This Healthy Crockpot Pulled Pork recipe is a perfect easy, filling weeknight dinner. Made in the slow cooker with only a few ingredients, it’s low in fat, packed with protein, and paleo / Whole30 approved!
Warning: You’re going to want to eat this Healthy Crockpot Pulled Pork for dinner almost EVERY week once you try it!
Partially because it’s one of the easiest recipes ever, but also because it’s super delicious! This healthy pulled pork only requires 10 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time.
The crockpot does the rest of the work for you to make the tastiest pulled pork with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
A few months ago I was in a total dinner rut!
I was so bored with everything that I was finding on Pinterest, totally sick of all my favorite recipes that I had found and saved over the years… and just plain didn’t want to cook.
If you’re looking for other slow cooker recipes – check out our slow cooker pot roast, slow cooker baby back ribs, or these Paleo Crockpot Recipes.
Then this pulled pork came into my life, and it has hands down been my favorite thing to make for dinner. Mostly because it requires so little work, which is perfect!
P.S. – If you love crockpot recipes, check out our crockpot whole chicken or these Healthy Crockpot Recipes!
What makes this pulled pork healthy?
- Low fat – Traditionally pulled pork is made with pork shoulder or pork butt which is higher in fat. We use pork tenderloins in this recipe which are much leaner! If you do want a pulled pork shoulder recipe, we love this Pulled Pork Shoulder.
- High Protein – This recipe is pure protein! 41g per serving!
- Low sugar BBQ sauce – We recommend you use a low or no sugar BBQ sauce to keep this low carb. So many BBQ sauces are high in sugar and honestly.. you don’t need all that sugar!
It’s also paleo, whole30 friendly, gluten free, sugar free, and dairy free. Most importantly it’s DELICIOUS. Cause that’s what really matters, right?
Ingredients for Healthy Crockpot Pulled Pork:
To make pulled pork you’ll need:
- pork tenderloins
- olive oil
- paprika, garlic powder, pepper, onion powder, cinnamon, ground ginger
- chicken broth
- BBQ sauce
I really love topping this with this BBQ sauce. It’s paleo/Whole30 friendly, but it also tastes amazing! I hate when BBQ spices are too sweet, or too smoky. This is another good BBQ sauce brand, and we also like this one!
How to make healthy crockpot pulled pork:
Cooking healthy pulled pork is very easy. The key is the spices!
- Get your spices + other ingredients.
- Whisk together your olive oil+ spices.
- Marinate your pork tenderloin.
- When you’re ready to cook. Put it in the crockpot with chicken stock. Allow it to cook low + slow.
- When it’s cooked, shred with forks or a mixer.
- Toss with barbecue sauce & enjoy!
Do you need to use pork tenderloins for this?
I prefer to use pork tenderloins in this recipe because they tend to be less fatty and very lean. You could also use a pork shoulder or pork butt if you prefer!
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Substitutions for healthy pulled pork:
This recipe is pretty straight forward but there are a few substitutions you can easily make!
Pork – You can use pork shoulder or butt for this recipe, but i prefer the pork tenderloins because they are so lean. Chicken will also work with this recipe!
Liquid Smoke – You can add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the marinade if you’re looking for that smoky flavor!
Chicken – If you don’t eat pork, check out this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken!
Spices – Feel free to change up the spices in this recipe or use your favorite BBQ rub
Oil – Avocado oil will work in this recipe in place of olive oil.
Instant Pot: You can also make this recipe in the instant pot. See below for instructions in the recipe!
BBQ Sauce: Any BBQ sauce will work great on this pulled pork but make sure to read your ingredients if you’re strict paleo/whole30 .
Can you make pulled pork in the instant pot?
Yes you totally can! This pulled pork is much better if you make it in the crockpot, but you can make it in the instant pot. Follow all the instructions for marinating. When you’re ready to cook – get instant pot to Sealing, Pressure Cook for 18 minutes.
When the instant pot is done, allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 15 minutes, then quick release. It’s better if you can naturally release the pressure completely because it keeps the pork super tender.
Do you need to use barbecue sauce in this recipe?
You could leave the barbecue sauce off this recipe, but I love adding a low/no sugar BBQ sauce to it for extra flavor and to keep it moist.
Just be careful with the barbecue sauce you use because many of them have tons of added sugars and funky ingredients.
Pulled Pork FAQ:
Yes, you need to put liquid in the slow cooker for pulled pork. The liquid helps to essentially steam the pork which results in juicy, flavorful pulled pork.
The best cut of meat for pulled pork is pork butt or pork shoulder, but I like to use pork tenderloins because they are lean and low in fat.
The best cut of pork for pulled pork is pork shoulder or butt. The fat helps the meat get super tender. However, we love to use pork tenderloin for pulled pork. Pork chops will also work!
Absolutely! Pork loin or pork tenderloins can make great pulled pork. The key is cooking them low an slow because they are a leaner cut of meat.
How to Store Pulled Pork
Storing: This will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freezing: You can freeze this recipe for up to 3 months. We like these containers for freezing. Make sure to thaw the pork completely before enjoying.
Reheating: You can reheat this recipe in the microwave, toaster oven or on the stove in a lightly greased pan.
Why is my crock pot pulled pork tough?
Your crockpot pulled pork might be tough because you didn’t cook it for long enough. Pork really needs 6-8 hours (or longer depending on the cut) to make sure that the meat breaks down. Try to keep your crockpot set on low vs the high setting to avoid getting tough pulled pork.
How do you keep pulled pork moist in a crock pot?
To keep pulled pork moist in the crockpot make sure there is enough liquid and avoid using the high heat setting. You can always add more liquid and the pork will soak up the juices. Beef or chicken broth will add the most flavor.
Serving Suggestions
We love to serve this recipe with Crispy Roasted Potatoes and Healthy Green Beans Almondine. You can also serve them on a slider, or with some of our other veggie side dishes
Healthy Crockpot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs pork tenderloin (approximately 2 medium pork tenderloins)
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce of Choice
Instructions
Crockpot Instructions:
- Clean off ‘silver skin’ from pork tenderloin. (This is optional, but recommended to keep it lean)
- In a bowl, whisk together olive oil + spices. Marinate pork in olive oil + spices overnight if possible in a ziploc bag, otherwise place tenderloins in crockpot and cover with oil/spice marinade. Make sure all areas of the pork have some marinade on them.
- Pour chicken stock on top of marinated tenderloins.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours in the crockpot or high for 4-6 hours.
- When finished cooking, use tongs or a fork to pull the tenderloins apart (it will fall apart!). Allow the juices to soak into the pulled pork.
- Toss with your favorite barbecue sauce + enjoy!
Instant Pot Instructions:
- We recommend making this recipe in the crockpot, not the instant pot. It's much better when cooked low and slow.
- Clean off 'silver skin' from pork tenderloin. (This is optional, but recommended to keep it lean). Cut pork tenderloin into 5-6 inch sections. You can leave the tenderloins whole, but it will take longer to come to pressure.
- In a bowl, whisk together olive oil + spices. Marinate pork in olive oil + spices overnight if possible in a ziploc bag, otherwise place tenderloins in instant pot and cover with oil/spice marinade. Make sure all areas of the pork have some marinade on them.
- Pour chicken stock on top of marinated tenderloins. **Important Note** Add an extra cup of chicken stock or water. The instant pot requires more liquid.
- Set instant pot to Sealing, Pressure Cook for 18 minutes. When instant pot is done, allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 15 minutes, then quick release.
- When finished cooking, use tongs or a fork to pull the tenderloins apart (it will fall apart!). Allow the juices to soak into the pulled pork.
- Toss with your favorite barbecue sauce + enjoy!
Video
Notes
- I prefer to use pork tenderloins in this recipe because they tend to be less fatty and very lean. You could also use a pork shoulder or pork butt if you prefer!
- You can marinate this pork ahead of time for up to 24 hours for even more flavor
Krystal says
Thank you so much for this simple recipe. I went ahead and made this low sodium. I added heaping measurements of the spices to the oil and marinated for 18hrs. Added a couple chopped up carrots and 2 sweet onions to the crock pot. The smell while cooking was divine. That hint of cinnamon gives it something special. 6hrs on high, checked it a few time. I decided to add a full bottle of bbq sauce at the end. Texture and tenderness look great. Sauciness looks ideal. Hoping this freezes and reheats well. Also hoping it will be a hit with my Grandma as one of her pre made freezer meals. Since I cant taste it myself..It passes my smell test for sure.
Whitney Carter says
So easy and delicious!! I love that it doesn’t have a bunch of added sugar and you can sweeten it up to your liking with BBQ sauce 😋 definitely will be making again!
Kyle says
Super easy and delicious! I accidentally added 1/2 tablespoon of pepper instead of teaspoon and it still came out great!
Denise says
If you marinade it first, what are you marinading it in??
The Clean Eating Couple says
The recipe says ‘Marinate pork in olive oil + spices overnight if possible in a ziploc bag, otherwise place tenderloins in crockpot and cover with oil/spice marinade.’
Jess Mitchell says
Great ! Quick easy and tasty. The recipe is easy to follow and taste great.
Karen says
Love this recipe! Turns out well every time we’ve made it and family loves it. The combination of the spices is key
BEN30 says
Tasty!
Kelly Cram says
So tender and flavorful! I’m looking forward to making this again and marinating for 24 hours, but even with just a few hours of marinating the pork was delicious!
Kjerstin Richards says
This was delicious! Added a few more spices to the rub, but otherwise followed it exactly. The pork wasn’t dry for me at all and I loved that we did the bbq sauce on the side so people could put how much they wanted. In all honesty, the pork was flavorful without it. I plan on saving some leftovers (if it makes it past the second day) for Cuban sandwiches.
I appreciate you sharing a pork loin pulled pork recipe. It’s nice to see an alternative compared to pork butt. I’ll be keeping this recipe in rotation.
Carol English says
Want something easy and delicious? Make this, it’s really good. I used a store bought sweet heat bbq sauce for a little extra flavor. Was even better at lunch today.
Allison says
This was amazing! I am new to cooking and have never cooked with pork before. This recipe turned out fantastic. I used 2 lb pork tenderloin and cooked it for 5 hours on low. Can’t express how much my husband and I enjoyed!
Chelsea says
I have made this recipe a few times and it’s always amazing! I would recommend doing the slow cook for longer time. Marinating overnight is great but also works the day of – even for only marinating for an hour. I add some cabbage slaw on my tacos for a little crunch or just have it in a salad. If you have leftovers, I HIGHLY recommend making some white Annie’s mac and cheese and adding the pulled pork in for a protein with some veggies on the side. It’s a great change and adds so much flavor while using up those leftovers!
Marianne says
Hello:
The pulled pork turned out great! First time I have made it! For the future, can I cook this recipe in the oven?
Marianne
The Clean Eating Couple says
Glad you liked it! No, you need to make this in the crockpot. if you cook this in the oven it will dry out!
Ellen says
This recipe was so easy and so delicious! To keep it low calorie I used a flat-out as my “bun”! My whole family enjoyed it.
The Clean Eating Couple says
So glad you liked it!
Krista says
I currently have this in the crockpot. There are a lot of juices leftover. Do I dump the extra juices before adding the bbq sauce or combine the bbq sauce with the leftover juices?
The Clean Eating Couple says
You can but you don’t have to. If you do that it will help to keep the pork moist
Janay says
Absolutely fabulous! Use this recipe for any holiday or gathering!! I haven’t had much practice making shredded bbq anything so I wasn’t confident in how this would turn out. It turned out great! I love that you add the bbq sauce at the end so people can have which ever flavor they want. My husband likes a burban BBQ sauce that I’m not a fan of so we can each get what we want.
I’ve made it twice now. It is even yummy without the BBQ sauce. This is a must try! Super easy. This last time I didn’t remember to marinate it over night so I just marinated for the 3 ish hours I had to do so. Turned out wonderful. Hit the spot for my BBQ craving!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So happy you liked it!
Amber says
What a wonderful recipe! I love how simple it is!
Jessica Packer says
I made this last night and it was amazing! I only let it marinate for about an hour & I made it in my Instant Pot because I was running short on time and it was delicious. I can only imagine how much better it would be if it had all that extra time to marinate overnight AND cook for 6-8 hours!! Holy mackerel! Liz, you always knock it outta the park with these great recipes and I can’t wait to try this one again and try even more of your recipes!!
Alyssa says
This is the perfect base for pulled pork! Cost effective, delicious, healthy, and easy. Cannot recommend this enough!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So glad you liked it, Alyssa! Thank you!
Georgia Pappa says
Hello there! Was wondering what pressure to use on instant pot- low, medium or high? It doesn’t specify.
Thank you!!
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Georgia – My instant pot doesn’t have low, medium or high. I just set it to Pressure Cook. I would say stick with medium!
Ally says
Such a great & easy recipe! My husband and I love making this once a week for easy meal prep.
The Clean Eating Couple says
So happy you liked it! Thank you so much!
Breonna says
Such a quick and easy recipe! First time making pulled pork and it was delicious!!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So happy you liked it, Breonna! Thank you!
Alyssa says
If I am making this with pork chops (~1.5 lbs) how long should I cook these on low?
The Clean Eating Couple says
I’m sorry Alyssa but I’ve never tried this with pork chops so I’m not sure how that will work. I’d cook it for at least 4 hours on low. They might need 6-8 hours to get tender but without trying it I can’t be sure!
Elissa says
Made this yesterday and it’s the best pulled pork I’ve made! My husband is already talking about adding them to nachos the next time I make it. So good & flavorful without the guilt or heavy feeling.
The Clean Eating Couple says
Thanks, Elissa! So glad you liked it!
LB says
Made this and took it to work. BIG HIT!!!! Leftovers were even better the next day! Thanks!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So glad you liked it!!