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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julia says
Hi Ashley,
thank You very much for Your advice! I think I will start with a 6 qt.
I am looking forward very much to trying Your recipe 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
I hope you like it!
julia says
Hi Ashley,
this recipe sounds delicious! Would You tell me how large Your crockpot is? Because I am about to buy one. I need one for a large family (maybe 8 liters) and I am wondering if I can use it for smaller amounts for, let´s say, 2 people, too, with a smaller amount of ingredients.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Julia! I actually have a 2.5qt, a 4qt and a 6qt. For this recipe I always use my 6qt and it’s a great size! I think the 6qt would be big enough to feed most large families, but I really love having a variety of sizes for options. I would maybe start with a 6qt (or 8, depending on how many servings you want to make at once!) and then add another to your collection if you need.
Rachel says
Hi! I’m just wondering if it would be okay to leave it in the crock pot for closer to 11 hours instead of 10. I leave for work at around 7:15am and don’t get home until around 6:10/6:15pm.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Rachel — sorry I just saw this! You can absolutely leave it longer. There are a few ways to help adjust cooking time. If your slow cooker is generally cooler (meaning, you usually find you have to add time to most slow cooker recipes), then the extra hour won’t matter. If your slow cooker is hotter (meaning you usually find recipes are done sooner than the recipe calls for), you can add the roast frozen to the slow cooker and it won’t dry out if it’s left for longer. I’ve done this lots when I worked away from home and it worked so perfectly! If you have a cooler slow cooker I wouldn’t recommend a frozen roast though. It all just depends! I hope that helps!
Rachel says
Yes, that definitely helps! Thank you very much!! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Awesome! Let me know how you like it!
Maggie says
This was SO, SO, SO good. Oh my gosh. I’ll make this often. Thank you so much for sharing such an easy and delicious recipe.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Maggie! It is by far our favorite way to do pork!
Leigh says
Can you cook it on high to do it a little faster? If so, how many hours? 6?
Ashley Fehr says
You could but I never really recommend that with a big chunk of meat like a roast. I would break it down into smaller pieces and try cooking on high for half as much time.
Tara says
I made this yesterday and it was absolutely delicious! My husband said it was restaurant worthy!!! This is now my favorite pulled pork recipe. Goodbye barbecue sauce!!!
Ashley Fehr says
I am so happy to hear that! This is my FAVORITE pulled pork recipe!
Hayley says
I’d like to sub maple syrup for honey. What digit think? Thanks!!
Ashley Fehr says
I think it should work fine! It will definitely have a noticeable maple flavor as the honey is a main component, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing!
anna noland says
in your directions section there is a mispelling. It says ” at the pork to the slow cooker” should at be Add?
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for letting me know! I’m not sure how I missed that!
Lori says
Can I just make the sauce and a pour over the pork to cook in all day instead of making at the end? And maybe eliminate the water so the sauce is not diluted? I want to make this while I am working….and don’t really want that extra step at the end. Thank you! Looks wonderful….making today!
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Lori! You can definitely do that! The flavor of the sauce might be a little more muted (a little more “porky”), but I’m sure it will work. If you’d like to prep the sauce ahead you can always make the sauce and keep it in the fridge to toss the meat with later? Both ways would work!
Lisa says
That was my question, thanks! Making it for the first time today 🙂 so excited
Ashley Fehr says
Let me know how it goes!
Lisa says
Phenomenal ‼️ How stand is a dietician so I was a little worried about all the sugar. I changed nothing went exactly by the recipe and it was delicious. Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Lisa! So happy to hear you liked it! You could probably substitute for a natural sugar if you prefer.
Tanja says
About to serve this to the fam. Smells so good! I’m sure everyone will love it. I’m writing this instead of making a side salad. I love how much sauce this makes.
PS. In the recipe you’re missing the timing (step 2) for when to start the sauce but it’s easy to figure out.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Tanja! Thanks for letting me know! I will try to add it in there. I’d love to hear how the family enjoyed it!
Daniela says
I am a HUGE fan of pulled pork but it never occurred to me to actually try making it myself…until now!
WOW this came out phenomenal!
Thank you so much!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Daniela! This is by far my favorite way to make it!
Denelta says
I wonder how it would taste using chicken. Has anyone tried using chicken?
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
Ah the art of multi-tasking! 😉 Well it certainly paid off because those photos are incredible. Only you could make a hunk of brown meat look so incredibly appetizing! I’ve bookmarked this to try!
Cheri says
i made this last night and we loved it so much that I will be making it again this weekend to take to a July 4th party. Do you know about how many people it will serve?
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
This sounds so delicious and so easy! Throw it all in a slow cooker. Perfect as the weather is getting cold down here so I can spend the day snuggled up on the sofa and then serve a dinner that seems like I have been slaving for hours. 😉
Thanks for sharing
Ashley says
Anytime! Love my slow cooker!
Stacey @ Bake Eat Repeat says
Mmmm, I have been looking for a good pulled pork recipe. I’ve tried so many and I’m usually a little disappointed, but this one looks great! Can’t wait to try it!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
I love the smell of balsamic – but, it’s wonderful how unappealing flavors and smells can mix and become something so desirable! These photos rock! And I don’t even eat a ton of pork – but I wanna dig right in!
Izzy says
I used to be so scared of pulled pork, but I got hooked when I went to college and they would have big pig roasts and pulled pork sandwiches! It is so good! And your sauce sounds perfect! Haha, a nap on the couch sounds way better than taking photographs right now! I’m glad you got them finished though and they look awesome 🙂
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! This looks amazing! I love balsamic reductions and my friend in AR just sent me a really nice quart of honey, so I’m in! I think if I were to add a side it would be creamy coleslaw – just the South in me!
Ashley says
That would go so well Dorothy!
Tina says
Was wondering if you have to remove the juice from the meat before putting in half the sauce???
Ashley says
Sorry — yes, I would definitely drain the meat juices before adding the sauce so it’s not diluted!
Susan says
Can’t believe someone else doesn’t like the smell. My husband said that it was in my head. I have, however, gotten past it long enough to try it in a peach cobbler recipe several years ago. It does something divine to food that I had to admit.
Ashley says
It’s just so strong Susan! But in recipes it’s just so good 🙂
Maria says
This looks fantastic! I love pulled pork, and this sounds like it has amazing flavor!
Ashley says
Thanks Maria! It’s definitely a favourite 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
Well to be honest, I actually am totally in love with balsamic vinegar. I know I’m a little weird, but that smell is one of my faves lol. So I am ALL ABOUT THIS PULLED PORK. Pinning this ASAP.
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Jess! I like it IN stuff, but boiling it for 20 minutes makes my head hurt a little 🙂
marcie@flavorthemoments says
I saw this at Best of the Weekend…it looks incredible! 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks Marcie! It is incredible 😀
Annie @Maebells says
I love the simplicity of slow cooker meals! It just makes life sooo much easier! And I am totally with you on the balsamic vinegar! I love it with some fresh tomato and mozzarella but if I am going to make a balsamic reduction I usually pull the hot plate out of the pantry and plug it up outside so the whole house doesn’t smell like vinegar!
Ashley says
Haha, that’s genius Annie! We were just cracking windows! It tastes sooo good though 🙂