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 would definitely try out the baking feature first!
I would make a pot roast first
This recipe sounds delicious! I would love to give it a try in the Ninja cooking system!!
Would definitely make pulled pork in the Ninja first. I love pulled pork sandwiches, the spicier the sauce, the better!
Pulled pork, my family loves it.
i would make bbq pork first
I’ve entered! I’d use this ninja for anything and everything. I love not turning on the oven! And this pulled pork recipe is being put into my current crockpot as we speak!
babyback ribs
This looks so good!
I would try this pulled pork recipe. I’ve never heard of doing it with root beer.
Just found your website through your slow cooker sausages and peppers! I love using my slow cooker year round -especially when it’s going to feel like 104 today in my neck of the woods!!
Hi Erin,
So glad you found me!! If you click on my recipe tab up top you will see a category for main dishes and one for soups/stews…lots of slow cooker recipes in those categories! Enjoy!
I would slow cook a roast with potatoes and carrots. Yum!
I would make this pulled pork recipe, yum.
That slowvcooker looks amazing!
Yum!! This looks so good!! Let’s get together, and you make this, and I’ll bring dessert!! 😉
Love this combo!! I need to try soda in pulled pork. YUM!
The first thing I would cook in the Ninja Slow Cooker, would be barbeque chicken wings;to the point when they just melt off the bones. I’m getting hungry just thinking about them. YUMMY!!
crockpot enchiladas…yum-o!
I would first try pot roast or bbq pork!
Wow, what a great slow cooker, I would love to have one. we use our cooker all the time.