The BEST pulled pork! Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork with an incredible thick, sweet and tangy honey balsamic sauce! Easy crockpot dinner. Includes step by step recipe video.
PIN IT FOR LATER
So I like to think I’ve come a little ways since my days of quickly snapping a picture of my supper for the blog before diving in. But I have to admit, the though of photographing a big hunk of brown meat makes me a little nervous.
It didn’t help that I laid down on the couch when the girls went for a nap and opened my eyes at 5:00.
Luckily, I didn’t have much work to do on this incredible pulled pork.
It’s always a little interesting trying to get some photos of something we’re eating for supper before it’s totally cold and unappetizing, especially as I’m rushing and trying to make it look like I didn’t just sleep until 5:00pm when the hubs gets home from work.
“Girl, go and start cleaning up your toys!”
“I can’t mom, I have to take pictures!”
Things get a little crowded in our dining room as we’re both maneuvering around the toys on the floor, trying to get a good shot of our supper in between periods of dark cloudiness and too-bright sunshine.
Anyway. We made it.
Am I the only one out there who can’t stand the smell of balsamic vinegar? That is some powerful stuff. It makes my head hurt a little bit.
When I make this honey balsamic sauce, I think the exact same thing: “That sauce smells potent — how can it actually taste good?!”
The truth? It’s incredible. INCREDIBLE.
This is my favourite pulled pork recipe out there.
Ever.
In the world.
It is so easy just to throw a roast in the slow cooker in the morning, and then when suppertime rolls around the only thing you have to do is make the sauce. I mean, you could make a side to serve with it, but we don’t.
When this pulled pork is on the table, I don’t need anything else getting in my way. Just some fresh buns and allllll that dark, drippy sauce!
Try it. Maybe it’ll be your favourite pulled pork, too!
Looking for more slow cooker pork recipes? Try this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin!
*Post and photos updated May 28, 2015
Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 3 lb boneless pork roast
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tsp seasoned salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 tsp salt
- a pinch of black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp minced garlic
Instructions
- Add the roast to a slow cooker. Add the water, seasoned salt and garlic powder. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or until falling apart.
- Just before your roast is ready, add the rest of the ingredients (vinegar through garlic) to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Boil over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes, until thick and syrupy.
- Drain juices from pork. Shred your pork and stir in half of the prepared sauce. Serve the rest of the sauce alongside the pork with buns.
Nutrition Information
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Rosanne Stewart says
This one of our family favorites! Have you tried freezing this? With the sauce? If not, do you think it would freeze well? I’m prepping ahead of time for all our Christmas company and thought I might save some time by freezing and reheating.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Rosanne! Although I haven’t tested it out, it should freeze really well with the sauce. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
TruthbTold says
I’ve actually made this recipe a few times and I really love it. However, I’m not a huge fan of meat in a slow cooker. (I have followed the recipe using my crockpot multiple times).
I have actually seared the roast and used a large dutch oven to cook the meat in the oven with the lid and it came out just as tender and pulled just as easily.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing! I love that idea!
Veronica says
I cheated with the meat and bought pre seasoned pork from Aldi. Seasoned the water with a bit of chicken salt. Cooking instructions were spot on! The meat was so tender and delicious, I could’ve eaten the whole thing by myself.
I personally found the sauce to be veryyyyyy overwhelming. I think I only used about 4 small ladles and kept some of the flavoured liquid. perhaps a little too much vinegar? And as someone who suffers from a bit of reflux, the smell alone was enough to trigger me. I ended up discarding almost the whole batch. I served it in a bun with slaw mix and thousand island dressing which was a great combo. It’s not a bad sauce, just not the one for me, so won’t rate it poorly on a personal preference! It was easy to make – I would however recommend halving the amount for that much meat. Even for a “saucy” dish, half would be more than sufficient.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for your feedback Veronica! We love anything with balsamic vinegar, but I know it’s not for everyone 🙂
Jes says
This was the BEST pulled pork I have ever ate. I doubled the batch because I have a a family of 6. I was lucky to have left overs for work the next day after my growing boys finished up. I paired this with your one pot Mac and Cheese. Wow!!! Thank you for taking the time to share all of these indomitable recipes! I try at least 1 new one a week and I have yet to be disappointed. You rock Ashley!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jes! It is our favorite too!
Jo says
Hi, can I make the sauce before hand and warm it when it’s ready?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes absolutely!
Lisha says
For the first time, in the 8 years of his life, my kid shut up and ate his entire dinner and only stopped to comment on how good it was. For that, I give this 10 stars.
Ashley Fehr says
That’s a win for sure! Thanks Lisha!
Brittany says
Hi! This looks amazing and I can’t wait to make it! So I forgot to start my pork earlier this morning. Can I cook it on high for 4-5 hrs instead of low for 8-10?
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Brittany! You can, but I always prefer low if I have a choice. I would cut it into smaller pieces so that it cooks more quickly.
Ash says
Say I want to cut this recipe to be smaller (because I have two people to feed, not 12). I can math out most of it, but if I use a smaller roast (more like 1lb? Maybe 1 & 1/2), how long would it need to cook for?
Ashley Fehr says
A small roast does still need quite a bit of time before it will be pull apart tender, so I would say maybe 6-8 hours?
Mike says
I never leave comments on recipe blogs but this is probably the best crock-pot pulled pork I’ve ever made. I made this today for my family and everyone loved it, even my kids who hate everything but pizza. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so happy to hear that!
Alexa says
Can this recipe be adapted to an instant pot? I was only skeptical about getting a scorch warning because of the sugar but it seems like there is enough liquid to keep it from overheating.
Ashley Fehr says
I actually have a very similar recipe for the Instant Pot here: https://www.thereciperebel.com/instant-pot-pork-tenderloin-garlic-herb-rub/
Tashi says
Good Lord! This was AMAZING. My husband smelled the vinegar and asked me to cut it down a bit. He was still skeptical, but he ate it until it was possibly no longer safe to do so. That sauce is to die for. Unique and sweet/savory, tangy, perfect. We want to put it on everything. Luckily I noticed it us in a few if your other recipes. So thankful to you for sharing your genius. You are making me look so talented.❤️ He is excited to come home every night to see what I’ve got going. I’m taking the year off and your recipes are part of the reason we’re both finding a few aspects to enjoy during this dark time. Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Tashi! Your comment means so much to me! I’m thrilled that you both loved it!
Jane Hamson says
I was skeptical about just putting the pork in water (and spices) without some sort of sauce in the slow cooker, but I’m so glad I listened to the reviews. This was so amazingly delicious. I made it exactly to the recipe and will make it many more times. Everyone loved it. Served it with home made bao buns and coleslaw. Soooo good!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jane! I’m glad you liked it!
Mary says
How many does the 3-4 pound roast feed? Adults I mean.
Ashley Fehr says
Quite a few but we like leftovers! About 12 servings
Carla says
I have a 7lb roast and plan to make this…. should I double the sauces? I ask because someone else made a comment (Debra) that there was a lot of excess sauce with three pound roast.
Ashley Fehr says
I think it depends how saucy you like it! I don’t find we have extra sauce when I make it with a 3-4 lb roast, but we are sauce lovers 🙂
Brandon says
Would I double liquid in crockpot for 7lb pork along with garlic powder and seasoned salt?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes you may want to double everything. I would also probably cut it into 2 or 3 pieces so that it cooks more quickly. 7lb is very large!
Consuelo says
This recipe is absolutely fantastic!! It’s one of our family favorites that we made countless times and also served for company many times. It’s so easy to make and turns out perfect every time. We love serving it on potato rolls with spicy mayo and pickles. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad to hear that! It’s one of our favorites too!
Gloria A. says
Wow! That was delicious! I made it according to the directions and it was sooooooo good!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Gloria! It’s one of my favorites!
Brianna says
I tried this recipe on a whim and I was so thrilled I did. Its a nice change of pace from just plain old barbecue sauce.
I will definitely be making this again and again.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you! It’s one of our favorites!