Delicious Pulled Pork Tenderloin coated in a dry rub then slow cooked in a root beer barbecue sauce. Such sweet n’ spicy lip-smacking flavor! Tenderloin is much leaner than pork shoulder and is done in half the time. Only 15 minutes to prep then the crock pot does the rest!
An easy recipe perfect for busy days and pays high dividends in flavor. The meat becomes fall-apart tender after it slow cooks and with the sauce makes the best pork sandwiches. Nothing like easy comfort food!
It’s one of our family’s favorite meals and in the dinner rotation year-round. Pulled pork tenderloin is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s even better the next day so it’s great to make ahead!
If you’d like more easy and delicious pork dinner ideas, be sure to check out these favorites: Cherry Balsamic Pork Tenderloin (grill or roast), Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Glazed Veggies, and Honey Mustard Pretzel Crusted Pork Chops.
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What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?
A large pork roast like pork shoulder or pork butt (aka Boston butt) are commonly used. But I prefer this leaner version using pork tenderloin for pulled pork which is much easier to work with. You can also use pork loin roast which is on the lean side as well.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Juicy meat full of sweet n spicy flavor!
- Easy, set-and-forget slow cooker recipe
- Perfect for large family dinners and gatherings
- Freezer and budget friendly
- Free of excess fat and gluten free!
Main Ingredients
- Pork Tenderloin – The tenderloins should each be 1-1 ½ pounds each.
- Dry Rub – A flavorful blend of brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt and black pepper.
- Root Beer – We love Stewart’s but go with your favorite brand.
- Barbeque Sauce – A huge fan of Stubb’s with Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce as a close second.
- Molasses – Love the color and naturally tangy sweetness is brings to the sauce.
- Yellow Onions – You can also use red onion or stir in a packet of onion soup mix.
- Garlic – There’s garlic powder in the dry rub, but I love the extra flavor fresh garlic brings.
Can I use a different kind of soda?
Absolutely! Although you'll lose the root beer flavor, the meat will still have a sweet element with any soda. Just make sure it’s one you like! Here are some good options:
- Dr. Pepper
- Coke
- Ginger Ale
- Diet soda (if you prefer)
- Regular beer! I like the medium taste and tone of amber ales. Go with a stout if you like a stronger flavor.
How to Make Crockpot Root Beer Pulled Pork
This crock pot pork tenderloin is such an easy meal that comes together with minimal effort. Plus, you can make the dry rub and coat the tenderloins the night before.😉
Spice Rub: Blend spices together in a small bowl.
Rub Pork: Coat tenderloins entirely with the spice mixture.
Layer in Crock Pot: Place pork in slow cooker and top with onions and garlic.
Add Liquids: Top with bbq sauce, molasses and a whole can of root beer.
Combine: Stir all ingredients to cover the tenderloins and slow cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Cooking time will vary depending on how hot your slow cooker gets.
Shred Pork: On a cutting board, use two forks to shred the meat.
Return to Crock Pot: Add shredded pork back to the sauce and stir to evenly coat. Then enjoy!
Should I brown the pork first?
It’s not necessary to sear the pork. The dish will be super flavorful and moist without that step. But, if you’d like to brown the meat in a little olive oil first, you certainly can. It really comes down to personal preference.
Can I make this recipe in my Instant Pot?
Of course! My favorite way to make pulled pork is in the slow cooker, but if you’re short on time a pressure cooker is a great option. Check out Instant Pot’s Root Beer Pulled Pork recipe for the method.
Recipe Tips
- Let the meat sit at room temperature 30-45 minutes before slow cooking so it cooks evenly.
- Cut the tenderloins into thirds or quarters before cooking if you want it to be done in less time.
- Pork needs to reach an internal temperature of 200-205°F to shred easily.
- When done, cut the tenderloins into quarters to make it easier to shred if you didn’t cut them prior to cooking.
- Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container with a little extra bbq sauce so it doesn’t get dry in the fridge. Keep chilled up to 5 days.
Variations
- Protein: Simply swap out the pork for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
- Flavor: Add a little bit of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for some salty flavor or hot sauce for extra heat.
- Spice Rub: You can always play around with the spice mixture. Try onion powder, chili powder and even some cinnamon and coriander.
How to Serve
Grab your favorite hamburger buns or slider rolls for great pulled pork sandwiches or use the meat as a filling in:
- Tacos (Pork Carnitas)
- Burritos
- Quesadillas
- Chili
- Soup
Or a topping on:
- Nachos
- French Fries
- Baked Potatoes
- Salad
- Pizza
Sides Dish Ideas
Depending on how you’re serving the pork, there are several side dish directions you can go in. Here are a few of our favorite recipes and be sure to check out this roundup of 27 sides for pulled pork!
- Asian Red Cabbage Slaw (as a topping and a side!)
- Grilled Potato Salad
- Crisp Green Salad
Pulled Pork Tenderloin FAQs
On average, one pound of cooked pork will make four large sandwiches. Once you figure out how many pounds cooked pork you need, then double that amount for raw pork you’ll need. This is because the meat loses about half its weight when cooked.
Absolutely! It’s best to freeze pulled pork after it has been cooked, shredded and cooled. Store in a freezer safe container or resealable freezer bags up to 4 months.
It's best to thaw the pork overnight in the fridge. You can reheat in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until heated through. Or, in a preheated oven of 300°F in a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil until hot.
For a large amount, put pulled pork in a slow cooker on the Warm setting for 2-3 hours or on Low for 1 - 1 ½ hours until hot. For any reheating method, add some chicken broth, apple juice, bbq sauce, soda or beer if the pork seems dry.
More Slow Cooker Recipes!
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📋 Recipe
Root Beer Pulled Pork Tenderloin (Crockpot)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black ground pepper
- ¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 pork tenderloins , about 3 pounds total
- 1 onion , chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic , minced
- 12 ounces root beer
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup molasses
- For serving: toasted, good-quality rolls and Asian Red Cabbage Slaw
Instructions
- Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub mixture all over pork. Use the entire mixture.
- Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight, if you have time (not a required step). Let sit at room temperature 30-45 minutes before cooking.
- Place pork in 5-6 quart slow cooker. Top with onion and garlic. Stir in root beer, BBQ sauce and molasses.
- Cover and cook until pork is fall-apart tender, 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.
- When fall-apart tender, transfer pork to a large cutting board. Use two forks to shred into bite-size pieces.
- Return shredded pork to juices in slow cooker. Let cook on warm 15 minutes. Serve with toasted rolls and Asian Red Cabbage Slaw. Enjoy!
Notes
- Let the pork sit at room temperature 30-45 minutes before slow cooking so it cooks evenly.
- Cut the tenderloins into thirds or quarters before cooking if you want the pork to be done in less time.
- The pork needs to reach an internal temperature of 200-205°F so it shreds easily.
- When done, cut the tenderloins into quarters to make it easier to shred if you didn’t cut them prior to cooking.
- Actual length of cooking time may vary according to individual slow cooker. The one I have gets hot so I stick to the lower end of the range.
- Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container with a little extra bbq sauce so it doesn’t get dry in the fridge. Keep chilled up to 5 days.
Nutrition
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Nif says
Excellent recipe, I didn't change a thing. I would likely slowly caramelize the onions and garlic the next time but it's not necessary.
Kim Peterson says
Awesome, thrilled you enjoyed!
Den M. says
Kim, Is there any way to emulate this slow cooker recipe using an oven? Has anyone figured out how this might be accomplished?
Kim Peterson says
Sure! You can follow the recipe as is but place everything in a large Dutch oven or oven-proof stock pot and bake covered at 300 degrees until the pork is fall-apart tender, about 2 hours. Enjoy!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Yum!! I love a good pulled pork, especially when it's done in the slow cooker!! Recipes like this make my life easier 😉 Looks great, Kim!!
Kim Peterson says
Thanks, Katherine!! So easy and you can dial the spices up or down. This will be perfect for your growing family! 🙂