Friday, June 1, 2012

From My Kitchen to Yours - BBQ Pulled Pork


Let the Slow Cooker Do the Work for BBQ Pulled Pork

There are days when I like to cook for the next day and a crock pot full of pork butt and onions is just the ticket.  This recipe is great for bbq pork sandwiches.  Mosley’s Memphis Sauce has quite a kick and the biggest hint is that the word “chili” is mentioned numerous times on the label.  My kids’ favorite is Timothy’s Sweet and Smokey Barbeque Sauce.  Both are found at Young’s Payless IGA Market at Lake Tulloch Plaza.  There’s enough pork in this recipe to heat up two pans and please everyone.  Another option is to serve with your favorite rice or potato side dish.  Last, I enjoy making a stir fry of green beans and mushrooms or mixed vegetables and adding this meat towards the end.  It’s a cut of meat and method of cooking that allows for versatility.




A 4 lb pork butt – these usually have a bone and one side of fat.
2 onions sliced
1 C + 1/4 C separately of beef broth or water
1 tsp Pappy’s seasoning or Lawry’s Seasoning Salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cooking oil
1 tsp butter
Favorite bbq sauce – amount to your taste.

Spray your slow cooker crock with Pam, rinse and pat dry the pork butt and set aside.  Peel one onion and slice in 1/4 inch slices and lay on bottom of crock.  Place pork butt to fit as long as fat side is not on the bottom.  Pour 1 C of beef broth on sides.  Sprinkle with combination of the 1 tsp seasoning and 1/2 tsp black pepper. 

Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. 


Turn off slow cooker and let rest for 15 minutes uncovered.  Remove pork butt carefully to platter as it will fall apart easily.  I use two large spatulas.  I do not use cooking fluid leftover for anything, but you can reserve the onions, or use the second onion at the time you will serve.  Let pork butt stand another 5 minutes.  Take two forks and separate meat from fat and bone.  At this time, I usually store the meat in a plastic container, or when cooled, a plastic zip-lock bag for storage in refrigerator or freezer depending on how soon I will use it.

When you are ready to prepare your meal, you will thoroughly thaw any frozen pork overnight in the refrigerator.  Using a pan large enough to hold the pork, sauté your second sliced onion in the tsp of cooking oil and tsp of butter over medium/low heat until caramelized or to your preference.  Remove them from the pan and add the 1/4 C of broth or water to the sauté pan.  Place your shredded pork back in the pan, add your preferred amount of bbq sauce – anywhere from 1/2 C to 1 C – to the pork.  Stir to coat, cover the pan over low to medium and warm about 10 minutes - but careful not to burn or let dry out too much. 

Serve as a sandwich as pictured with onions on top and your favorite side.  Top the sandwich with your favorite cole slaw, if you like.