This 5-ingredient slow cooker pork is the kind of late-August dinner that saves the day when everyone is tired, the house is warm, and nobody wants to stand over the stove. Starting with frozen cooked pulled pork keeps things wonderfully simple, and with just a few pantry-style additions, it turns into a tender, saucy meal that tastes like you planned ahead much more than you really did.
Serve this pulled pork on soft sandwich buns, over baked potatoes, or spooned onto rice for an easy family supper. It also goes nicely with coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, or simple sliced pickles, and if you are feeding a crowd, setting out a tray of buns and toppings lets everyone build their own plate.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Late August Lifesaver
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds frozen cooked pulled pork, in 1 block
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
1/2 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
Directions
1. Place the block of frozen cooked pulled pork in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, apple juice, brown sugar, and yellow mustard until smooth.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the frozen pork, covering the top as evenly as you can.
4. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours, until the pork is fully heated through and easy to break apart.
5. Shred and stir the pork well right in the slow cooker so it soaks up the sauce. Serve hot on buns, over potatoes, or however your family likes it best.
Variations & Tips
For sweeter barbecue pork: If your family likes a sweeter sandwich-style filling, add an extra tablespoon or two of brown sugar before cooking. This is especially nice if your barbecue sauce is more tangy than sweet.
For a tangier finish: Stir in a splash of apple cider vinegar at the end of cooking to brighten the flavor. It helps balance richer sauces and keeps the pork from tasting too heavy.
For picky eaters: Serve the pulled pork plain on slider buns with the extra sauce on the side. That way everybody can choose how saucy they want their sandwich, and little ones often enjoy it more this way.
To stretch the meal: Leftover pulled pork can be tucked into quesadillas, spooned over mac and cheese, or piled onto baked potatoes the next day. It is one of those handy proteins that makes a second meal feel just as easy.
Slow cooker tip: Because you are starting with frozen cooked meat, make sure the pork reaches a safe serving temperature before eating, and give it a good stir once it softens so the sauce can coat every bite evenly.