A lazy Sunday turned delicious
I had a 1.5kg bit of pork shoulder joint from the supermarket over the weekend, fully intending to do a traditional Sunday roast dinner. But then my younger son casually mentioned that he’d been craving pulled pork in buns. Well, that was it – plan changed! To be honest, I was quite relieved. A full roast dinner requires a bit of effort, but this simple beer pulled pork recipe is the ultimate lazy-day winner. It’s perfect for weekends and honestly just as doable on a weekday – you just need to remember to pop the pork into the slow cooker in the morning and let it work its magic for 8-9 hours. That’s it!
Just 5 minutes to prep
You really only need five minutes to get this going. The rest of the time, the slow cooker does the job. Before switching it on, you’ll need to give the pork a good rub. I mixed together some light brown sugar, paprika, garlic granules, cumin, ground pepper and salt to make a flavour-packed dry rub. Then I added a squirt of yellow mustard and half a finely chopped purple onion.
The best way to do the rubbing is directly in the slow cooker insert – less mess and one less bowl to wash! I used food-safe gloves to really get into it and made sure every bit of the pork was coated in the mixture.
Then I poured around 200ml of beer all over the pork. Why beer? Well, it turns out that beer contains enzymes that help break down tough meat fibres. That’s exactly what we want for our simple beer pulled pork recipe – tender, juicy, fall-apart goodness.
Slow cook to perfection
Once everything is in the slow cooker, I set it on low for 8.5 hours. If you’re short on time, you can go for high and cook it in about 5 hours. Halfway through, I gently turn the pork over to ensure it’s cooking evenly.
After 8.5 hours, the pork is ready to come out. I use a wide spatula because it’s so tender it might just fall apart on you (a good sign, right?). I transfer the pork into the air fryer insert and pour over a little of the beer juice from the slow cooker – just to keep it moist. Then I air fry it at 200•C for 20 minutes to get that slightly caramelised, crispy edge. I flipped it once halfway through.
Let’s talk sauce
While the pork is getting that lovely caramelised colour, I move on to the BBQ sauce. This is a smoky, slightly sweet sauce that brings everything together. And again, super simple! Into a saucepan goes: light brown sugar, honey, garlic granules, a pinch of salt, ground pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and a splash of that slow cooker beer juice to loosen it all. I bring it to the boil and let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.
Pulling it all together
Once the pork is out of the air fryer, it’s time to shred. I use two forks to pull it apart – should be no effort at all. It should fall into lovely thin shreds, not mushy but beautifully soft. I mix in half the BBQ sauce so every bit is coated and glossy.
I save the rest of the sauce to drizzle over the top before serving.
Everyone’s happy
We ended up serving the pork in different ways – my son had a fully loaded bun with pulled pork and lettuce, and then went back for more with some steamed rice. He said both versions were equally heavenly. My husband popped a few slices of tomato into his bun and my daughter had hers with cucumber on the side. It’s always a win when everyone’s happy at the dinner table.
Try this Simple Beer Pulled Pork Recipe today
If you’ve got a bit of pork shoulder lying around and a slow cooker, don’t overthink dinner. This simple beer pulled pork recipe is your answer. It’s easy, satisfying and makes enough for buns, rice bowls or even tacos the next day.
Whether it’s a lazy Sunday or a midweek meal, this recipe is a keeper. And the best part? Minimal prep, maximum flavour. So go on – bookmark this simple beer pulled pork recipe and give it a go. Let me know how you served yours!
The Easiest and Tastiest Slow Cooker Beer Pulled Pork Recipe
Description
This simple beer pulled pork recipe is perfect for busy days - just 5 minutes of prep, then let the slow cooker do the rest. The beer makes the pork tender and flavourful, and a quick homemade BBQ sauce pulls it all together. Great in buns, with rice or however you fancy!
