Root Beer Pulled Pork

4 from 10 votes

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Root Beer Pulled Pork is the best! The mix of root beer and BBQ sauce flavored pork is smashed between two buns and eaten as a sandwich (enjoy with coleslaw on the side or even in your sandwiches)!

root beer pulled pork between two buns

Root Beer Pulled Pork | Slow Cooker Recipe!

Let’s talk about this Root Beer Pulled Pork recipe that can be found in The Recipe Girl Cookbook. Lori {who is Recipe Girl} wrote her cookbook a while ago and only now have I had the chance to look through it all very thoroughly and actually enjoy some of the recipes. I liked this pulled pork so much that I had to post about it!

My husband is a bit of a pulled pork freak. He knows a good pulled pork from a bad one. And this, my friends, is a good one! I think the root beer + BBQ sauce combo is what makes these slow-cooked sandwiches so magical.

Moreover, if you have company coming into town for certain holidays this month or next, this would be a great set-it-and-forget-it easy meal. Slow-cookers to the rescue!

For more yummy recipes, check out Recipegirl.com or purchase her book here.

root beer pulled pork in a glass baking dish

Main Ingredients Needed

You only need 5 ingredients and about 30 minutes of prep time to make this amazing slow cooker root beer pulled pork! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Bone-In Pork Butt – also called a pork shoulder (don’t worry it’s a cut from the shoulder, not the booty). I used a 5-6 pound piece of meat, but use what will fit into your crockpot!
  • Onion Soup Mix – this is packaged in an envelope and is an easy way to pack a bunch of flavors into this recipe.
  • Salt + Pepper – don’t forget to season as you go.
  • Root Beer – not only does this provide a sweeter flavor but it also makes things a little sticky, yum! I would absolutely not recommend using diet root beer (you need actual sugar for this recipe).
  • BBQ Sauce – the pork is cooked with BBQ sauce as well as mixing it in near the end for maximum savory flavor. Use whichever BBQ sauce you like best (Sweet Baby Ray’s is a classic).
  • Hamburger Buns – you can use this pulled pork recipe for a variety of things but I like to make sandwiches out f it. Toast your buns for a slight crunch!

How to Make Pulled Pork with Root Beer

For full details on how to make Root Beer Pulled Pork, see the recipe card down below 🙂

1. Prepare Pork + Cook

Rub pork shoulder with onion soup mix, salt, and pepper. Place pork into a slow cooker. Top with root beer and 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours or until pork is very tender, falls apart, and shreds easily.

2. Shred with Ingredients

Remove meat from the slow cooker. Pour out and discard all but 3/4 cup juices. Use 2 forks to shred meat, discarding any extra fatty pieces.

3. Add Back to Pot + Warm

Place meat back into the slow cooker with reserved juices. Add remaining BBQ sauce and stir to combine. Cover and heat through 15-20 minutes more. Serve as desired!

close up of pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on it

How to Serve Root Beer Pulled Pork

My favorite way to serve this root beer pulled pork is between two toasted hamburger buns! My kids will gobble this right up. Serve coleslaw either on the side or even in your sandwich. Oh baby the cold crunchy freshness of the coleslaw goes so well with the pulled pork. This is heaven, friends. You can also enjoy it these ways:

two pulled pork sandwiches photographed from the side

Side Dish Ideas!

If coleslaw isn’t your thing or you’re looking for more easy side dishes to have with this meal, I’ve got you covered. Try these out:

one pulled pork sandwich on parchment paper

More Pulled Pork Recipes to Try!

Printable recipe below! Hope you have a better weekend that I will have. Odds are, you will!

two pulled pork sandwiches photographed from the side
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4 from 10 votes

Root Beer Pulled Pork

This Root Beer Pulled Pork recipe is the best! The mix of root beer and BBQ sauce flavored pork is smashed between two buns and eaten as a sandwich!
servings 10 servings
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 5 lb bone-in pork shoulder butt roast or 6 lb
  • 1 oz dried onion soup mix 1 envelope
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 12 oz root beer 1 can
  • 2 cups BBQ sauce divided
  • 10 regular-size hamburger buns

Instructions

  • Rub with onion soup mix, salt and pepper. Place pork butt into slow cooker. Top with root beer and 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours or until pork is very tender, falls apart and shreds easily.
  • Remove meat from slow cooker. Pour out and discard all but 3/4 cup juices. Use 2 forks to shred meat, discarding any extra fatty pieces.
  • Place meat back into slow cooker with reserved juices. Add remaining BBQ sauce and stir to combine. Cover and heat through 15-20 minutes more. Serve on warmed hamburger buns with coleslaw, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1388mg | Potassium: 794mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 2.4mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 4mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: root beer pulled pork

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29 Responses
  1. Pumpkin Pie Cheerios Bars | Lauren's Latest

    […] should spend it (duh!) because {3} I know the medical bills will be rolling in from my fun little {non-greys-anatomy-like} ambulance ride and jolly ol’ ER visit in a few […]

  2. Suzanna

    5 stars
    I made these last week and one night we had them as sandwiches with sweet potato fries. So yum!! With the leftovers I made our version of one of my kids my favorite restaurant appetizer called “Man Fries.” It’s a Hawaiian restaurant so they basically pile Kalua Pork onto french fries and cover that with cheese, chopped, green onion, and special sauces. My kids LOVED them with the Rootbeer Pulled Pork! They said they were “as good if not better” than the restaurants! We’ll definitely be making this recipe again and again!

  3. Natalie | Paper & Birch

    I’ve been in the ambulance once and nope, nothing like Grey’s at all. Old dude and a burly woman. Total letdown. Wow, I hope you’re feeling better!

  4. Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life

    Oh! I hope you are feeling better soon! I had an emergency gallbladder removal earlier in the year and was driven to the hospital by a pretty hunky guy who stayed with me for the whole day (it’s okay, he’s my significant other).
    I suppose I should thank him for his service (and his love everyday) by making him some root beer pulled pork. He’s going to love it!

  5. Maria

    Sorry, sorry to hear about your kidney infection. I had one a few years ago. I missed an entire week of week, went back to doctors -3X in one week. It’s no fun at all. I hope you are feeling better. My daughter took an ambulance ride last spring – no Grey’s Anatomy look a-likes either. Pulled port looks yummy!

  6. Chels R.

    Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry that you had to go through that! It sounds terrible. I had a ruptured cyst on my ovary once and we considered going to the hospital for it, but after some research, not a lot they can do-I literally thought that pain was worse than childbirth.
    Yay for having a hubby who will take care of you though. 🙂

  7. Robin

    Grey’s Anatomy! So sorry McDreamy was not there for you! Funniest thing I’ve read this week. Thanks for the laughs and I hope you feel better soon!

  8. Gina

    A friend told me to just put pork and root beer in the crock pot and it was great pulled pork. Didn’t love it but it was better once we put vinegary sauce on it and bbq sauce so might give this a try because I think you’re combo of other favors might help a lot!

  9. Karen

    Yes, sorry about the whole ordeal. I personally don’t want anyone who looks good around me when I am sick…and looking at my worst…call me vain. I am glad you are feeling much better and very sorry you had to go through any of that. This looks delicious, and thank your husband for his service to our country also!

  10. Donna Abell

    I had to leave Disneyworld by ambulance! No one would believe me when I told them Elvis was the EMT. But really, his name was Elvis!!

  11. Susan

    I took an ambulance ride a few years ago. Kidney stones!! Unbelievable pain! Don’t know if the ambulance guys were Grey’s Anatomy worthy or not….too busy being in horrific pain and throwing up! I’m sure I impressed them 🙂 Glad to hear you are on the mend.

    Oh…and this pulled pork sounds like the bomb! I love pulled pork and will be making this recipe! Thanks for sharing!

  12. Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat.

    That pulled pork looks amazing. I have tried a ton of pulled pork recipes and haven’t loved any of them, so I’ll have to try this one. It looks delicious and quick and easy, so can’t ask for much more! So sorry about the horrid sounding infection – hope you feel better soon!

  13. Liz @ Floating Kitchen

    Oh my gosh. Sorry to hear about all this. But I think it’s good that your ambulance ride was boring. I think an exciting ambulance ride is not a good thing! Although I certainly wouldn’t mind a good looking doctor or two!

  14. Pat

    5 stars
    By Monday the anti’s will have worked their magic…… YAH!!!!!! Been there done that. All will be well.

    There could be nothing wrong with the Root Beer Pulled Pork. Root Beer is the only soft drink we have in the house, ever, and will definitely use one of them on our next pulled pork sandwiches. Thank you for sharing.

    Also: I entirely forgot to thank your Husband for his Service to our Country on Veterans Day. So thank him very much for me (Big Hug!!!)

  15. Kathleen

    I am totally laughing right now! You are too funny. I am sorry that your in pain. 🙁
    I too took an ambulance ride and did not have the “Grey’s Anatomy” experience. What did happen was a few days later, after being diagnosed with acute Diverticulitis, I was given a colonoscopy (!!!) by the best looking doctor around!

  16. Michele {Delish Dishes From Michele}

    5 stars
    Yuck! No fun with the hospital visit. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

    My husband LOVES pulled pork as well, and I happen to LOVE slow cooker recipes, so this may just be a match made in Heaven for our house! I will need to try this recipe! Thanks for the post 🙂

    -Michele

  17. Susan Marie

    I got to be transferred by ambulance a year ago from our rural hospital to a larger one, about an hour’s ride. And my EMT’s were pretty hunky-looking. However, I had been the lunch lady of one of them in high school, and he must have liked me, for he constantly inquired as to my comfort the whole way and offered to give me more morphine if I wanted. 🙂
    The pulled pork sounds delicious. I think I’ll try it with a spicy bbq sauce!

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