Recipe(tried): Crockpot Pulled Pork

CROCKPOT PULLED PORK

In the winter it's difficult to BBQ outside, but you can still have a delicious substitute indoors. Just slow cook a pork butt (also called pork shoulder) in your crockpot and make pulled pork.

Here's how:

1 (4 lb) bone in pork butt (also called pork shoulder)
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ rub (recipe follows)
FOR SERVING:
your favorite BBQ sauce (recipe follows)
coleslaw

Coat a 4-lb pork shoulder with yellow mustard and then coat with your favorite dry BBQ rub. Don't add any liquid to the crockpot. The pork butt will create several cups of its own broth.

Use a meat thermometer and cook the pork until it reaches 205-F center internal temperature. This ensures that the pork will be tender.

Another way of telling if the pork butt is done is when the bone comes out easily when gently pulled with tongs. Cooking a 4-lb pork butt will take about 4 to 6 hours, covered, on high, in the crockpot.

You can use a Kitchenaid stand mixer to pull the pork. Just place the pork, cut into 2 or 3 inch sized chunks, in the mixer and run at medium speed using the mixing paddle. After about 30-seconds you will have perfectly pulled pork. Add some of the pork broth from the crockpot to add flavor and a little moisture to the pulled pork as it's mixing.

Serve on buns with your favorite BBQ sauce and coleslaw.

Here's my homemade BBQ rub. It's my adaptation of Ray Lampe's Big Time BBQ Rub.

1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup turbinado sugar (substitute additional 1/2 cup of brown sugar if you can't find turbinado sugar)
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon granulated onion
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper (reduce amount to 1/2 tsp for a milder rub)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (reduce amount to 1/4 tsp for a milder rub)
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine ingredients in bowl, mix well. Rub a tablespoon or two on pork, chicken or beef before cooking.

Makes about 2-cups. Store unused rub in an airtight container.

Here's my favorite homemade Hickory flavor BBQ sauce:

1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
6 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
4 teaspoons hickory flavor liquid smoke
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon Louisiana style Red Pepper Hot Sauce
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons yellow onion, finely minced

Combine all ingredients in a 2-qt sauce pan. Mix well.
Simmer over very low heat for 15-minutes, stirring occasionally. Store unused sauce in fridge.