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 try this pulled pork recipe!
I would cook a veggie stew.
I’d use this to try a roast chicken and squash recipe I usually do in the oven. This looks awesome!
I would make a chicken dish of some type.
I make polled pork all the time… I will defiantly break in the Ninja with one of those recipes.
First I would make a very large batch of Amish Porkchops and second would be to bake a caramel apple crisp!! Yummy….
I use a slow cooker all the time in fall and winter.I thin this new rootbeer pork recipe would be great to try.
I would make this! I need slow cook recipes for my long days at work. It is nice to come home to a completed dinner! The Ninja looks amazing, too!
Pulled pork!
Would do a pork loin in root beer and shred it.
Is it wrong to want this for breakfast??? Thank you for the awesome giveaway! 😉
I would make a pot roast.
First I would cook that roast that’s in the freezer and then a whole chicken and then spaghetti- oh that would be so nice.
tcogbill at live dot com
Roast, Slow Cook, and BAKE hello I think I need this! My current slow cooker is about 15 years old (maybe more) and too small. Every time I make broth I have to borrow my mothers (which is a couple times a month). I’d love to win this. Not just for me but for my mother as well 😉
I would make cajun chicken and dumplings, yummy!
I’d love to try the Fast One-Pot Meals–the spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna. Thank you! Looks like a great cooking system.
I just found this recipe on Pinterest, but my crock pot isnt working. With summer temperatures and back-to-school time approaching, winning this contest would be a blessing!
Looks fantastic! I make a similar BBQ in my slow cooker, except I use Dr Pepper, because Dr. Pepper is healthy. I know this because it has the word “doctor” right in its name.
My husband and I are working towards healthy living and he LOVES some roast turkey…I would make a roast Turkey breast to break in the new NINJA!
I’d cook a roast