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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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!
Debra says
I made this exactly as written and it was Dee-liciois!!! (Why do people leave reviews that say… I made this but changed this, this and that…?)
I wish my roast had been larger because we only got two meals out of it for the two of us, and the recipe made a ton of sauce. I think this sauce would be good on just about any meat. Do you know if I can freeze the extra sauce? Has anyone tried it?
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Debra! You can definitely freeze the extra sauce, as long as any meat juices are fully cooked, which they should be.
Amy Vail says
This is yummy! Do you think it would work with beef roast instead?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, I think that would be great!
Beth Overton says
I have made this so many times – that first mouthful is always the best ? my mouths watering typing this now and I’ve only just eaten it haha!!
Can I freeze this? I assume I can but wondered if you ever had before?
Ruby says
How long would I cook a 1 pound roast for? I am only making this for two people.
Ashley Fehr says
I would cook on low for 5-6 hours
Lauretta says
I think this was great but I was a little confused. It said to “top with water” so at first I put my pork in and filled my slow cooker with water. Then someone else was like maybe they mean just add the water on top? So I dumped it and just added the 1 1/2 cup. Maybe change it to say add the water and garlic inside the slow cooker. It was slightly confusing. Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for your feedback! I will adjust the wording
Lisa Stanley says
Hi. I was thinking of putting the sauce in the crock pot while the roast cooks. Will that work or will it burn or be too sweet or…? Thanks.
Ashley Fehr says
I prefer to add it after as the juices from the pork don’t dilute the sauce. The slow cooker can make flavors dull over time and with the long cook time it may have a burnt taste by the end too.
Hailey Howell says
I’m wondering the same thing…
Lisa ji says
I only have balsamic vinaigrette. I was wondering if I could use that?
Ashley Fehr says
You can try but it won’t be quite the same.
Shelly Torres says
I have a question – I am making this today and I am very excited. Do I put the slow cooker on high or low temp for the 8 hours? I’m guessing high but I don’t want to over cook the meat, that’s why I thought I should ask 🙂
Debbie says
Low if cooking for full 8-10 hrs. High if cooking 4-5 hrs. My family loved, loved, loved this recipe! 5 ⭐️.
Ashley Fehr says
Sorry for the confusion! It should be low 🙂
Pam Swift says
If you doubled the weight of the pork roast in the crockpot, would cook time be the same? I know I would double the ingredients for sauce and ingredients put in with the roast to cook. Just not sure if I need to adjust time of cooking the roasts.
Ashley Fehr says
You may need a longer cook time because it will be more full, unless you use a much larger crockpot
Hannah Toews says
Made this for Brielle’s first birthday party yesterday and it was a huge hit! I’ve already sent the recipe to a couple people who asked for it! I made an 18lb pork shoulder in two crockpots and had one whole crockpot left over and A LOT of sauce leftover too, but we’ll find other ways to use it for sure! We already used it in a stir fry today and it turned out great!
Ashley Fehr says
Oh that is awesome! I’m so glad you guys liked it! It should freeze really well, too, if you don’t want to eat it all now!