Weeknight pulled pork cooks in your slow-cooker and uses easy-to-deal-with pork tenderloin rather than big cumbersome bone-in pork shoulder (save that for the weekend!) Add some fat and flavor with finely chopped bacon - it slow cooks with the dry rubbed pork tenderloin and melts in beautifully making for a flavorful and succulent weeknight meal!
1/4cupfinely chopped bacon, uncooked2-3 strips depending on thickness
1cupprepared barbecue sauce
Instructions
Rinse tenderloin, pat dry with paper towels and trim if necessary.
Cut into about 2 - 2 1/2 inch lengths.
Combine brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper in zip top bag and shake to coat.
Set 5-6 quart slow cooker to low. Add apple cider vinegar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce to slow cooker and stir to combine.
Add pork tenderloin pieces and sprinkle with garlic and chopped bacon. Put lid on slow cooker and cook for 6-7 hours on low or until the pork pulls apart easily.
Pull the pork pieces apart with two forks - or - to pull using your hand mixer: Remove pork pieces from slow cooker and place on plate or platter, pour the cooking juices out of the slow cooker and reserve. Put the pork pieces back in slow cooker and use the regular beaters (turbo beaters) of your hand mixer to pull the pork right in the slow cooker.
Stir in as much of the pork cooking juices and the barbecue sauce as desired. We like our pulled pork on toasted buttered buns with dill pickle slices and extra barbecue sauce...or topped with cole slaw!
Notes
Pressure Cooker Directions:
(I use a stovetop pressure cooker at high pressure for this recipe 13 - 15 PSI - timing may be slightly different for electric pressure cookers / Instapot. Electric pressure cookers need a little extra time.)Follow all directions for preparation - placing in pressure cooker instead of slow cooker. Bring to high pressure. Cook under high pressure for 40 minutes. Turn off heat and let pressure release naturally (about 10-15 minutes for my stovetop unit.)
Nutrition (approx. data estimated via online nutritional calculator.)