Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

Sweet and slightly tangy, this absolutely delicious, juicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork is perfect for sandwiches, BBQ sundaes, or (if you’re like my teenage boy) just heaped on a plate by itself with nothing else. We listen and we don’t judge. Well, maybe we judge just a little bit.

Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

I love a good crock pot dinner. It’s a fantastic time saver for those days with I am at my busiest. Add in a quick and easy side like this pasta salad or coleslaw, and you have a complete meal ready to plate with hardly any effort.

I’ve lost count of the number of pork roasts I’ve made in the crock-pot. This Dr Pepper pulled pork is the kind of recipe that slow cookers were designed for. Just toss everything in, add a few seasonings, turn it on, and walk away.

That said, I really don’t care much for the beverage itself. It’s too sweet for my taste. But, pair that sugar with pork and let it simmer together for hours. I’m in heaven. If you really can’t get over the idea of using Dr Pepper, you can also make this recipe with a Coke, or even apple juice. Just make sure that you are using a version with full sugar, as that’s what does the trick.

Soda or pop on pork does sound crazy, but the sugar caramelizes and cooks into the pork slowly as the fat cooks down. That’s what gives it a subtly sweet flavor.

Pulled Pork and Dr Pepper

For Dr Pepper Pulled Pork I typically use pork shoulder, however a pork butt works just as well. I find that those two cuts of pork are pretty interchangeable. Did you know that they come from a side-by-side location on the pig?

Despite the name, pork butt is not from the posterior. It’s a cut just above the shoulder. The butt of the pig is called ham, and we eat it for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, that is some knowledge I can’t unlearn.

Bone-in or boneless won’t matter for this recipe. If you use a bone-in version, the bone will slide right out at the end. Then, remove the meat and let it cool slightly before shredding and return it to the liquid.

I do not bother to trim my pork roast much when putting it in a slow cooker. Much of the fat will cook down and season the meat. If I feel there’s too much liquid fat at the end, sometimes I will skim off a bit of it.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Pulled Pork

The end result is slightly sweet and tangy, which makes this Dr Pepper barbecue pulled pork a great option, no matter which sauce you prefer. I have used it with store bought sweet and hot BBQ sauces. And, I’ve dressed it up with homemade sauce, too.

Now, I have a dangerous tip for you. This recipe multiplies nicely. I typically double the recipe for a 5-6 pound roast to ensure that we’ll have leftovers. However, it is not necessary to double the Dr Pepper, there will be plenty of liquid with just one can of soda.

Being able to use different kinds of sauces so easily with the same meat means that you don’t have to worry about getting tired of the leftovers. I’ve even crisped them up in a pan and served them with tabasco and eggs for breakfast. And, since pork is generally cheaper than chicken by weight, I find that a recipe like this can also help keeping the grocery budget under control.

Crockpot Dinners

The slow cooker really does come in handy when meal planning. I like to make sure I am cooking with lots of great flavors and focus on meals my family loves.

I use this recipe for Mexican pulled pork when I want a spicy twist. It’s made with taco seasoning and orange juice and cooked to fall-apart perfection in the slow cooker.

And, you can make crockpot sweet and sour meatballs that your whole family will crave with just a few minutes worth of effort. We’re talking about hearty, savory meatballs, sweet pineapple, and colorful bell peppers, tossed with your favorite barbecue sauce. Yum.

Making a whole chicken in the slow cooker takes just a few minutes of prep and results in tender, juicy chicken you can use in so many ways.

Slow Cooking Tips

Slow cookers or crockpots are an appliance of which I have more than one. If you are an avid slow cooker user like I am, you might understand the need for more than one. So, let’s talk about my favorites:

First up is this 6-quart slow cooker that has a locking lid. These crockpots are fantastic for transporting foods. Mine has gone everywhere from church potlucks to barbecues, game nights to Thanksgiving dinner. However, fair warning, these slow cookers run crazy hot. Low is closer to a boil than a simmer, the warm setting actually simmers. So trust me when I say HIGH is high.

My everyday slow cooker is this 8-quart Crockpot. It’s my go-to appliance for cooking large roasts and big batches of chili. Fun fact: did you know that a full 4-quart cooker, actually cooks more slowly than a half-full 8-quart cooker?

For just cooking a few pounds of chicken to shred for enchiladas or other smaller recipes, this 3-quart version is perfect.

If you aren’t a fan of the idea of keeping more than one slow cooker in the house, these CrockPockets are a game-changer when it comes to preparing and holding multiple dishes at the same time. They slide into a standard 6-quart crockpot, dividing it into two sections that are perfect for serving different side dishes or keeping taco fillings warm for parties.

{originally published 08/16/22 – recipe notes updated 10/23/25}