A slow cooker and a handful of ingredients are all you need to make Root Beer Pulled Pork. This tender fall-apart pork is begging to be piled onto buns and served with coleslaw! You’ll love this flavorful BBQ inspired meal.
Pulled pork is a favorite at our house. And using root beer in the slow cooker with the meat creates a tender, juicy result. You could also swap it out for Coca cola too!
This recipe was originally published in July 2013. The recipe notes were updated and the photos improved in February 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste & Texture: Tender, juicy pulled pork with a sweetness from root beer and a tangy kick from the BBQ sauce.
Ease of Making: You only need FIVE ingredients (and that includes salt & pepper).
Cooking Method: Set it and forget it! After adding everything to the slow cooker, walk away while it cooks to perfection.
Top Tip: After shredding the pork, return it to the slow cooker to soak up all the flavorful juices. For a twist, try using Coca-Cola instead of root beer.
Only 5 Ingredients
- Root Beer. Any brand of root beer works here. I use regular root beer for the sweetness, but diet root beer may be used as well. The acid in the root beer helps break down the proteins in the meat resulting in an extra juicy, tender pulled pork!
- BBQ sauce. I typically use bottled sauce when making pulled pork. If you have a favorite homemade version, that would be delicious here too.
- Salt & Pepper. A little coarse kosher salt and some pepper add the perfect flavor!
Pork Shoulder. For this recipe, you’ll need boneless or bone-in pork shoulder. Shoulder is available in both bone-in and boneless cuts, either work for this slow cooker recipe.
Pork Butt vs. Pork Shoulder: Pork Butt (ironically it’s still from the shoulder) is also commonly used in pulled pork. However, it is a tougher cut of meat and needs a longer cooking time. Since we’ll be cooking this in the slow cooker you could opt for a pork butt.
Tips & Tricks
- Whisk together the marinade first. Add all the sauce ingredients and the root beer to the bottom of your slow cooker. Whisk them together before adding the pork so the meat gets evenly marinated.
- Shred with forks. After the pork is done cooking, remove it from the pot and shred it in a separate bowl. Then, add it back to the slow cooker to recombine with the marinade.
- Substitute. Use Coca-Cola instead of root beer for a similar flavor and texture!
In a hurry? Check out this Instant Pot Pulled Pork for a quicker pork recipe! Or try my Hawaiian inspired pulled pork which is delicious too!
Serving Suggestions
- Sandwiches. Layer pulled pork on toasted hamburger buns, Kaiser Rolls, sliced artisan bread, or sweet Hawaiian rolls. Top with onions, lettuce and all your favorite sandwich fixings.
- Sliders. These easy pulled pork sliders are delicious for game day snacking!
- Mashed potatoes. This pulled pork is delicious ladled over mashed potatoes with a bit of extra BBQ sauce.
- Coleslaw. We always serve our pork with homemade coleslaw. Whether you like our traditional version or our KFC coleslaw, slop some on top of your sandwich!
- Pizza. Add this pork to a cheesy crust for a “Nashville style” pizza! Or use it on my Hawaiian Pizza instead of our Kalua Pork!
- Salads. Leftover pulled pork makes a simple lunchtime green salad more exciting. Toss with ranch dressing and other fresh veggies.
More Pork Recipes
If you love shredded pork, be sure to try my tender pork ragu served over noodles next!
My Baked Pork Chops recipe features thick cut breaded pork chops that are juicy and tender.
These Instant Pot Pork Chops are made in minutes and have a delicious mushroom gravy too.
My grandma always made these Breaded Pork Chops with Peaches for Sunday supper!
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Root Beer Pulled Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork shoulder
- 12 ounce Root Beer
- 1 cup BBQ sauce any variety
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, whisk together the root beer, BBQ sauce, salt and pepper. Add pork shoulder. Heat on low for about 8 hours.
- Shred pork with two forks and return to sauce.
- Serve on a bun with additional BBQ sauce, if desired.
Notes
- Whisk together the marinade first. Add all the sauce ingredients and the root beer to the bottom of your slow cooker. Whisk them together before adding the pork so the meat gets evenly marinated.
- Shred with forks. After the pork is done cooking, remove it from the pot and shred it in a separate bowl. Then, add it back to the slow cooker to recombine with the marinade.
- Substitute. Use Coca-Cola instead of root beer for a similar flavor and texture!
- Storage. Keep leftover pork in a covered container int he refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and enjoy.
- Freeze. Use a vacuum sealer or airtight container to store leftover pulled pork in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
More Slow Cooker Recipes
A perfect easy weeknight meal! Prep this Slow cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork in the morning and it’s ready to serve by dinner time!
We made this yesterday and it was easy and delicious. There’s just the two of us and we used an 8 pound pork shoulder (on sale at 99 cents/pound) and cooked it overnight plus a couple of hours. It was the easiest shredding my husband had ever done and will be his favorite recipe from now on. Not too sweet, so tender and juicy and can be used for leftovers, or tacos, or whatever we can figure out. Also a great recipe for those who do tailgate parties or huge family events. Thanks, Aimee
Can you use a regular.crockpot or does it have to be a Ninja?:) Debby
Regular crockpot works just fine 🙂
Is it better to add sauce during cooking or add the end for the bbq?
For this recipe, I like cooking the pork in the sauce, because that sweet root beer adds flavor!
This is one of the best and easiest pork recipes! It’s a must!
Thank you!
I love BBQ and would love to try the root beer BBQ recipe. That Ninja slow cooker sounds like it’s just the slow cooker I need. I wash my slow cookers by hand but after awhile the crock pot always ends up with a moly looking residue after it dries. I don’t understand why ! This cooker with its easy cleanup might be just the trick. Maybe it won’t collect a residue like the others. I don’t know how many I’ve had to throw away. Where do they sell the slow cookers by Ninja. I’d love one. You can bake and make cupcakes too ! Wow !!
LOVE my Ninja. You can get here in Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eBbTgy
I also use basically the same recipe but, I also add a package of onion soup mix
can u use diet root beer
Sure can!
Is that pork tenderloin. Picture on Facebook, it looks like shoulder or butt. Can’ wait to try it either way. Slow cook also corned be and cabbage, chili, pot roast and vegetables, all yummy.
It is a tenderloin, but shoulder or butt would definitely work (possibly even better as they get even more tender!!)