to any menu or mood.
Meal Prep & Storage Tips
One of the biggest perks of Caramel Pulled Pork is how well it stores. The flavor only deepens over time, making it perfect for meal prep. After cooking and shredding, the pork can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container and include a bit of the sauce to keep it moist.
When reheating, a splash of water or broth helps rehydrate the pork, and a quick toss in a hot skillet or microwave brings it right back to life. It’s also freezer-friendly and reheats beautifully, making it a fantastic option for batch cooking.
Health & Nutrition Considerations
While Caramel Pulled Pork is certainly a comfort food, it can be part of a balanced meal with the right pairings. The pork itself is high in protein and iron, and when trimmed of excess fat, it’s not as heavy as some may think. By pairing it with lighter sides like fresh vegetables, slaws, or whole grains, you can create a nutrient-dense, satisfying meal.
For those watching their sugar intake, the brown sugar can be reduced or replaced with a sugar substitute without compromising too much on flavor. And if you’re gluten-free, simply swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
A Dish That Brings People Together
There’s something deeply communal about a pot of pulled pork. Whether you’re serving it at a backyard barbecue, packing it into lunchboxes, or laying it out as part of a buffet spread, it invites people to dig in, build their plates, and savor the moment. It’s approachable, comforting, and endlessly customizable.
More than just a recipe, Caramel Pulled Pork is a meal that evokes warmth, generosity, and joy. It’s the kind of dish people remember and ask for again—and one you’ll find yourself making on repeat.
Conclusion
Caramel Pulled Pork is more than a twist on a classic—it’s a showcase of how simple ingredients, when treated with care and patience, can deliver unforgettable flavor. With its irresistible caramelized sauce, fall-apart tender pork, and rich aroma, it stands tall as a favorite in any recipe rotation. Whether you’re cooking for one, feeding a family, or hosting a gathering, this dish never fails to impress.
It’s a true culinary comfort—a fusion of flavors that tells a story of slow cooking, thoughtful preparation, and the magic that happens when sweet meets savory. Add it to your recipe box, because once you try it, it’s here to stay.