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    Slow Cooker Maple Pulled Pork

    September 21, 2015 by Denise Bustard 53 Comments

    Home / Recipes / Slow Cooker / Slow Cooker Maple Pulled Pork

    Jump to Recipe

    Slow cooker maple pulled pork has deliciously subtle maple flavors, a touch of spice from chili powder, and tangy apple cider vinegar. With only 6 ingredients, you can get it on to cook in 10 minutes or less. I'm sharing three recipes that you can use your pork in, making this perfect for meal prep!

    One of the most efficient ways to meal prep is to bulk cook a batch of protein, then use it up in multiple meals through the week. I'm showing you how to cook this slow cooker maple pulled pork, and you can use your leftovers in maple pork tacos with brussels sprouts slaw, maple pork and butternut squash burritos and fall burrito bowls with sweet potatoes!

    bowl of slow cooker maple pulled pork with two forks

    Maple pulled pork is slightly different than traditional pulled pork; with subtle maple flavors, a touch of chili powder, and tangy apple cider vinegar. It isn't overly 'saucy' (if you want a saucy pulled pork check out my Crock Pot Pulled Pork), but it is simple and delicious.

    6 simple ingredients makes this easy to get into the slow cooker, and it makes a big batch, meaning you can have a head start on multiple dinners!

    Reasons you'll ♡ slow cooker maple pulled pork

    • it's simple to prepare and you can get it cooking quickly
    • it makes a big batch and works as the base for multiple dinners
    • it's fridge and freezer friendly

    bowl of slow cooker maple pulled pork with steam rising off

    The best cut of pork

    The slow cooker presents the perfect opportunity to cook cheap, tough cuts of meat. A long simmering time is required to break down tough collagen fibres in these cuts of meat, and you are rewarded with juicy and tender pork.

    Pork shoulder is a great choice as it has plenty of connective tissues and fats. You can use boneless or bone-in pork shoulder, though I prefer boneless as it makes the shredding step even easier.

    Pork shoulder comes in two cuts: boston butt and pork picnic. Typically the pork butt is recommended as it is more even in size, however I have successfully used a pork picnic to make pulled pork, and we all enjoyed it!

    Ingredients required

    Maple pulled pork is simplicity at it's best. Here's what you'll need:

    • maple syrup- sweetens the pork slightly and adds cooking liquid to help cook the pork through
    • apple cider vinegar- adds a tangy flavor contrast to the sweet maple syrup, while providing additional cooking liquid
    • onion- adds extra dimension to the pulled pork, but can be omitted
    • chili powder- not to be confused with pure powdered chilis, this is a chili spice blend. It adds a mild spice and extra flavor to the recipe
    • salt- enhances flavors of all ingredients and seasons the pork through while it cooks

    two forks shredding the pulled pork

    Recipe tips

    • the easiest way to shred the cooked pork: transfer cooked pork to a clean bowl, and use an electric hand mixer to shred it in seconds
    • do not discard the cooking liquid; toss the pork in it after shredding to keep it juicy and flavorful
    • crisp it up: spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and cover with 1 cup of cooking liquid. Broil for 5-10 minutes, until crispy
    • I use this 6 quart slow cooker and highly recommend it
    • I have not tested this particular recipe in the Instant Pot but think it would work. I would try high pressure for 90 minutes followed by a 10 minute. natural pressure release. If you try, would you leave us a comment to let us know how it went for you?

    Prep ahead for easy dinners

    Slow cooker maple pulled pork is absolutely perfect for meal prep! Here are some tips to help:

    • reheat- store in the fridge for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating in a frying pan with some of the cooking liquid for 5-10 minutes until loosened up and warmed through
    • freezer- this recipe freezes great after cooking. Portion out in a meal prep container, reusable silicone bag, or heavy-duty freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
    • crockpot freezer- this recipe can work as a freezer crockpot meal: combine all ingredients in a meal prep container, reusable silicone bag, or heavy-duty freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to cook, thaw completely before dumping into the slow cooker and cooking on low for 8 hours.

    pouring cooking liquid over the slow cooker pulled pork

    How to use pulled pork

    One batch of pulled pork can make between 4-8 cups, depending on the size of your pork shoulder. This means it's a great protein to bulk cook and use in multiple meals through the week.

    Here are some recipes you can use pulled pork in:

    • on a bun with a quick cabbage slaw
    • in a Pulled Pork Meal Prep Bowl
    • in Pulled Pork Enchiladas
    • in Tacos with Kale & Brussels Sprouts Slaw
    • in Pulled Pork Burrito Bowls
    • in Pulled Pork Stuffed Zucchini Boats
    • in a Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Skillet

    side angle view of bowl of maple pulled pork

    More slow cooker recipes:

    • 7 Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Stew
    • Slow Cooker Honey Lime Shredded Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
    • Smoky Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
    slow cooker maple pulled pork in white bowl with sauce being poured over
    Print Recipe
    4.6 from 5 votes

    Slow Cooker Maple Pulled Pork

    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 276kcal
    Author: Denise Bustard
    Servings: 12
    Slow cooker maple pulled pork has deliciously subtle maple flavors, a touch of spice from chili powder, and tangy apple cider vinegar. With only 6 ingredients, you can get it on to cook in 10 minutes or less. I'm sharing three recipes that you can use your pork in, making this perfect for meal prep!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time8 hrs
    Total Time8 hrs 15 mins

    Ingredients

    • 2-3 lb Pork Shoulder (boneless pork butt is a great option)
    • ½ onion (sliced)
    • ⅓ cup maple syrup
    • ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder

    Instructions

    • Place onion slices on the bottom of slow cooker.
    • Place pork shoulder on top.
    • Whisk together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, salt and chili powder.
    • Pour over the pork.
    • Cook on low for 8 hours, or until pork is fall-apart tender.
    • Remove pork from slow cooker and place in a large bowl (reserve cooking liquid). Shred with two forks or an electric hand mixer. Toss with cooking liquid to taste (I used at least half of the cooking liquid).

    Notes

    storage
    store in the fridge for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating in a frying pan with some of the cooking liquid for 5-10 minutes until loosened up and warmed through
    freezer
    this recipe freezes great after cooking. Portion out in a meal prep container, reusable silicone bag, or heavy-duty freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
    crockpot freezer
    this recipe can work as a freezer crockpot meal:
    1. combine all ingredients in a meal prep container, reusable silicone bag, or heavy-duty freezer bag.
    2. Freeze for up to 3 months.
    3. When you are ready to cook, thaw completely before dumping into the slow cooker and cooking on low for 8 hours.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/2 cup | Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 77mg | Sugar: 7g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @SweetPeaSaffron or tag #sweetpeasandsaffron

    About Denise Bustard

    Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

    Previous Post: « Easy Balsamic Chicken Skillet with Tomatoes and Tarragon
    Next Post: Maple Pulled Pork Enchiladas with Butternut Squash »

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    Comments

    1. Sabrina S.

      August 04, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      This was AMAZING. I made this for my mom and dad and they both said it’s the best pork they ever had. It was the perfect amount of sweet to savory and the onions added to the amazing taste. I will definitely be making this again. It was also SO EASY. This is such a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Denise Bustard

        August 13, 2020 at 10:29 pm

        Wow! That's a huge compliment! Thanks so much for reporting back, Sabrina!

        Reply
    2. Marly

      September 23, 2018 at 1:42 pm

      Could you do this in the instant pot? What would be the cooking time?

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 25, 2018 at 8:14 pm

        Yes! I made this in the IP a few months ago and was meaning to update the info. It depends on the size of your pork shoulder; for smaller 2lb pork shoulders, 60 minutes was fine but for larger I had to go for 90 minutes. Here's a newer pulled pork recipe that I also make in the IP: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/instant-pot-pulled-pork-recipe/

        Reply
    3. Denise

      January 29, 2018 at 9:47 pm

      Hi Missy! I see a lot of pork tenderloin recipes cook on low for 8 hours so I think you could do the same with this recipe. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Kelly

      September 17, 2017 at 6:51 am

      Hello, just wondering if you use real maple syrup or if you could use other, like pancake syrup? Thanks

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 17, 2017 at 11:47 am

        Hi Kelly, I have only tried with maple syrup...I'm not sure pancake syrup would work the same.

        Reply
    5. Dee

      September 11, 2017 at 4:46 pm

      Hi Denise,
      Looking forward to making this! Here inAustralia, REAL maple syrup is hard to come by. Do you think I could sub honey? Perhaps using a bit less?
      Many thanks, Dee

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 12, 2017 at 10:43 pm

        Hi Dee! I haven't tried with honey...I would worry that it might burn as it is thicker than maple syrup. Here's a honey garlic beef recipe I made awhile back, I'm sure you could swap the beef for pork. It has more liquid so you don't have to worry about anything burning 🙂 https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/slow-cooker-honey-garlic-beef/

        Reply
        • Dee

          September 15, 2017 at 10:01 pm

          Many thanks Denise! I didn't appreciate the possibility of honey burning...thank you for the advice, much appreciated ?

          Reply
    6. Quay

      February 14, 2017 at 7:45 am

      If I wanted to use chicken would you recommend breast or thighs?

      Reply
      • Denise

        February 14, 2017 at 10:48 pm

        Hi Quay! You could use either...I haven't tried it with this recipe but I'm sure they'd be good. You'll want to reduce the cook time to 4 hours high or 6 hours low. Good luck!

        Reply
    7. Tara

      January 27, 2016 at 10:25 pm

      Can't wait to try this! Is that really all the liquid you add... vinegar and syrup? Seems so little for cooking all day.

      Reply
      • Denise

        January 28, 2016 at 10:18 am

        Hi Tara! I know, it does seem like a small amount of liquid, but it works! I cut the pork in half lengthwise so it is mostly (if not completely) immersed in the cooking liquid. I have a 5 qt crockpot in case that's not mentioned above.

        Reply
    8. Tez @ Chile and Salt

      January 19, 2016 at 10:16 am

      Oh Denise you`re brilliant!! I love your repurposing of leftovers. I have the same problem in our house to these recipes are perfect!!

      Reply
      • Denise

        January 19, 2016 at 9:26 pm

        Thank you SO much, Tez! Leftovers can just get so boring sometimes 😉

        Reply
    9. Robin

      October 22, 2015 at 10:48 am

      Hi! The maple pulled pork sounds great, but I didn't find the recipe for the pork. I only saw the paragraph mentioning which ingredients that you used. Can you share the amounts of each ingredient? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Denise

        October 22, 2015 at 11:00 am

        Hi Robin, the recipe is right under after the burrito bowls photo. Scroll past the writing and the three photos for the left-overs, and it should be there. I hope you like it!

        Reply
    10. Amanda

      October 11, 2015 at 6:50 am

      I love the simplicity of this! I have the same feelings about pulled pork. Sometimes it's way too saucy, taking away from the tender pork. I can't wait to try this!

      Reply
      • Denise

        October 13, 2015 at 11:07 am

        I hope you like it, Amanda! This is definitely less saucy than the traditional pulled pork recipes...and I liked it 😉

        Reply
    11. Bet @ Bet On Dinner

      October 04, 2015 at 7:01 pm

      I love this series! What a great idea. And I'm always looking for a good crockpot recipe, so I'm putting this on my list! Thanks! :o)

      Reply
      • Denise

        October 06, 2015 at 8:59 pm

        Thanks so much, Bet! I get so bored with crockpot recipes 😉

        Reply
    12. Danielle

      September 25, 2015 at 7:19 pm

      I love making pulled pork in the slow cooker, so this sounds fantastic! I'm loving the flavors and those enchiladas are just mouth watering!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 28, 2015 at 8:02 pm

        Thanks so much, Danielle! I am loving my slow cooker these days...so easy!

        Reply
    13. Bakeca Donne Milano

      September 25, 2015 at 12:41 am

      Thanks for sharing this delicious recipes !

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 28, 2015 at 8:05 pm

        No problem! 🙂

        Reply
    14. Zainab

      September 24, 2015 at 4:07 pm

      I love this!! I will have to use beef though coz we dont eat pork.

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 28, 2015 at 8:06 pm

        I haven't tried it with beef, but I think it would be good. Thanks, Zainab 🙂

        Reply
    15. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel

      September 22, 2015 at 10:06 pm

      I love these recipes! And the maple pork sounds amazing. Those enchiladas.... I'm pretty much dying here. Please come make me some!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 28, 2015 at 8:09 pm

        I will be there ASAP...ha ha! Thanks, Jess!

        Reply
    16. Denise

      September 22, 2015 at 11:44 am

      Thank-you so much, Arpita 🙂

      Reply
    17. Ashley | The Recipe Rebel

      September 22, 2015 at 6:58 am

      I am definitely trying this one day! I am actually always a pulled pork lover (and a sauce lover, so maybe that's why?) but maple?! Love!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:40 am

        I could never put my finger on what was putting me off pulled pork but it definitely had something to do with the sauce...I'm a strange, picky lady 😉 Hope you like them, Ashley!

        Reply
    18. Catherine

      September 22, 2015 at 4:39 am

      Dear Denise, this looks absolutely scrumptious. Next time I make pulled pork I have to try it in my slow cooker...I can't wait now! xo, Catherine

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:40 am

        Thanks so much, Catherine 🙂 Pulled pork in the slow cooker makes things SO easy!

        Reply
    19. Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C

      September 21, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      Recipes like this are gold. We love pulled pork, and I can't wait to try your version with the maple syrup! Yum! This is such a great series, Denise.

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:40 am

        Aw, thanks, Andrea! I hope you guys like it! 🙂 🙂

        Reply
    20. marcie

      September 21, 2015 at 5:08 pm

      I love pulled pork, but don't always want it slathered in BBQ sauce! I adore using maple syrup in cooking, so this sounds right up my alley. Can't wait to see the other delicious recipes!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:41 am

        Ah I'm glad I'm not alone! I like BBQ sauce in extreme moderation 🙂 Thanks, Marcie!

        Reply
    21. Jessica - The Novice Chef

      September 21, 2015 at 2:34 pm

      Only 6 ingredients and a couple of them are spices? I am SO in! This sounds amazing! Pinned it! 🙂

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:41 am

        Ha ha! Thanks so much, Jessica 🙂

        Reply
    22. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely

      September 21, 2015 at 11:01 am

      I love your 3-ways recipes! This maple pulled pork sounds delicious. And so do the recipes that use them!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:42 am

        Thanks so much, Natalie! 🙂

        Reply
    23. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

      September 21, 2015 at 10:54 am

      Love how deeeelicious and gorgeous this pulled pork looks. Addition of maple syrup looks so YUM! Absolutely AH-MAZING. 🙂

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:42 am

        Thanks so much, Anu!

        Reply
    24. Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat.

      September 21, 2015 at 10:34 am

      I seriously want to make this right this minute so we can have it for supper tonight. Unfortunately the only pork I have is frozen solid, so maybe later this week! 🙂 I'm with you on pulled pork usually being too saucy, I don't like that either. I definitely need to try this one!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:44 am

        Aw, thanks Stacey! I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't enjoy really saucy pulled pork! (LOL that sounds funny now that I read that last sentence out loud... 😀 )

        Reply
    25. Jen | Baked by an Introvert

      September 21, 2015 at 8:37 am

      Wow. This pork sounds incredible. I have a soft spot for pulled pork and a slow cooker version is right up my alley. Love this!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:44 am

        Pulled pork is such comfort food, isn't it? Thanks, Jen!

        Reply
    26. Olivia - Primavera Kitchen

      September 21, 2015 at 8:02 am

      Wow I love this recipe, my dear. It looks so flavourful with the maple. I have to try this recipe soon 😉

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:44 am

        Thanks so much, Olivia 🙂 Maple and pork go really well together!

        Reply
    27. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

      September 21, 2015 at 4:43 am

      Oh this pulled pork looks perfect, Denise! I'm kind of the opposite of you, I love pulled pork because of the amounts of sauce! But I'm especially loving that you flavored this with a maple sauce. Sounds perfect for the fall!

      Reply
      • Denise

        September 22, 2015 at 11:45 am

        Thanks so much, Gayle! I know I'm a bit strange, for some reason I can only handle a very small amount of BBQ sauce at a time!

        Reply

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    Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too!

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