By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 11, 2026
Serves 14
476 cal · 495 min
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork
Recipe GLPR2c97a8d7847908
A simple yet incredibly flavorful pulled pork made in the slow cooker with just three ingredients: a boneless pork shoulder, root beer, and barbecue sauce. The root beer adds a subtle sweetness that tenderizes the meat while it cooks low and slow, creating succulent, easily shredded pork perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or served over rice. This crowd-pleasing recipe feeds 14 people and is ideal for gatherings and potlucks.
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Ingredients
5 to 6 pounds boneless pork shoulder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (12-ounce) bottle or can root beer
1 (16-ounce) jar barbecue sauce
Directions
Place the boneless pork shoulder in the slow cooker.
Sprinkle the kosher salt evenly over the pork.
Pour the entire bottle or can of root beer over the pork.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F and shreds easily with a fork.
Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place on a cutting board. Shred the meat using two forks, pulling it apart into bite-sized pieces.
Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker.
Pour the entire jar of barbecue sauce into the slow cooker and stir until well combined.
Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve warm.
Comments
This is a genuine crowd-pleaser with rock-solid availability and cost: a pork shoulder from any major Charlotte chain (Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, Kroger, ALDI) runs $8–12 depending on sales, root beer and sauce are pantry staples found everywhere, and at 14 servings you're looking at roughly $1.50–2 per serving before sauce, making it one of the cheapest feeds for a group. The 495 minutes is honest: 8 hours minimum in the slow cooker plus thawing time if frozen, and it requires almost no hands-on attention, which is the whole point. It reheats beautifully and improves the next day, and pulled pork is a Southern staple that lands naturally in North Carolina. The only reason it's not a 5.0 is that root beer in savory pork is a gimmick that divides opinions—some will love the sweetness, others will find it cloying and wish they'd made it plain.
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