This Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Pulled Pork is an easy dinner recipe you can put together in no time at all. Serve it in buns as a simple sandwich dinner, or turn it into yummy summer tacos!
I have a husband who dislikes the crockpot. So I make my slow cooker meals when he’s not looking ? Last year, I made instant pot pulled pork. And then this spring I made Pineapple BBQ Pulled Chicken Tacos. And Southwestern Crockpot Chicken Tacos, which are basically crockpot pulled chicken with some yummy things added.
I really wanted a simple pulled pork that can be turned into both sandwiches or tacos, too – and since I love all things BBQ… (Sticky BBQ Slow Cooker Meatballs, Pineapple BBQ Meatballs, Homemade Pineapple BBQ Sauce, Pineapple BBQ Crock Pot Baked Beans, Pineapple BBQ Pork Chops to name a few)
… this Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Pulled Pork recipe was born! Even my slow cooker averse husband enjoyed this, despite the fact that he saw me cook it. Hey, I can’t always hide.
What I love about this slow cooker pulled pork recipe
- It’s very easy to make. This is a real throw-together crockpot recipe. You can choose to brown the meat on the stove before adding it to the crock – but it’s not mandatory if you’re feeling lazy.
- You can make it your own. You don’t even need to use pineapple juice if you’re not into the whole sweet and savory bbq type stuff. Just use broth, water (or orange juice!) instead.
- You can turn it into (almost) anything you want – serve it on buns as sandwiches, in tortilla wraps as tacos or over rice as a simple dinner.
Ingredients you’ll need
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!
Ingredient notes
- Pork: I used pork neck for this recipe. Pork shoulder works great, too. For a lean pulled pork, you may use pork loin – but please keep in mind that loin really is lean and yields meat that’s can be a little drier/tougher when cooked this way.
- Pineapple: This recipe is not overwhelmingly pineapple-y, because some members of my family are iffy about fruit in their meat… ? Feel free to add a can of crushed pineapple to the sauce if that’s no issue at your house!
- Juice: You can use orange juice in place of the pineapple, or even apple juice for apple pulled pork.
- BBQ sauce: I love Stubb’s and my husband’s favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s (not sponsored, genuinely our favorite brands). Use a barbecue sauce you like the flavor of, as it is quite prominent in this recipe.
- Onion/garlic: Feel free to leave out either of these, if you prefer.
How to make pineapple bbq crockpot pulled pork
brown pork place everything in crock slow cook shred pork, return to liquid
Place all the liquids and seasoning in the crockpot, THEN add the browned pork. You don’t want to sit the meat on the dry bottom of the crock, or it might stick to it and burn.
Cover and cook the meat on low for 8 hours until it’s fall-apart tender. Shred the pork on a large chopping board with two forks. Then add it back to the crock with the cooking liquid and let it soak it all up.
Serve it however you like: On buns, as tacos or over rice!
Recipe tips
- It’s not necessary to brown the meat if you’re lacking the time. You’ll lose some flavor, but it’s still delicious!
- If the juices are still too liquid-y for your liking once you have allowed the shredded pork soak them up for 10 minutes, just cook it on HIGH with the lid off for around 15 minutes to help thicken them.
- If you’re pressed for time, roast the pork in the oven. Assemble the recipe as directed in a large Dutch oven, then bake with the lid on at 360°F for 90-120 minutes.
Freezer tips
One of my all-time favorite things about this recipe? It’s super freezer-friendly, AND it makes way more than we can eat as a family.
I can usually divide this batch into three portions: One to eat right when I made it, and two for the freezer.
We just finished our last batch when we came home from our beach trip – it was the nicest thing to have a home cooked meal after an 18 hour drive without having to do much actual cooking.
How to freeze pulled pork
Let the pork cool completely, then pack it into freezer bags or glass containers.
Label it and then freeze it for up to 3 months.
Defrost it in the fridge overnight and then reheat it in a saucepan until it’s boiling and piping hot.
And if you just so happen to have a fellow slow cooker hater at home? This recipe will convert anyone ?
Serving ideas
If you’re looking for side dishes that go with your pulled pork sandwiches, here are some of our favorites:
- Crockpot Baked Beans
- Corn on the Cob in Foil (or Air Fryer Corn on the Cob)
- Pineapple Coleslaw
- Pineapple Salsa (especially good if the pork is served in taco shells!)
- Summer Corn Salad
- Easy Macaroni Salad
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Printable recipe
Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Pulled Pork
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 ½ pounds boneless pork roast shoulder or neck preferred
- 1 large onion roughly chopped
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in large, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Add pork and brown on all sides.
- Add onion, pineapple juice, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, garlic, salt, ground paprika and black pepper to a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Place browned pork on top. Spoon some sauce from bottom and pour all over meat.
- Close lid and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
- Once cooking time is up, remove pork from crock (do not discard cooking liquid!). Shred pork with two forks on a large chopping board, then add back to crock with liquid.
- Give pork some time to soak up juices. If it's too liquid-y, cook with lid off for a little while until thickened to your liking.
Notes
- This is not overwhelmingly pineapple-y, because some members of my family are iffy about fruit in their meat… ? Feel free to add a can of crushed pineapple to the sauce if that’s no issue at your house!
- Orange juice is a great substitute if you’re out of pineapple. Apple juice is delicious, too.
- Pork neck or shoulder work best, for a leaner version use pork loin – it may be a little tougher/drier.
- Feel free to leave out the onion/garlic, if you prefer.
- Feel free to skip browning the meat if you’re short on time – you’ll lose some flavor, but the recipe is still delicious.
- If you’re pressed for time, roast the pork in the oven. Assemble the recipe as directed in a large Dutch oven, then bake with the lid on at 360°F for 90-120 minutes.
Nutrition
More recipe information
Recipe first published on 08/10/2018. Updated with new photos, better text and slight changes to recipe (added brown sugar to ingredients) on 06/07/2021.
Rose says
Was nervous about combining pineapple with bbq sauce UNTIL I found this recipe! Thank you SO much Nora!