Pulled Pork

Ingredients

• 4 lb boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess surface fat
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 8 soft sandwich buns

Instructions

Follow each step in order. The directions below are written so a beginner can understand what to do, what to look for, and when to move on to the next step.

1. Step 1.Pat the pork shoulder dry and trim away any thick exterior pieces of fat while leaving the internal marbling that will keep the meat moist during the long cook.
2. Step 2.Combine salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder, then rub the seasoning evenly over every side of the pork so the exterior is well coated.
3. Step 3.Scatter the sliced onion across the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker and place the seasoned pork on top with the fattiest side facing upward.
4. Step 4.Whisk the broth, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar until smooth, then pour the mixture around and over the pork.
5. Step 5.Cover and cook on LOW for about 8 hours, avoiding unnecessary lid lifting, until the pork is extremely tender and separates easily when pressed with a fork.
6. Step 6.Transfer the pork to a rimmed tray and let it rest for 10 minutes while you skim excess fat from the surface of the cooking liquid.
7. Step 7.Shred the pork with two forks, discarding any large pieces of connective tissue or fat, and keep the strands slightly chunky rather than mashing them.
8. Step 8.Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and fold in enough of the reserved cooking liquid to make the meat juicy without leaving it soupy.
9. Step 9.Taste and adjust with a little more barbecue sauce, vinegar, salt, or pepper, then keep the pork warm on LOW or WARM until serving.
10. Step 10.Pile the pulled pork onto toasted buns and serve immediately with extra barbecue sauce, pickles, or coleslaw on the side.