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!
I don’t know how to do this but I would live to win a Ninja cooker CUZ money is tight so I couldn’t buy one!
Sadly that giveaway is closed 🙁
Hi l am in australia and l dont think we sell root beer so what can l use instead of that. I so want to try this recipe
So often i would like to try the pork recipes (root beer crock pot pork) but I need to substitute a different meat since I am kosher. What kosher near (veal, beef, chicken turkey, lamb) would would best be used I place of pork?
Sure sounds worth a try,just need to find some root beer.
this sounds really good, thanks for posting up this recipe.
Simon
I know a year later but hope you will get this. Sweet babies is our favorite bbq sauce also but love a bite, so we add a little garlic chile paste, sold in the asian food section of the grocery section. Try it you will loe it.
Love the addition of garlic chile paste! I’ll have to give that a try 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I have made this many times. There is no need to use a more expensive pork tenderloin, use a pork shoulder or similar, get some flavor from the fat (which you can skim off) and save $. I usually rub the pork with some garlic salt, freshly ground pepper, and then I sprinkle dry mince dip onion on top before I pout in the root beer. It adds great flavor. I used this recipe to feed 30 people for a party recently and it was great.
Was so excited to see this recipe & a giveaway! Being disabled and living alone, I’m unable to enjoy the cooking I thrived on at one time. This Ninja Slowcooker would be AMAZING! I a prob Orr issue not sure what to do..I’ve tried to Don in with email & I’ve tried to sign in with face book..neither have been successful..? Is the contest over or maybe over loaded? What to do? I’m praying they went thru and didn’t register on my end..good luck to all!
Yummy. I did mine in the pressure cooker for 45 minutes. Way better than waiting 8 hours. Came out nice and tender and shredded easily. I made the unfortunate mistake of trying a new BBQ sauce and it was not good (but that has nothing to do with your recipe). Otherwise I am happy. Nice low cal dinner and delicious.
adding this to my new meal plan and I can’t wait to try it!
I love pulled pork! Nice & easy recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
Just out of curiosity, does this root beer pulled pork recipe work best when the meat goes in frozen or unfrozen? Planning on making it tomorrow.
Trying this recipe tonight in my ninja :))
We love root beer pulled pork!
I would try the Root Beer Pulled Pork, I love pulled pork.
That is the coolest looking slow cooker! But the pulled pork? Looks and sounds delicious. Must. Make. This!
Oh my gosh…bakes, roasts and slow cooks? Who needs an oven! This is needed in my kitchen. Love it…I would make the Root Beer Pulled Pork first thing for sure. It sounds wonderful!!
This recipe looks really good. I will have to try it out.
my first thing to t ry in this awesome crock pot would be either pork b.b.q or beef pot roast.our favs.my crock pot is not 18 yeas old but quite old with one handle missing.plastic handles on a crock pot dont last long.this is one nice cooker fo rsure.i love it
I’m fascinated by the baking feature, but the very first thing would absolutely be pulled pork. My kids all LOVE pulled pork and i never have to worry about whether or not they’ll eat dinner or whether I’ll have time to make a decent dinner when i do crock pot pulled pork sandwiches. I can’t wait to try your version… hopefully in a new Ninja crock pot! 😉