Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Pork Roast is one of my favorite pork recipes. It’s easy to make but loaded with tons of flavor. I like to make this meal often because it’s a hit with everyone, including the picky eaters in our family. If you're looking for a quick, one-pot dinner, this roast is perfect for you! It also makes delicious honey BBQ pulled pork sandwiches!
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The roast is fall-apart tender and has plenty of moisture. It’s covered in smoky BBQ sauce, sweet honey, and tangy apple cider vinegar to create a balanced and succulent bite.
If you like crockpot pork roast recipes, you will love my 3 Ingredient Pork Roast and this sweet Balsamic Pork Roast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s prepared in one pot. This honey BBQ pork recipe is made entirely in the slow cooker making it easy to prep and minimizing cleanup later.
- It pairs well with a variety of sides. There are plenty of ways to serve this pork, along with several side dishes that pair perfectly. This means you can enjoy a slightly different meal each time you make it.
- It’s easy to customize. This is a basic recipe that’s easy to customize, so get creative and make it your own!
Ingredients
Below are all of the components to make honey BBQ pulled pork in the slow cooker as well as tasty sandwiches. It’s a super easy recipe utilizing common ingredients to make an amazing dish.
- Pork roast: Either pork shoulder or pork butt would work great for this recipe. Use whatever you prefer (or whatever is on sale). I use boneless for this slow cooker honey pork roast.
- Seasonings: I use salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, which add plenty of flavor without competing with the other ingredients.
- BBQ sauce: I like a regular BBQ sauce since you will be adding honey and cider vinegar. An already sweet sauce will make the result unbalanced and way too sweet.
- Honey: This adds sweetness and complexity to the pork. I just use regular wildflower honey, but you can try another variety like orange blossom if you want.
- Apple cider vinegar: For acidity, brightness, and tanginess, apple cider vinegar is a perfect addition. It even helps tenderize the pork, too.
- Broth: You can use chicken broth or water to add moisture to the pork roast.
- Buns: If you decide to serve this pulled pork recipe as a sandwich, use a sturdy bun like brioche.
- Toppings: Enjoy your favorite toppings on your pulled pork sandwich, such as coleslaw, pickles, or onions.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spicy BBQ pork: Make the honey BBQ pulled pork spicy by adding your favorite hot sauce and a little cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend.
- Smoky pulled pork: Add a dash of liquid smoke to increase the smoky flavor.
- Fruity BBQ pork: Create a fruity version by adding peach jam or orange marmalade to the BBQ sauce mixture.
- Hot honey pulled pork: Make this recipe using honey hot sauce for a sweet and spicy flavor.
How to Make Honey BBQ Pulled Pork Roast in the Slow Cooker
Here are the steps needed to prepare and serve this sweet and tangy pork roast. Before you get started, spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray to ensure that the pork doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Step 1: Season the pork. Grab all the seasonings and sprinkle them evenly on every side of the pork roast.
Step 2: Make the sauce mixture. Combine the BBQ sauce, honey, vinegar, and broth in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients until they are well mixed and perfectly smooth.
Step 3: Add to the crockpot and cook. Place the seasoned pork into the slow cooker and pour the sauce mixture on top. Pop the lid on and cook it on low for 8 hours or until it’s super tender.
Step 4: Shred it and serve. Take it out and shred it with two forks. Remove any excess fat from the sauce in the pot. Place the shredded pork back into the slow cooker and mix it. Enjoy on a sandwich or with your favorite yummy side!
Recipe Tips
- Add more BBQ sauce for serving. When you take the pulled pork out of the crockpot, feel free to toss it in extra BBQ sauce for even more flavor and richness.
- Let it cook with minimal intervention. The hardest thing about using a slow cooker is keeping the lid closed while it cooks. Opening it too often can release the steam and disrupt it. Trust the process!
- Allow the pork to sit in the spice mixture before cooking it. To infuse even more flavor into the roast, cover it in the seasoning mixture and let it sit for about 30 minutes before placing it into the slow cooker.
If you love recipes like this with honey BBQ sauce, you may also enjoy these Buffalo Wild Wings copycat Honey BBQ Wings.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Or, place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: This dish is best reheated in a saucepan over low heat but you can use the microwave instead if you’d like. It should only take 1-2 minutes to heat a portion.
- Make Ahead: Season your pork roast with the seasonings and keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before you cook it. I like to do this to save time on a busy weekday.
Serving Suggestions
- I love a good potato side dish—even with pulled pork! Try air fryer baby potatoes or cheesy scalloped potatoes.
- Top your portion of jalapeno macaroni and cheese with honey BBQ pork to make a delicious bite of pulled pork mac and cheese.
- Corn is great with this pork roast, too. Air fryer corn on the cob and cheesy corn casserole are awesome choices.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but keep in mind that it likely won’t turn out as tender and flavorful as a pork roast. It’s a much leaner cut, and having a lower fat content means it will cook faster and have less flavor.
If you notice large patches of fat on the outside of your roast, feel free to trim it. Don’t remove it all; the fat adds richness and depth of flavor!
Of course. Feel free to stick the pork in a hot skillet to get a crust on the outside before you slow-cook it.
More Delicious BBQ Recipes
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Pork Roast (+Sandwiches)
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork roast shoulder or butt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups BBQ sauce your favorite variety
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup chicken broth or water
For Sandwiches
- 6 sandwich buns
- coleslaw optional, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by coating it lightly with cooking spray.
- Season the pork roast all over with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Place the seasoned pork roast directly into the slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth until smooth.
- Pour the honey BBQ mixture evenly over the pork roast in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the pork is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
- Carefully remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board. Shred the pork with two forks, discarding any excess fat.
- Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid in the slow cooker, then return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and mix to coat with the sauce.
- Serve the honey BBQ pork roast over rice, mashed potatoes, or alongside your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Store leftover BBQ pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Ensure that you leave the lid on the slow cooker during the entire cooking process so no steam escapes and disrupts it.
- Trim the pork roast if it has large patches of fat on the outside. If it doesn’t, you can leave it as is.
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