Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork
18 Comments Apr 12, 2025
Updated Jun 12, 2025
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Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork is a must-try classic—just three ingredients for tender, flavorful pork cooked in root beer and barbecue sauce. It’s perfect piled on buns or served over rice for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal.
If you’re looking to put a fun twist on your pulled pork recipe, this is the one to try. I received this recipe from a dear friend, and I’m sure glad I got it! What’s the magic ingredient? Root beer! My friend cooks her recipe for 15+ hours, though I think 10 hours is a good amount of time for tender fall-off-the-bone pork. This is also one of the first recipes on the site from 2013!
Key Ingredients
Here is what you need to make the BEST crockpot root beer pork. For full ingredients amounts, see the recipe card below the images.
- Pork Shoulder: A boneless pork shoulder of any size works.
- Root Beer: Just one can will do the trick. We also use root beer in our root beer baked beans and root beer chicken.
- Sweet Baby Rays: This is my favorite barbecue sauce to use, but you can use whatever brand (and flavor) you prefer.
- Buns: For making sandwiches.
How to make Crockpot Root Beer Pork
You can make this dinner in three easy steps!
Step One – Add the pork shoulder to the slow cooker. Then add the bbq sauce.
Step Two – Pour over the root beer. Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours
Step Three – Remove the pork from the slow cooker onto a sheet tray or large plate. Shred the meat with two forks and discard any fat. Add the pork back into the slow cooker into the juices. Serve and enjoy!
How to serve Root Beer Pulled Pork:
Here are my favorite ways to serve this shredded pork:
- Serve it up on hamburger buns (toasted is best). Great topping choices are coleslaw, pickles and cheese.
- Serve on top of steamed white rice or as a topping for loaded baked potatoes. If you have second crockpot use my slow cooker baked potatoes recipe.
- Pair your pulled pork with classic sides like slow cooker baked beans, slow cooker mac and cheese, or a crisp garden salad.
Cook’s Notes
The meat can be browned in a skillet if desired – the cook time will remain the same.
Don’t like root beer? You can use coca-cola or dr. pepper. I don’t recommend diet soda, unless you are completly used to the taste.
Be sure to degrease the sauce before adding the pork back in.
Featured Comment
“Thank you for this recipe!! This is a terrific recipe and the taste is wonderful. I recommend it. For extra juiciness I use two cans of root beer and for a pit flavor also add 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke When finished, I add another 2/3 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays and mix it in throughly.”
– ED
Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 4 lb. boneless pork shoulder, often called pork butt (3-4 lb roast)
- 12 oz. root beer
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce
For Serving:
- Hamburger Buns
Instructions
- Add the roast, root beer, and barbecue sauce to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Once cooked, remove the roast and shred; discarding any fatty pieces.
- Replace the shredded meat back into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker; stir.
- Serve on your favorite buns.
Sarah’s Notes
- Cola or Dr. Pepper can be used instead of Root Beer with similar results.
- This recipe does not require browning the meet ahead of time, though if you prefer to brown your pork, that is fine too.
- If you want a spicy pork, add 2 sliced jalapenos at the beginning of the cooking time.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Other slow cooker pork recipes:
- Slow Cooker Cuban Pork is citrusy, garlicky, and packed with bold flavor, while Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork turns out sweet, tender, and tangy. We also love Crockpot Country Style ribs smothered in sweet baby rays barbecue sauce.
- Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Pork has a rich, smoky-sweet glaze, and Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork is a classic crowd-pleaser with a savory sauce.
- Slow Cooker Kalua Pig is deeply seasoned and smoky, inspired by traditional Hawaiian flavors, while Slow Cooker Chile Verde is zesty, saucy, and perfect over rice or tortillas.
Just made this yesterday. This is definitely a keeper. Think keeping the roast whole is the reason the meat did not dry out. The only thing I did differently put the degreased sauce in a pan, added a little potato starch for a more sauce like consistency.
If I want to cook on high, how many hours should I cook it for?
It really depends on your slow cooker and the size of your roast. I usually plan on 6 hours, and even long if you roast is over 4 lbs.
I love your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
At last !! A Crock Pot pork roast recipe that doesn’t require a dozen ingredients, yet sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to try it.
Can you prepare it the night by putting the root beer and bbq sauce on it to marinate?
Yes, preparing the night before will work just fine!
Thank you!
Does the cooking time vary based on how many pounds you are cooking? And do you pour some of the liquid out before adding the meat back in or do you use it all? thanks so much!
The cooking time will vary, but you can’t overcook it! Yes, I remove some of the liquid before adding the meat back.
I love this it’s so easy……only way to go….
it says 8 hrs 10 mins in the recipe but then it says cook on low or 10 hours – which is it ?
10 hours, thank you.
Have just looked up ‘root beer’ and the closest we have here in the UK is Dandelion & Burdock
Dr.Pepper is a popular beverage for pulled pork.Do you have that?
Thank you for this recipe!! This is a terrific recipe and the taste is wonderful. I recommend it. For extra juiciness I use two cans of root beer and for a pit flavor also add 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke When finished, I add another 2/3 bottle of Sweet Baby Raes and mix it in throughly.
I have a very large Pork loin in the freezer. Do you think it could work in this recipe?
You can, though whenever I’ve used pork loin for pulled pork, it’s more on the healthy side and not quite the same.