Sweet and Savory Pulled Pork in a Crockpot
By Danielle Shea-Tan, MS, CHHC
Functional Family Nutritionist
A simple, yet delicious pork that cooks while you play (or work)! Make it a Complete Meal: Serve on a large leaf of lettuce, atop tortilla, on whole grain bun or alongside baked beans or roasted veggies.
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You don’t need a fancy spit to make delicious pulled pork. This pulled pork is cooked low and slow in a crockpot, while you’re working or playing - making for an easy main dish! Pork, known as the “other white meat,” is touted for its nutritional profile. Unlike chicken or beef, pork is rich in vitamin B1 (thiamine) needed for energy and healthy nerves. It’s also very high in protein and provides heart healthy monounsaturated fat! Danielle’s pulled pork recipe includes apples and onions to add a hint of sweetness to a traditionally savory dish.
Sweet and Savory Pulled Pork in a Crockpot
Yields
4 lbs.
Cook Time
8 hours
Total Time
8 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 5 lbs. Pasture-raised pork butt or shoulder
- 2 large sweet onions, cut into slices
- 1.5 cup applesauce, unsweetened
- 2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
- Barbeque sauce (optional)
Directions
- Prepare pork by removing any cooking twine or string from pork and cut off any thick pieces of fat.
- Create a thin layer of sweet onion slices on bottom of slow cooker, place pork butt on top.
- Pour apple cider vinegar across the top of pork.Cover pork with remaining sweet onion slices. Pour apple sauce on top of onions and pork.
- Cook on low for 8 hours until cooked through and meat falls apart.
- Remove pork carefully, putting onion slices aside and reserving liquid.
- If serving infants using BLW, set aside hunks of pork. Cutting to approximately 3 inches in length by 1 inch in width.
- Shred remaining pork using two forks to separate pork meat into shards, adding some reserved liquid (2-4 Tbs.) as needed to retain moisture.
For the ages
For Babies: BLW
This crockpot pork is so juicy that you’re little one can suck the flavor right out of the meat!
Portion Size:
1 hunk
Ingredients:
3 inch x 1 inch hunk of cooked pork
Serving Tip(s):Serve in tiny bowl. Let baby gnaw on pork hunks. Watch baby closely to be sure she can handle pork that she nibbles off.
For Babies: Traditional
Introducing your baby to the flavor of pork is sure to save you from the “not chicken, again” complaints in the future!
Portion Size:
1 -2 Tbs.
Ingredients:
Cooked pork, liquid such as reserved liquid from slow cooker, filtered water or breast milk
Serving Tip(s):In high speed blender, puree meat with liquid until desired consistency is reached. Let baby eat as much as she wants.
For Toddlers
The applesauce makes this pork naturally sweet that even your toddler will love it!
Portion Size:
2 - 3 Tbs.
Ingredients:
Shredded pork
Serving Tip(s):Serve shredded pork in a happy mat alongside a dollop of barbeque sauce and show him how to dip pork in the sauce. He’ll love taking charge of his eating experience.
For Grown-Ups
You’ll feel like a chef serving this sweet and savory pork to your family! Embrace its versatility and use it in multiple meals all week long.
Portion Size:
½ to ¾ cup shredded pork
Ingredients:
Shredded pork, barbecue sauce
Serving Tip(s):Mix barbecue sauce and pork. Make it a Complete Meal: Serve on a large leaf of lettuce, atop tortilla, on whole grain bun or alongside beans or roasted veggies.
Happy Eating!
Danielle Shea-Tan, MS, CHHC
Functional Family Nutritionist
Danielle is passionate about helping families ditch processed foods and start making real, wholesome food that is both simple and delicious. She blows our minds with fascinating "nutritional nuggets" about foods and herbs. Danielle also recently wrote a book called "52 Small Changes for the Family," an inspiring guide that helps families make one small change each week to improve their overall happiness and health. You can learn more about Danielle at HealthyMamas.com.
