Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin is a winner every time! The pork is so tender is just falls apart, and the garlic, onion, and spices pack a flavor punch that takes it up a notch. I promise you'll fall in love with the juicy pulled pork glazed in brown sugar and BBQ sauce. It's just that satisfying.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dinner
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high
- 🍴 Servings: 4-6 servings
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Tender, smoky-sweet pulled pork with paprika, garlic, and BBQ sauce.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Sandwich buns, coleslaw, or roasted potatoes.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, it can be made ahead and kept warm in the slow cooker or reheated before serving.
Summarize and Save This Content On
I love to make this pork tenderloin in the crock pot for pulled pork sandwiches. A lightly toasted bun is one of my favorite ways to serve it! It's one of the best recipes to set up, let it cook low and slow all day, and then have a delicious meal to serve and an easy cleanup.
If you love slow cooker pork recipes, you should make Mississippi pork tenderloin and my juicy slow-cooked boneless pork ribs.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's very flexible: Whether you serve this for a weeknight dinner, potluck, or turn it into sandwiches while you watch a football game, you can find so many ways to enjoy this pulled pork with pork tenderloin.
- It's made for a tight budget: The ingredients used in this pulled pork tenderloin recipe are affordable, so you can still enjoy this meal on a budget.
- It's beginner-friendly: You don't need a lot of experience in the kitchen to make this meal. It's mostly set and forget, with a few easy steps to get it prepared. The slow cooker cooks it to perfection!
Ingredients
These 3 ingredients are the ones I feel are non-negotiable for the best outcome when making this recipe.
- Pork tenderloin: I use a 2 lb pork tenderloin for this recipe. There's not a lot of prep to be done since it's already lean, and you can leave it whole. I pat it dry with paper towels so the spices can stick to it.
- Chicken broth: This is key for moisture. Your pork will cook in the broth with onions and garlic to keep it from drying out. You won't need a lot, and you can go with regular or low-sodium if you like.
- BBQ sauce: Any brand and flavor of BBQ sauce will be perfect here. I typically like an original smoky sauce, but I enjoy this homemade hot BBQ sauce in this recipe, too.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Honey BBQ: Add 1-2 tablespoons of honey to give your pork tenderloin pulled pork that classic honey BBQ flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar: Include 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to make the pulled pork nice and tangy.
- Smoky heat: Swap the paprika for a tablespoon of smoked paprika, and add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to make the pork extra smoky and spicy.
How to Make Pulled Pork Tenderloin in the Crockpot
To get started on this crockpot pulled pork tenderloin, measure out the seasonings for the spice rub and prepare the onions and garlic.
Step 1: Add ingredients to the pot. Rub the pork tenderloin with the spice mix and then layer it on top of the onions and garlic in the slow cooker.
Step 2: Cook. Now you can cook the pork for 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
Step 3: Shred and add BBQ sauce. Remove the tenderloin from the crockpot and shred it. Then, put it back in with the BBQ sauce.
Step 4: Serve. Allow it to rest on low heat to warm the BBQ sauce, and then serve on hamburger buns or these baked hot dog buns.
Expert Tips
- Drain excess liquid if needed: If you notice there's a lot of extra liquid released from the pork tenderloin, feel free to drain it and add a touch more BBQ sauce so it's not watery.
- Don't rush shredding the pork: Give the pork plenty of time to cook so it becomes almost fall-apart tender. If you try to shred it too early, it will be too tough. Once it's soft and easy to shred, that's when it's ready.
- Pork loin vs pork tenderloin: Pork loin doesn't shred as easily as pork tenderloin and is much thicker and firmer. I would make sure that you grab a pork tenderloin for this recipe.
- Storing the leftovers: Place the leftover pulled pork into an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. You can freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Reheating the pulled pork: Pour the pork and BBQ sauce into a small pot and reheat it over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or in the microwave in 30-second intervals to prevent the pork from drying out.
Another pulled pork recipe that I recommend is this oven pulled pork. It's great with a piece of gluten-free cornbread on the side.
Serving Suggestions
- If you decide to serve the slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin on sandwiches, I recommend adding cranberry and apple coleslaw on top for sweetness and crunch.
- Some of my favorite potato side dishes for this recipe include loaded mashed potato casserole and crispy steak fries in the air fryer.
- Looking for more southern-style sides? This jalapeno creamed corn and these slow cooker collard greens are perfect additions to the dinner table.
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Recipe FAQs
It can happen, but it's not likely. Since it's cooking slowly and in plenty of liquid for moisture, it's way less likely to become dry.
Since you're already cooking it in the juices, that helps. I also like to put the pork back in after shredding so it can absorb more liquid as it rests, ensuring it's as juicy as possible.
It's not necessary. The pork will cook perfectly when placed directly in the crockpot.
Sure! Just leave it out if you prefer! The BBQ sauce adds classic flavor to the pulled pork tenderloin, but doesn't change how it cooks or shreds. Leaving it out can actually make the flavor profile more neutral, giving you more options for serving.
More Slow Cooker Recipes for Dinner
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 Pulled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by coating it lightly with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over the pork tenderloin, coating all sides.
- Place the sliced onion and garlic cloves in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Set the seasoned pork tenderloin on top of the onions and garlic.
- Pour the chicken broth around the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the pork is very tender.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks.
- Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir in the BBQ sauce.
- Let the pork rest on warm for 10 minutes before serving so it absorbs the sauce.
Notes
- If there's more liquid than you would like in the bottom of the slow cooker, drain some of the excess when you remove the pork to shred it. Keep some of it so it doesn't dry out.
- After shredding the pork tenderloin, put it back into the crockpot with its juices so it can absorb that moisture. This will keep it juicy for serving.
- If you prefer, you may make this crockpot pulled pork tenderloin without BBQ sauce. This will give the recipe a more neutral flavor profile, opening up more serving opportunities.
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