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
- Layer the pork
Place cubed pork shoulder in the bottom of a 5–6 quart slow cooker. - Make the sauce
Whisk ketchup, cola, brown sugar, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper until smooth. - Coat the pork
Pour sauce over pork. Stir gently to coat. - Cook
Cover and cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours, until fork‑tender. - Shred
Transfer pork to a bowl. Shred with two forks, discarding excess fat. - Finish the sauce
Skim fat from cooking liquid. Return shredded pork to slow cooker, stir to coat, and adjust seasoning. - 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.




