The easiest, best-ever 3-ingredient BBQ pulled pork comin at ya! Just add pork, BBQ sauce, and a spice blend to your instant pot or slow cooker for the most flavorful, tender shredded pork you’ve ever tasted!
Can’t get enough of this recipe? Try my Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork, Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, and my Shredded Chicken Sandwiches.
Craving more pork recipes? Make plans to make some of my other popular recipes like these Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce, this Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes, or these Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos.
You know how sometimes a recipe doesn’t really feel like a recipe? Like in order to be considered recipe-worthy, it has to have lots of ingredients and multiple steps and take up some of your precious time? Well, this slow cooker pulled pork is none of those things, it’s just a slight variation of my super popular instant pot pulled pork.
I threw this recipe together for my nephew’s graduation party and everyone raved about it and asked how I made it. I told them the three ingredients and everyone was shocked and insisted that this recipe was all the more impressive!
Why this Recipe Works
I’ll give you four more good reasons why this recipe is a winner in every way!
Versatile — You can make this BBQ pulled pork in the slow cooker or in the instant pot! Yep, that’s right, two small appliances, same result, you choose whatever is easiest for you!
Simple — Did I mention you only need 3 ingredients?! It doesn’t get any easier than this folks, I promise!
Feeds a crowd — Even if you don’t have a get-together or special occasion to make this instant pot pulled pork, you’re going to want to have leftovers! They heat up great too the next day, and the day after!
Pantry staples — Not only is the ingredients list short as it can get, but you’re going to be reaching in your pantry for two of the three items — a bottle of BBQ sauce and some spice mix.
Here’s How you Make it
Instant pot directions
- Rub mesquite seasoning all over the pork sections. (photo 2)
- Put the pork pieces in a greased instant pot. Pour half of the BBQ sauce over the pork. (photo 1)
- Secure the lid on the instant pot, and turn to seal. (not pictured)
- Set to “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” for 45 minutes. (photo 3)
- Natural release (do nothing) for 10 minutes after the 45 minutes is up. (not pictured)
- After 10 minutes, turn the valve to the “Vent” position and remove the lid when the float valve drops. (photo 4)
- Shred the instant pot pulled pork with two forks, stir in the remaining BBQ sauce and serve. (not pictured)
Slow cooker directions
- Rub mesquite seasoning all over the pork sections.
- Put the pork pieces in a greased slow cooker crock. Pour half of the BBQ sauce over the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3 hours.
- Shred the slow cooker pulled pork with two forks, stir in the remaining BBQ sauce and serve.
Making the slaw
- Thoroughly combine the cabbage slaw with the Vidalia dressing in a bowl.
- Season with cracked black pepper and serve with the pulled pork.
What is the Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork?
I almost always use a pork shoulder when making BBQ pulled pork. You might also find it labeled as a pork butt or Boston butt. I’m not sure why it’s sometimes a shoulder and sometimes a butt but that’s probably a question I don’t want to know the answer to?
Anyway, I always choose a boneless roast as well just to make the cooking and shredding that much easier. But you can also get a bone-in one if you prefer.
Expert Tips
- For the mesquite seasoning I always use McCormick Mesquite or their Smoky Mesquite Seasoning. It’s a product I love and it’s always in my pantry. I can’t get enough of it!
- My BBQ sauce preference is basically any brand that’s hickory flavored, because you get that nice smoky taste in the sauce as well. But, frankly, you can use any kind of BBQ sauce that you like, it will still taste great!
- To mix up the kind of slaw you use, you can purchase any kinds of shredded veggies or “slaw.” I also like to use broccoli slaw and sometimes get a kale/shredded Brussels sprouts version too.
- I simply love Vidalia onion dressing! Sure you can purchase it in a bottle but if you want to make your own, I have a super simple, super delicious Vidalia onion dressing recipe for you to try!
More Delicious Pork Recipes
- Garlic Butter Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Juicy BBQ Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
- Instant Pot Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Mesquite BBQ Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork shoulder - cut into four equal-size sections
- 3 tablespoons mesquite seasoning - see note
- 1 bottle (about 2 ½ cups) hickory bbq sauce - see note
- buns, tortillas - optional serving options
Slaw (optional)
- 4 cups shredded cabbage slaw
- ⅔ cup sweet vidalia onion dressing
- cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Rub mesquite seasoning all over the pork sections.
- Place pork in greased slow cooker or Instant Pot. Pour half of the bbq sauce over the pork.
- For slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3 hours.
- For Instant Pot, put lid on, turn valve to sealed position, and set to PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL for 45 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes (do nothing, just let the pressure release naturally) then turn valve to VENT position and remove lid once float valve drops.
- Shred pork with two forks. Stir in remaining bbq sauce and serve.
- To prepare the slaw, combine cabbage slaw and dressing and stir to well. Season generously with cracked black pepper, serve with pulled pork.
what equipment and method used in Mesquit BBQ Pulled Pork
I use a slow cooker or instant pot to make this pulled pork.
I greased the bottom of my instant pot and it keeps saying burnt food? any suggestions?
There could be a few reasons why, your sealing ring could be on wrong or missing, your steam release may be open, the inner pot got too hot (if this is the reason you can just turn off the instant pot, allow it to cool and start again), or food could be stuck on the bottom of the pot. You can try and put some of the bbq sauce underneath the pork. Hopefully one of these helps!