Perfect Pulled Pork: 2 Ingredient Easy

Perfect Pulled Pork is easy to achieve with your slow cooker. In 5 minutes or less, you can get this tasty dish started and get on with your day.

It’s one of my favorite meals for hectic days because it requires so little time and effort. Pulled pork also yields a flavorful, scrumptious supper with leftovers to make so many other tasty lunches and dinners.

The Ingredients

Two simple ingredients will make this delicious pork tenderloin dinner for your family. All you need is a 4- or 5-pound pork loin roast and a box of onion soup mix (one with 2 packets of soup mix).

• Pork Loin
• Onion Soup Mix

As you can see, this is an affordable meal. As a matter of fact, for $10, you will have prepped the meat for multiple delicious lunches and/or dinners!

I almost never cooked pork for my family until about 4 years ago. I ate a lot of it growing up, but really, we were more of a beef and chicken kind of family.

Pork wasn’t my favorite. It seemed to have lots of fat and not much flavor. So, I have pretty much ignored it for most of my adult life.

A few years back, I realized how much more affordable pork is and I started experimenting with different cuts and flavors. And, I learned how to cook it well. It really takes on whatever flavors you cook into it.

So, pork loin roasts have been one of my favorites to cook with ever since.

I can cut them into thick, boneless pork chops, and use them to make rice bowls and noodle bowls. I use pork loins for barbecue and so many other flavor-rich dishes.

It’s a protein that I hope you’ll give more consideration after you taste this yummy perfect pulled pork!

And if you want to get really creative with pork try this yummy, tender and delicious Smoked Pork Butt from my friend Kita, at Girl Carnivore.

Pork Loin vs Pork Tenderloin

Maple Mustard Slow Cooker Pork Loin is made with a pork loin, NOT pork tenderloin.

What is a Pork Loin?

Pork loin is a larger, roast-style cut. It does better with roasting and slow cooking methods. The loin is cut from the back of the hog. It is a lean piece of meat, however, it usually has a thick fat cap on the top.

You may see pork loin called center cut pork loin roast, center cut pork roast or pork center loin roast. In our part of the world, it’s simply called pork loin. I can buy a whole loin or a half. The half is what you’re looking for for this recipe. They usually range between 3 and 5 lbs.

What is a Pork Tenderloin?

A pork tenderloin, on the other hand, is not a good choice for Perfect Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. It is a smaller, much thinner cut of meat. It’s from a muscle that runs along the backbone and usually only weighs about one pound. They often come two-to-a-package, in our area. Because of their small size and leanness, they are best cooked quickly, at high heat.

It’s definitely important not to confuse pork loin and pork tenderloin when making a recipe. They are very different cuts of meat. The success of your recipe depends on choosing the correct one. So, just a reminder that this recipe uses a pork loin.

How to Make Perfect Pulled Pork

One whole side of your pork loin will be covered in a thick layer of fat. That’s the fat cap. Don’t remove it until after cooking. That’s moisture and flavor that will make your pork irresistibly delicious!

Remove the loin from it’s package and place it in your *slow cooker with the fat cap UP. As it cooks that fat will melt and drip down, flavoring your meat and keeping it tender and moist.

Empty both envelopes of onion soup mix over the top of the pork loin, allowing it to run over the sides of the roast, into the bottom of the *slow cooker.

That’s it! You don’t need anything else. No water, no stock, no salt. Just cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to LOW.

Allow the pork to cook slowly for 4-8 hours through your day. The exact time will depend on the size of your pork loin. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145° with a 3 minute rest time for testing doneness of pork loin.

However, to get the meat to an easy shreddable point, though, you will want the pork to cook longer than just to reach 145°. It will make beautiful slices at that stage, but to actually be able to shred it the internal temperature needs to be closer to 200°.

When the temperature is close to 200°, or even slightly above, the connective tissues will have broken down and you will be able to easily shred the meat just by pulling it with a fork. That will be the best test of when your pork loin is ready.

When the Pork Loin is Finished

Oh my heavens! This pork loin roast is calling my name. Look at all the drippings that the meat and onion soup mix created on their own!

You could have roasted the meat with potatoes and carrots in there, too. Then, you’d be ready to slice it up, make some gravy with the drippings and enjoy a roast dinner. But, tonight, we’re prepping it for pulled pork sandwiches and meals through the week with the leftovers.

Start by removing the fat cap, now that the roast is done cooking. I just use the edge of a fork to scrape and remove it. And I remove ALL of it. I don’t want any left in my finished dishes. Some will argue with me, but that is my personal preference. Discard the fat and the pork is ready to be pulled.

Use the same fork to shred or “pull” your pork loin roast. Toss it with all the delicious brothy drippings in the bottom of the slow cooker, so every mouthful is moist and wonderful. So simple! It’s ready to make sandwiches for dinner.

Pile it high on buns with your favorite barbecue sauce and toppings. It’s absolutely delectable with vinegar-based coleslaw, cheese, pickled onions and jalapenos or any other toppings your family enjoys. I tried to keep my photos minimal so you could really see the fabulous pork, but go ahead, pile on what you love.

How to Use Leftover Pulled Pork

Pork Carnitas Tacos

I made the tacos in this picture by cooking the pork in a slow cooker, too, with different seasonings, specifically for carnitas. But, you can take your pulled pork leftovers and do the same thing.

Just toss the pork in a cast iron skillet with about 2 Tablespoons of oil and some citrus juice and zest. I like mixing orange and lime. Sprinkle in a little cumin and chili powder and heat everything together for a few minutes until the pork starts to get crispy around the edges.

Serve it in warm corn tortillas with your favorite taco toppings! SO GOOD!

Stuffed Pasta Shells

This is a picture of my Mexican Stuffed Pasta Shells, made with chicken. Substitute the pulled pork for the chicken for a delicious result. Or use your favorite sauce and cheese mixed with the pork and some minced onion, garlic and veggies to create your own version of a stuffed shell.

Or simply add the pulled pork to Hearty Marinara Sauce and toss with your favorite pasta and1/2 cup of the pasta water. Grate some fresh Parmesan over the top and serve it with a crisp and cool House Salad for a fabulous Italian dinner!

The possibilities are pretty much endless. If you can make it with chicken, you can make it with pork. Use it in stir fries, noodle casseroles, soup, rice bowls, noodle bowls or so much more.

You can also make a delicious barbecue pizza, a quick Chinese stir fry or delicious burritos and quesadillas with leftover pulled pork. The possibilities are as limitless as your creativity!

Freezing Leftover Pulled Pork

You can put the leftovers into a zip-top bag with the air pushed out and freeze them, too. They’ll keep in the freezer for about 3 months and you can pull them out when you need pre-cooked meat for a meal in a hurry.

Seriously, you guys have to try this! It’s so flavorful and so versatile and it’s the beginning of so many affordable dishes your family will love.

Enjoy this recipe, my friend!

Great Side Dishes With Pulled Pork

Pineapple Salsa

Bell Pepper Salad

Shirazi Salad

Coleslaw with Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

Asian Cucumber Salad

Best Baked Bean Casserole

Perfect Potato Salad

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

The Recipe

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