5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Ketchup Cola Pulled Pork

Some pulled pork recipes demand hours of babysitting a smoker, tending spice rubs, and mopping with vinegar sauce. This one doesn’t. Just five ingredients, a slow cooker, and almost no effort. The result? Fall‑apart tender pork in a sweet, tangy, slightly caramelized sauce that tastes like you worked all day.

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The secret is cola. It may sound unusual, but the acidity tenderizes the meat while the sugar transforms into a sticky, rich glaze. Mixed with ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire, you get a sauce that’s savory, sweet, and deeply satisfying.

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Perfect for summer barbecues, cozy winter game days, or anytime you need to feed a crowd without hovering over the stove. Set it, forget it, and come back to pulled pork so good no one will believe how simple it was.

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🍖 Easy Slow Cooker Cola Pulled Pork

📝 Ingredients

Ingredient Amount Notes
Boneless pork shoulder 3 lbs Cut into 1½‑inch cubes
Ketchup 1 cup
Cola (not diet) 1 cup Adds acidity & caramelization
Brown sugar ⅓ cup Packed
Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp
Kosher salt 1 tsp Optional, to taste
Black pepper ½ tsp Optional, to taste
Sandwich buns 8–10 For serving

👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Layer the pork
    Place cubed pork shoulder in the bottom of a 5–6 quart slow cooker.
  2. Make the sauce
    Whisk ketchup, cola, brown sugar, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  3. Coat the pork
    Pour sauce over pork. Stir gently to coat.
  4. Cook
    Cover and cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours, until fork‑tender.
  5. Shred
    Transfer pork to a bowl. Shred with two forks, discarding excess fat.
  6. Finish the sauce
    Skim fat from cooking liquid. Return shredded pork to slow cooker, stir to coat, and adjust seasoning.
  7. Rest & serve
    Let sit on WARM for 10–15 minutes to soak up flavor. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

✨ This recipe is endlessly adaptable—try it in tacos with slaw, over rice bowls, or piled high on sliders.

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