Betty's Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Barbecue Sandwich (Culinary Institute of America)

barbecue sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade barbecue sauce

💰Cheaper: ketchup + vinegar + spices

Homemade sauce can be lower in sugar and preservatives.

pork shoulder

🥗Healthier: pork loin

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Pork loin is leaner, while chicken thighs are often less expensive.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index.

buns

🥗Healthier: whole grain buns

💰Cheaper: white bread

Whole grain buns add fiber.

Remove the excess fat from the exterior of the pork, leaving some on.

If the pork is one large piece, cut it into two or three pieces.

Place the onions, tomatoes, garlic, paprika, chili powder, chipotle, cumin, vinegar, brown sugar, and salt into the slow cooker and toss to combine.

Add the pork and mix it with the other ingredients.

Cover and set the slow cooker for 8 hours on low.

After 4 hours, turn the meat over once, replace the lid and continue to cook.

When cooking is complete, remove the meat and set aside.

Skim any fat from the cooking liquid or allow it to cool and remove the fat.

Purée the remaining liquid to a sauce-like consistency.

When the meat is cool enough to handle, use two forks to pull the pork into shreds and season with black pepper.

Heat the puréed liquid and add it to the meat as desired.

To make the sandwich, place a portion of the pulled pork onto the bottom half of the toasted bun, and top with barbecue sauce and coleslaw.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens