Slow Cooker Spicy Pulled Pork

If you are a big fan of BBQ pork, then this recipe will wake up your taste buds! Spicy pulled pork, slow-cooked for hours in the crockpot, topped with bbq sauce and jalapenos- talk about yum! This pork recipe is perfect on buns or in a crunchy lettuce wrap.

Pulled pork is one of my favorite comfort foods and a dish I love to make during the summer to feed a crowd. Paired with some healthy slaw, corn on the cob, and watermelon slices – it’s easily one of my favorite ways to cook pork!

Recently to mix things up, I have been making a spicy version of pulled pork using whole jalapenos. Adding them whole to the slow cooker will impart a subtle spicy flavor to the sauce without becoming overly spicy.

If you love spice like me, you can add some of the cooked jalapenos to your dish to kick up the heat. If you love a smokey flavor and spice, you could use chipotle peppers in this recipe instead of the jalapenos. But, be careful because they pack a lot more heat!

Key Ingredients For Spicy Pulled Pork

When you use whole ingredients and your own combination of spices, you might be surprised how much better your pulled pork tastes. Here is some more information about what I used to make this spicy pulled pork.

• Pork Tenderloin: You can use either a pork tenderloin or a pork loin. Pork loins tend to be larger, so they will feed more people.
• Onion: Use either white, yellow, or red onion. You don’t need to cut it up very small, just in quarters.
• Garlic Cloves: Use as much garlic as you like. For me, it was about 4 garlic cloves. Just slice them, you don’t have to mince or press them.
• Jalapenos: The more jalapenos you use, the spicier it will be. You don’t have to slice them, just throw them in the slow cooker whole.
• Spices: I created my own combination of spices. For this pulled pork, I used paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, cumin, and pepper. If you don’t really like the taste of garlic, you can leave the garlic powder out.
• Barbecue Sauce: If you are trying to minimize how much sugar you eat, you can use sugar-free BBQ sauce. Just use your favorite flavor.
• Chicken Broth: Low-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock is the best choice since all the other spices have so much flavor – you don’t need the extra salt.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this spicy pulled pork, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Recipe Tips And Ideas

Follow these tips to make sure that this pulled pork turns out tender and spicy every single time!

• Rub the spices into the pork before you place it in the slow cooker. This will help them really seep into the meat.
• After it is fully cooked, shred the pulled pork with two forks. To speed up the shredding process, you can use an electric mixer instead.
• Let the pork rest in the slow cooker with the lid off after you shred it. This will help the sauce to thicken up.

What To Serve With Pulled Pork

This is a classic recipe that you can just place on some rolls and serve for dinner. It will taste amazing with vegetable pasta salad. That salad recipe will also feed a crowd with minimal effort. Another side salad that will taste perfect with the spicy pork is this southwest quinoa salad. It has black beans, corn, and avocado!

One of my favorite finger foods to serve at BBQs is crispy baked zucchini. It’s crispy and so fun to munch on. This is also delicious with some easy grilled onions, corn on the cob, or roasted potatoes.

Making pulled pork sandwiches? Serve them with some crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries or Butternut Squash Fries.