Slow Cooker Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork

from 7 votes

This Slow Cooker Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork recipe stars tender pork shoulder slow-cooked in a sauce of balsamic, honey, garlic, onions and a hint of blackberry jam. Pile it high on buns for the ultimate pulled pork sandwiches or wrap it in tortillas for delicious tacos.

Balsamic honey pulled pork sandwich on a plate with arugula.

The slow cooker is my go-to kitchen sidekick during those busy weeknights when dinner needs to practically make itself. Enter: Slow Cooker Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork—a tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder slow-cooked in a sweet and tangy balsamic honey sauce. And the secret ingredient? A spoonful of blackberry jam that adds the perfect touch of fruity sweetness to balance the savory garlic and onions.

Now, let’s talk pulled pork sandwiches. This slow-cooked beauty was made to be piled high atop soft brioche buns, topped with a crunchy, cool coleslaw. The tender pork combined with the cool, crisp slaw is a match made in sandwich heaven. But don’t stop there—this pork is also amazing stuffed into corn tortillas with pickled red onions for tacos or served in a big bowl with rice and all your favorite toppings.

Ingredients

This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is all about simple ingredients that come together to create big flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

Pulled pork ingredients, including pork shoulder, honey, balsamic vinegar, cornstarch, diced onions, minced garlic, blackberry jam and hoisin sauce.
  • Pork shoulder: I use a 2.5- to 3-pound boneless pork shoulder for this recipe. It’s the perfect cut for slow cooking and shredding, resulting in juicy, tender pork every time. You can also swap in a pork butt, which comes from the upper part of the shoulder and has a bit more fat and marbling, making it just as ideal for slow cooking.
  • Honey and balsamic vinegar: The honey brings sweetness while the balsamic vinegar adds that signature tang.
  • Blackberry jam: My secret ingredient! Blackberry jam adds a fruity, slightly tart element that complements the richness of the pork.
  • Hoisin sauce: A staple in my pantry because it adds a delicious umami flavor to a variety of dishes.
  • Chicken broth: Helps keep the pork moist while adding subtle flavor.
  • Garlic and onion: Aromatic staples that build the base for our sauce.
  • Cornstarch: For thickening the sauce.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

  1. Trim off any excess fat. Trimming any excess fat from your boneless pork shoulder keeps your pulled pork lean but still tender.
  2. Prep the liquid the pork will cook in. In a bowl, whisk together the honey, balsamic vinegar, blackberry jam, hoisin sauce, chicken broth, minced garlic and diced onion.
  3. Add everything to your slow cooker. Place the pork butt in your slow cooker, then pour the prepared sauce over the top (it doesn’t need to be completely submerged).
  1. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-9 hours. Resist the urge to open the slow cooker—it’ll let out precious heat and moisture!
  2. Shred the pork. Transfer the cooked pork to a cutting board and shred it using two forks. Don’t toss out those juices in the slow cooker! We’re turning them into our sweet and tangy sauce.
  3. Thicken the sauce. Make a cornstarch slurry by whisking together cornstarch and cold water. Transfer the reserved cooking liquid to a saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk in the slurry, and bring to a boil. Let it cook for about 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  4. Toss the pork in the sauce. Pour the thickened sauce over the shredded pork, tossing it all together until every piece is coated.

Game day, weeknight dinners, meal prep for the week, this recipe checks all the boxes! And trust me, it’s going to become a regular in your slow cooker lineup.

Kelly’s Recipe Notes

  • If you don’t have blackberry jam, you can use any other variety of jam, such as raspberry or plum.
  • No time to cook on low for 8-9 hours? You can cook the pork on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours or until it’s fully cooked. Just keep in mind that it may not be as tender as the low-and-slow method.
  • You don’t have to use all of the sauce on the pork. Save some to drizzle over grilled veggies, roasted chicken or even serve alongside mashed potatoes.
  • Don’t limit yourself to sandwiches! This pulled pork is great in tacos, quesadillas, on pizza or over baked potatoes for easy, versatile meals throughout the week.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy them within 4-5 days.

Best Sides for Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches are perfect for a family dinner (my kids request them weekly!) or as crowd-pleasing party food. Here are a few of my favorite sides to serve alongside these sliders:

How to Freeze Pulled Pork

Freezing shredded pork is an excellent way to save leftovers, but I’d recommend freezing it without the sauce. This helps maintain its texture. You can always add the sauce later when you reheat the pork. Store it in an airtight container or freezer bag (make sure to remove as much air as possible!) for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw it in the fridge overnight.

When reheating pulled pork, you have three methods to choose from: stovetop, microwave or slow cooker (my preferred method). If you opt for the stovetop or microwave, be sure to add a splash of water or broth to keep the pork from drying out. For slow cooker reheating, set it to LOW and warm the pork for 1 to 2 hours. Add the prepared sauce towards the end of the reheating process.

Pulled pork sandwiches with cole slaw on a white plate.
Programmable 8-quart Crock-Pot.

MY FAVORITE SLOW COOKER

I’ve been using my Crock-Pot® 7-Quart Slow Cooker for years, and I absolutely love it! The size is perfect for all my slow-cooking needs, from pulled pork for a crowd to hearty soups and stews. If you’re in the market for a reliable slow cooker, this one has been a game-changer in my kitchen!

More Pork Recipes You’ll Love

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Main Course

Slow Cooker Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork

This recipe for Slow Cooker Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork features tender pork shoulder slow-cooked in a sauce of balsamic, honey, garlic, onions, and my secret ingredient, blackberry jam.
Author: Kelly Senyei
4.86 from 7 votes
Balsamic honey pulled pork sandwich on a plate with arugula.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours
Total Time 9 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 (2 1/2- to 3-pound) boneless pork shoulder
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup blackberry jam (See Kelly’s Notes)
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 recipe Asian Slaw or store-bought coleslaw
  • 12 slider-sized buns or rolls

Instructions 

  • Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder and place it in the slow cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, balsamic vinegar, jam, hoisin, chicken broth, garlic and onion, and then pour the sauce over the pork shoulder. Cover the slow cooker and cook the pork shoulder on LOW for 8 to 9 hours until it is no longer pink and is cooked throughout.
  • Using tongs, remove the pork shoulder from the slow cooker (reserving the liquids) and place it on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the pork shoulder into smaller pieces. Place the pulled pork in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry.
  • Transfer the liquids from the slow cooker into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and whisk in the slurry. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook it until it reduces and has thickened slightly, about 3 minutes. Pour the sauce over the pulled pork, tossing to combine.
  • Halve the buns. Divide the pulled pork between the buns, topping the pork with a portion of the Asian Slaw, and serve immediately.

Kelly’s Notes

  • If you don’t have blackberry jam, you can use any other variety of jam, such as raspberry or plum.
  • You don’t have to use all of the sauce on the pork. Save some to drizzle over grilled veggies, roasted chicken or even serve alongside mashed potatoes.
  • Don’t limit yourself to sandwiches! This pulled pork is great in tacos, quesadillas, on pizza or over baked potatoes for easy, versatile meals throughout the week.
  • No time to cook on low for 8-9 hours? You can cook the pork on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours or until it’s fully cooked. Just keep in mind that it may not be as tender as the low-and-slow method.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy them within 4-5 days.
  • Asian Slaw:
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • 1 teaspoon Asian fish sauce
    • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
    • One (½-pound) wedge purple cabbage, cored and finely shredded
    • ¼ cup chopped scallions (green parts only)
In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, salt, sugar and vegetable oil. Add the cabbage and scallions to the bowl and toss thoroughly until well coated. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 2 hours.
  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 448kcal, Carbohydrates: 77g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 306mg, Potassium: 375mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 41g, Vitamin C: 4.2mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 2.9mg

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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.


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4.86 from 7 votes

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Comments

  1. Sophia Sheehan says:

    Hi Kelly
    Have used this recipe for years and always a crowd pleaser.
    When you first published it, you a link to a delicious Asian Slaw which no longer seems to be available on your site.
    Is there any chance you could send this to me or republish?
    Kind regards
    Sophia from Australia

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Sophia! Absolutely. We just added that recipe back into the post and will share it as a stand-alone recipe on the site soon, as I know a lot of people enjoyed it!

  2. Anna says:

    5 stars
    Very easy to make and delicious! Go to recipe for when guests are coming over.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Thrilled you enjoyed it, Anna!

  3. Jan says:

    Can something other than hoisin sauce be used or can it just be left out?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Jan! Hoisin has a pretty distinctive flavor so it’s hard to provide a substitute. Is it an allergy or you can’t locate it? I can think of some work-arounds!

  4. Stephanie says:

    5 stars
    Made this for dinner and loved it! I was skeptical at first because the sauce mixture smelled so vinegary but as it cooked that smell went away and it became sweet and savory. I didn’t submerge the pork after thickening, instead I drizzled it on like a sauce. Yum!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Stephanie!

  5. Natasha says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was fantastic! I came back to rate this and I almost never rate recipes. The only changes we made were gluten free Hoisen sauce and we cooked it in the instant pot. Since it was a six pound roast I doubled the recipe and cooked it for 90 minutes and then made the sauce in the bottom of the pot. I served it as tacos with the pickled red onions and my family agreed this was a winner. We had froze the leftovers from that night.

    Fast forward a month, we thawed it out and the meat was just as flavorful as when we first cooked it and the texture was good too! We cooked the leftover meat into rolled tacos. Basically filling and rolling corn tortillas with the meat and frying them. Serving them with Cotija cheese on top and the pickled red onions diced up. We will definitly be making this again!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Yum, yum, yum! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Natasha, and thank you so much for coming back to rate it!

  6. Mike says:

    Should the shoulder be tied or untied?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      No need to tie it!

  7. nicole (thespicetrain.com) says:

    This looks and sounds SO good. It’s on my to-do list, can’t wait to make it. Thanks for sharing, Kelly! :)

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      You are so welcome, Nicole! I hope you enjoy it!

  8. Jamie says:

    4 stars
    This is a pretty good recipe. I did find it to be a little less flavorful than I wanted and I think the chicken broth is unnecessary, there’s already plenty of liquid IMHO. I will try it again with more additional seasonings and maybe a gourmet balsamic, and no broth. I did marinate it overnight as I prepped everything the night before I turned on the cooker. The cook time was perfect, love when I can just grab a bone out of a roast with tongs, and slip it right out!

  9. Susan says:

    5 stars
    I just made your honey balsamic pulled pork this week, and have made it several times in the past. Always so good! A great recipe!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Susan!

  10. Steve says:

    Hi. I’m a total newbie to instant pot pressure cooking and have very little experience in the kitchen (besides eating). So this might be a stupid question.

    Will this recipe still work if it’s pressure cooked for an hour (or whatever time you recommend) instead of 9 hrs slow cook? I’ve read that pressure cooking should work as well or often better than slow cooking because the eat is less likely to dry out.

    Thanks.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Steve – I’ve never tried that so I’m not sure what the result would be. Let me know if you give it a shot!

    2. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Steve! I’ve never tried this recipe in a pressure cooker so I’m not sure what the timing/settings would need to be.

  11. Maria says:

    5 stars
    Finally made this tonight for very fussy husband and son. We all love it! The slaw was so tasty too! I used the bagged slaw mix instead of all purple cabbage and it was great. Will definitely make this again. Thanks!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Love hearing this, Maria! Thrilled you all enjoyed the recipe!

  12. Shar says:

    5 stars
    Best Pulled Pork I have ever had – I make this often and have given the recipe to many fans!!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Amazing! So glad you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Shar!

  13. sarah says:

    Thank you for this great recipe. We had this as sandwiches, as the recipe suggests. Then I froze the rest and we had it another time over quinoa with some roasted cauliflower. Both were delicious. I’m adding these ingredients to the grocery list to have again this week!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      So glad you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Sarah! And I love your idea to serve it over quinoa!

  14. Chris Walch says:

    Hi Kelly! I’m really excited to try this recipe. When you say 4 – 6 servings, do you know how many sliders that comes out to about? I’m making this as part of a larger appetizer table. Thank you!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Chris! It definitely depends on how much pulled pork you pile onto each slider (and the size of the buns!). I’d say you could get at least 12 good-sized sliders. :)

      1. Chris Walch says:

        Thanks so much, Kelly!!

  15. Lauren says:

    I made this and added some sliced pineapple and about 1/4th cup pineapple juice with siricha and it turn out unbelievable!!

  16. Lisa says:

    Thank you so much for responding. I will let you know how it went this weekend. Have a great day!

  17. Lisa says:

    Hi Kelly, I am going to be making this over the weekend for the superbowl. I was wondering if it would pair with a regular coleslaw, my husband is not a fan of the Asian type, should I just make a different side dish all together. I will also be making red potato fries, and homemade hamburger buns. Thank you for the recipe, looking forward to trying. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Lisa! Any type of slaw would go great with this pulled pork. It has a wonderful sweet/savory flavor, so you could do a classic slaw as a wonderful complement. Enjoy!

  18. Liz says:

    I’v made this twice already. Made it with picnic ham and boston butt. Picnic Ham was better. Though I like a little salty pork belly. I also found some other sweet vinegars like pommegranate, lambrusco and red wine give it a lot of variety. A dollop of peanut butter powder is good to stretch the recipe. Whether you have hoisin or not. It mellows out the sweet bite.

    I am going to try it on really stringy pot roast recipe. i always overcook it! But I think it might be a great substitute for sloppy joes.

  19. Patrick says:

    Kelly, you nailed this — this was amazing. I went out and got blackberry jam specifically for this but didn’t realize I didn’t have hoisin, so I had to make some myself. My parents and brothers and their families all loved it!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Patrick!

  20. Liz says:

    Hi. Can you brown the pork like in a roast to make it a little more salty and manly?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Liz – I’ve never tried this so I can’t say with certainty how it’d turn out, but you’d likely want to adjust the cooking time. I’ve found that you definitely don’t need to brown the meat before putting it in the slow cooker, as the flavor is amazing just as is!

  21. Kirsten says:

    Can you cook it on high in a crock-pot for half the time?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      That should work, Kirsten! All slow cookers vary in temperature, so you’ll just have to monitor it and adjust the cooking time as needed.

  22. Mary says:

    I’d like to make this for a large group of 30 or so people. Can you guesstimate how many pounds of meat I should use? Also, can I make ahead and freeze it? Thanks for any help you can give.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Mary – This recipe serves 4 to 6 people so you’d have to gauge how hungry your group may be in order to determine the amount of meat you’d need. I always error on people having big appetites :) I’ve never tried freezing it, so I can’t say exactly how it’d be, but let me know if you give it a shot!

  23. Valerie says:

    Can you use pork scotch fillet with this recipe?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Vallerie – I’m not familiar with that ingredient so I’m not sure if it would work.

  24. Nbimom says:

    How do you think this recipe would be if a rub was applied to the pork first?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Delicious!

  25. Becky says:

    Hi Kelly! Does the liquid have to completely cover the pork when you initially put it in the slow cooker? Mine doesn’t x

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Becky! It doesn’t need to be completely submerged :)

  26. Lauren says:

    I made this in the slow cooker today. it was a hit. LOVED the marinade and how it turns into a delish asian bbq sauce. I will definitely be making this again! For those who don’t have hoisin, you can make your own with sesame oil, brown sugar, peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, something hot like sriracha, and garlic powder! (this is what I had to do and it turned out delicious!) we are a fam of 2 so we have lots of leftovers for the week :)

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you’re enjoying the recipe, Lauren!

  27. ivana says:

    Dear Kelly, since I don’t have a slow cooker, do you think that it’s possible to make this beautiful meat in an oven? On low heat, for let’s say 5 hours or so. Thanks!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Ivana! That would definitely work, although I’ve never done it so I can’t tell you a specific oven temp or cooking time. Let me know if you give it a shot!

  28. fiona says:

    Hi i was just wondering if you can use anything else instead of chicken broth? mabey store bought chicken stock or water possibly??

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Yes, you can use stock, but you may just have to adjust the saltiness of the dish. Hope that helps!

  29. Lara says:

    Wondering if anyone who’s made this can help me out…I’m making this today, and I just realized I added the cornstarch to the original mixture instead of adding it later. I hoping I can just add more cornstarch when I heat it in a sauce pan. Has anyone made this same mistake or know if my plan with work, (I’m not a very experience cook, so I’m hoping someone out there is.) Merry Christmas!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Lara – I would recommend checking out the consistency of the sauce before you add any more cornstarch, otherwise it may get too thick and you’ll have to thin it. Hope it worked out!

  30. Dave says:

    Hi, if I double up on ingredients, have a 6.5ltr cooker so hopefully big enough. How long do you think it would need to cook for? Thanks

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Dave – I’ve never doubled this recipe so I can’t say for certainty how long it’d take to cook.

  31. Amber says:

    Absolutely delicious recipe! I was a little dubious about the flavours but after reading other comments decided to try it. I was not disappointed! thank you :)

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it, Amber :)

  32. Tonia says:

    Hi there,

    I coukdn’t work out how to comment on this but am wondering how I can make this in an oven? I have a Le Cresuet but no slow cooker, would I be able to make it in the oven and at what temperature? Thanks so much in advance,
    Tonia

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Tonia! I’ve never tried making this recipe on the stovetop so I can’t say with certainty how it would turn out or what temp/time would be best. Let me know if you give it a shot!

  33. Tyler says:

    Made this last night for friends and had left overs for lunch today. It was the best pulled pork recipe I have worked with. I used Blueberry Jam as I grabbed the wrong jar lol.. Worked out nice. I do suggest using the Asian Slaw but make sure you chop it to bits! I hate slaw and still found the Asian Slaw weird but I am bias and think anything cabbage should be banned :) Used it and loved it! Thank-you Kelly!

  34. Jamie says:

    Just curious – what did you do to make it paleo friendly? I’m guessing the hoisin is not compliant? Thanks in advance :)

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Jamie – This isn’t a paleo-friendly recipe. Not sure where you read that!

  35. Kathy says:

    This was great! I followed the recipe exactly, including the Asian Slaw, which really made it. We ate them as sandwiches but the next night, I pan fried the leftover pork so it got a little crispy/carmelized, stirred in some reheated sauce, and put them in flour tortillas with a little cheddar and some more (fresh) slaw which I pan fried too. EVEN BETTER. Thanks so much for a great recipe.

  36. Kim says:

    My sauce turned out nothing like yours…I wish it did. I’m tired of doing the bbq route, so I tried your recipe. I also NEVER use the crockpot because of the excess accumulated liquids.
    So as I thought, I had that problem with the recipe. Could not distinguish any of the flavors. I’m better of cooking the pork by itself and throwing the sauce only at the end. Has anyone else had this problem?
    I’m sticking to cooking ribs….

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Kim – Did you transfer the liquids into a saucepan and cook them with the slurry? That will thicken the sauce in minutes.

  37. Liz says:

    Made this over the weekend and it was easy and delicious! I used grape jelly because I didn’t have any blackberry and it added the right amount of sweetness. I could’ve used a little bit more salt in my batch but now I know; that’s just my personal preference. Made with the Asian Slaw which added a nice crunch – could definitely taste the flavor of sesame oil (for me a good thing). Absolutely will be making this again – thanks Kelly!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Liz!

  38. April says:

    This was amazing! I made it with pre-cooked (smoked) pulled pork from Costco (no bbq sauce). I just threw it all into a crock pot for a few hours and it was fabulous! Love the flavors!

  39. Corinne says:

    I really want to try this but wanted to make a lot for a party. My slow cooker is not that big. Any instruction on how to make the pork in my oven?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Corinne! I’ve only ever made this recipe using a slow cooker, so unfortunately I don’t have any oven-specific instructions.

  40. Andrea says:

    I would like to make this for lunch tomorrow. Should I cook it today and reheat tomorrow, or am I best to cook it overnight?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Either way will work, Andrea!

  41. Lindsay McAlester says:

    Amazing recipe! I doubled the recipe and served to a crowd. Everyone raved over it! I made an easy Asian slaw to top the sliders along with sliced fresh jalapeños and fresh cilantro. Yummy!!!!

  42. Andrea says:

    ETNElLECWe made this for dinner and the sauce was really good!! However the roast seemed dry so next time we try ths recipe we are going to sear the roast first and hopefully end up with it being more moist. Excellent recipe and worth the store trip for hoisin sauce.

  43. Tina says:

    OMG, this turned out amazing. The falavors are fantastic. Followed the recipe to a “T” and it was perfect. You will not be disappointed with this one. Thanks for this great recipe, will be making this again for sure.

  44. MJ says:

    Made this over the weekend, and the whole family loved it.

    I didn’t thicken it, so I could use it in other meals throughout the week.

    The meat was awesome in a quick quesadilla! I used muenster cheese and some sliced sweet Hawaiian onions. Then heated it up in a pan with some coconut oil until the cheese melted, the meat heated through, and the tortilla was crisp and slightly browned. Served with chopped romaine and sour cream. YUM!

    Thanks for such a great recipe!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it :)

  45. Angela Lopez says:

    OMGGGGGG… where have you been all my life?! I found this recipe on Pinterest…and am now a loyal follower!

    changed some things around to make it paleo friendly and paired it with an avocado slaw…

    so yum! (:

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Haha! Thanks so much, Angela :) Welcome to Just a Taste!

  46. Kristen says:

    Very yummy, eating it right now!

  47. Luke says:

    Thanks for the fantastic recipe. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a recipe which is so easy to make but has such a high taste payoff!

  48. Amy says:

    Hi, I am making this tomorrow, and i’ve just realised I have forgotten to get any jam! Is there anything I could substitute?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Amy! You could use more hoisin sauce, if you have it!

  49. Leah says:

    I just made your recipe this weekend with a few tweaks of my own and we loved it! Thank you for sharing such a clear and easy to create method. I’ll make sure to pingback to this post when I share my version later on this month. Leah – Sharing The Food We Love

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      So glad you enjoyed it, Leah!

  50. Diane says:

    I just finished putting everything in the slow cooker and am so looking forward to dinner tonight. That being said, this was my first time making pork and I was wondering if you have any tips for trimming the fat.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Diane – It depends on your personal preferences, but most pork tenderloin will have only a small amount of fat/silverskin, which you can trim. But it’s not essential to trim off any of the fat.

  51. Tanya @ Australian Foodie says:

    I made this over the weekend with Asian Slaw and served on buns with sweet potato wedges- it was such a winner! The blackberry jam and hoisin melted beautifully into the pork and everyone at the table loved it. Super easy in the slow cooker too- thanks for the recipe!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Tanya!

  52. Sophie says:

    Hi from Australia! Thanks for the great recipe! As it so happens, I chose it because I had all the ingredients in my fridge / pantry already! Well, I’m glad I did as it turned out beautifully! Just some clarification on other people’s questions you might not have been able to answer as you haven’t tested – I used a frozen pork shoulder and defrosted it fully PRIOR to the cooking. I also did not use a slow cooker (mine is still unopened in its box from my wedding 3 years ago!) but instead used a cast iron pot (with lid) and popped it into my fan forced oven for 8-9 hours at 120c (250f). Turned out perfect. Thanks again :)

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! Thanks so much for these great notes about the substitutions, Sophie!

  53. Carol says:

    This recipe is fabulous, so tasty and I will definitely make it again. So nice to have a different recipe for slow cooked pork, a sweet and sour taste. My sauce turned out perfect, the trick is to add more cornstarch to make a thicker sauce or if you cook on the stove for a while it will reduce down thicker. Absolutely yummy!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!

  54. Gloria says:

    If my pork shoulder is frozen should I defrost it first or can I put it right in?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Gloria – I’ve never started mine with a frozen pork shoulder, so I can’t say for certainty what would work best. Definitely increase the cooking time if you do start with a frozen pork shoulder.

  55. Andy says:

    OMG looks to die for… Will try it on sunday. No good buns available here in Germany, so I will make my own. So looking forward, will let you know about the result! Greetings from Hamburg!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! Hope you enjoy the recipe, Andy!

  56. Beth says:

    Yes, I did. I added the slurry and let it boil for about 5 minutes. When I saw that it wasn’t thickening at all, I added even more starch and let it boil for about another 5 minutes. Still watery. I don’t know where I went wrong! =(

  57. Kari says:

    Does it matter if the jam has seeds in it? Is it best to use seedless jam? Thanks!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Kari! It makes no difference whatsoever :) I’ve made it with jam that contains seeds and jam that doesn’t. Tastes great either way!

  58. Emily says:

    Absolutely delicious. I made this pulled pork over the weekend for friends and served it on slider buns with your Asian slaw. Tonight I plan to serve leftovers over polenta for a quick Monday night meal. Thank you for the great recipe!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it, Emily!

  59. Beth says:

    I carefully followed the recipe to a ‘T’, and the sauce came out extremely liquidy. It was more of a broth than a sauce. Do I do something wrong, or is that how it is supposed to be? I even added extra corn starch and let it boil for about 10 minutes. I enjoyed the flavor, however when I think of pork BBQ’s I think of a nice thick, hearty sauce. The husband and I were rather disappointed. I will probably try this again at some point, but will consider halving the amounts of the liquids.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Beth – The sauce should be thick. Did you make the slurry then bring the sauce to a boil?

  60. Jessica says:

    This was a hit for tonight’s dinner, both the pork and the slaw. I used a pork loin instead of pork shoulder, but otherwise followed the recipe as written. We will surely be making this meal again. Thanks!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jessica!

  61. Vanessa says:

    I made the pulled pork recipe today and hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a huge fan of hoisin sauce and that is what inspired me to make this recipe. Will definitely make it again.

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      So glad you enjoyed my recipe, Vanessa!

  62. Kristin says:

    Absolutely amazing. Can’t wait to make these. I think the hubby will be quite happy :).

  63. Ashlee says:

    I’d like to scale this recipe up to serve 8-10 people; should I double it, or just increase the amount of meat and slightly increase the amount of sauce?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Ashlee! I’ve never tried doubling this recipe, so I can’t say for certain, but depending on the size of your slow cooker, if you do try doubling the meat portion, I’d also double the liquids. Otherwise the pork won’t be covered and it’ll dry out. Hope that helps!

  64. Ana says:

    Sounds delicious would love to try it but don’t have a slow cooker. Can this be cooked in the oven, if so what temperature and for how long?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Ana! I’ve never tried making this recipe without a slow cooker so I can’t say for certain what the time/temp would be.

  65. liza says:

    Just made this and OH MY DAYS!!!! Thank you, it is just tastelicious..

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad to hear it, Liza!

  66. Jamie says:

    This is an AMAZING recipe – thanks for posting! I love pulled pork, but was getting sick of just doing bbq flavour, so this was so perfect. I made it on NYE in a hurry, so put it on high for 4-5 hours and it was great! I am making it again right now. The only change I made was blending the onion and garlic with the liquids beforehand, because I didn’t like the chunks – but that’s just me! Thanks again :)

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed my recipe, Jamie :)

  67. Cissy Bills says:

    I’m thinking of making this for a bigger crowd this weekend. If I wanted to double the recipe would you recommend doubling all the ingredients in the list (including the vinegar, cornstarch, etc). Thanks!

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Absolutely, Cissy! Just make sure you have a large enough slow cooker and adjust the cooking time. The sauce, when doubled, may also take additional time to thicken. Enjoy!

  68. Carly says:

    Thanks! It worked on high for 4 hours and tastes great. But my sauce isn’t nearly as thick as yours. I followed the recipe (added the cornstarch, boiled it for actually 5 minutes), any tips on what I may have done wrong? Maybe I should have just been more patient and boiled longer? :) Tasty though!

  69. Carly says:

    Can you cook on high for half that time and still get the same results?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Carly! I definitely wouldn’t cook it on “high” for 8 to 9 hours or the pork will dry out. If you’d like to use the “high” setting, I’d recommend anywhere from 4 to 5 hours, but just make sure the pork is fully cooked. Hope that helps!

  70. Carrie says:

    This sounds SO yummy! However, we are not pork eaters. Has anyone tried it with chicken? If so, what would the cooking time be? Thanks!

  71. Amie says:

    I’ve just bought all the ingredients ready to make this new year’s day. Very excited!

    Just wondering, as I’m going to be terribly hungover, will it be ok to pop all the ingredients in the pot tonight and refrigerate/marinade ready to slow cook in the morning?

    Many tas

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi Amie! I’ve never tried marinating the pork in the ingredients a night in advance, but as long as you keep it covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated, it should work out (although I can’t say with certainty!). Let me know how it goes, and I hope you have a wonderful New Year’s!

  72. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says:

    These look so mouth-wateringly tasty I could eat one right now, even though it’s only 9am! I especially love the colourful effect with the Asian slaw and the whole thing seems like it would be so easy to make … just my kind of recipe.
    Thanks for this great idea!

  73. TamTam says:

    Looks yummy! Has anyone tried it with grape jam? Also, I don’t have hoisin sauce, what would a good substitute be?

    1. Kelly Senyei says:

      Hi TamTam! Grape jam would definitely work, but I’m afraid the hoisin is a crucial ingredient. You could try substituting additional jam for the hoisin, but I’ve never tried that before. Hope that helps!

  74. Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen says:

    Loving the flavors going on here, and I’m always looking for slow cooker recipes for busy weeknights. Pinning to try soon!

  75. Happy Valley Chow says:

    Holy cow! I need to try this ASAP!! Totally craving this now….Hope you had a terrific holiday :)

    Happy Blogging!
    Happy Valley Chow

  76. JulieD says:

    These look soooo good!! Hope you had a nice Christmas, Kelly!!

  77. Jessica's Dinner Party says:

    Yumm! The addition of pickled red onion sounds perfect!

  78. Dina says:

    sounds delicious!