Hard Apple Cider Pulled Pork with Roasted Apple Barbecue Sauce
Hard Apple Cider Pulled Pork with Roasted Apple Barbecue Sauce is super tender pork shoulder braised in hard apple cider slow cooker style with a tangy, homemade roasted apple barbecue sauce. This meal is guaranteed to score!
We’re serious about football in our house, and when there’s a game on, we’re watching it. That means I’m in the kitchen cooking up some fun Game Day food, and one of the dishes at the top of the list is always pulled pork.
Serve it up as a sandwich, in tortillas, as sliders…no matter. It’s always a win!
I love braising my pork in alcohol (drunken pork?) as it adds a wonderful flavor, like my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork . I’ve braised it in hard apple cider a few times since the fall, and am finally getting around to sharing it here.
What’s the big difference between braising our pork shoulder in beer versus hard apple cider? Apple flavor, of course. I rubbed the meat with a rub that would compliment that cider even more.
THEN that pork shoulder was doused with a big old bottle of hard apple cider and cooked on low for 10 hours.
The meat was SO tender, and it tasted great already. You could stop right here and serve the meat up as tacos, but isn’t it fun to eat pulled pork with a tangy-loaded-with-apple-flavor barbecue sauce?
I thought so, so while the pork was cooking, I roasted up some Granny Smith apples and pureed them with the other sauce ingredients. I thought I’d only use half of the apples, but I couldn’t taste it enough, so I went double or nothing. Then I could really taste those apples!
For me, it’s not a pulled pork sandwich without coleslaw, so I served it up with my Broccoli Slaw, which I also added apples chopped into little matchsticks and some shaved fennel. Delish! My pork shoulder was 3 lbs., and it gave us about 11-12 servings. There’s nothing like having plenty of pulled pork for leftovers for week night dinners. 🙂
There’s nothing better than this flavorful pulled pork — it’s a huge crowd pleaser, and it really feeds that crowd! This meal is a score any way you look at it. Pulled pork (and leftovers) for the win!
Hard Apple Cider Pulled Pork with Roasted Apple Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
For the pork:
- 3 1/2 pounds pork shoulder patted dry
- 3 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 22 ounces hard apple cider
For the roasted apples:
- 3 small Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2" chunks
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
For the barbecue sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- dash of liquid smoke about 1/4 teaspoon
Equipment
Instructions
Prepare the pork:
- Place the salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, brown sugar, cardamom, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl and stir to combine. Rub the pork generously with the spice rub (you will have some rub left over), and place in the refrigerator uncovered for a minimum of 2 hours but preferably overnight to dry brine.
- When ready to cook, place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker and pour in the hard apple cider. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the meat shreds easily with a fork. Remove from the slow cooker, shred, and set aside.
Prepare the roasted apples:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss the apples with the olive oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom on a large rimmed baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Roast for 15 – 20 minutes until softened. Set aside.
Prepare the barbecue sauce:
- Place the ketchup, honey or agave, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, dash of liquid smoke, and salt to taste in a small saucepan and cook over medium low heat till bubbly. Continue to cook another 2-3 minutes. Pour the mixture into a blender with the roasted apples and mix until smooth. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt and sweetener to your preferences. Toss the pork with the preferred amount of barbecue sauce, and enjoy!
Notes
- The pork is most flavorful if it’s allowed to dry brine in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
- Expect to use about half of the spice rub on a 3 lb. pork shoulder.
- The apples and barbecue sauce can be made in advance.
- I suggest starting with 1/2 cup of sweetener in the barbecue sauce, and if you like it on the sweeter side, 3/4 cup should do the trick!
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
36 Comments on “Hard Apple Cider Pulled Pork with Roasted Apple Barbecue Sauce”
This looks perfect for game day…or for any day. And can’t go wrong with apples + pork. Love it! Happy Friday, Marcie!
Apples + pork always = good stuff! Thanks, Liz! 🙂
We’re serious about game days in my house, too! Or actually I should say my husband is, since I don’t really watch much sports. But that gives me more time in the kitchen then! This pulled pork sounds perfect for the weekend! I love that you used hard apple cider, so creative! And that barbeque sauce sounds delicious! I think I could slather that on just about everything. Pinned!
As much as I love sports, I’m in the kitchen at least half the time! Good thing we have a big TV in there. 🙂 This pork was great to make on Sunday with leftovers for the hectic first part of the week. Thanks for the pin, Gayle! 🙂
This recipe combines so many of my favorite things! BBQ, hard apple cider, pulled pork, crock pot…it’s perfect! I love the roasted apple twist on the sauce, too. So good!
Thank you, Alyssa! I’d never tried apple BBQ sauce before, but I figured with apples in it, how could it be wrong? Hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂
This pulled pork looks so tender and flavorful! I can just imagine how amazing your house smelled and this is definitely perfect for game day! Love the roasted apples, hard apple cider and bbq sauce — I could just eat that up by the spoonful!
This meat looks to die for – so tender!! I love this idea.
The flavors of this sound amazing! And I love that it is made in a slow cooker. Pinned!
This is perfect food for a hungry crowd! Great flavors 🙂
It was perfect for a crowd, and thank you, Medha! 🙂
I love cooking pork shoulder in the crock pot, it always comes out so tender! I absolutely love this version, the bbq sauce sounds incredible. My husband would totally love this too! Pinned 🙂
Pulled pork in the crock pot is a no-fail! Thank you for the pin, Danielle! 🙂
Okay, I think roasted apple barbecue sauce is the most brilliant thing I’ve seen in a long time. And over pulled pork? Amazing!
Thank you, Ashley! I figured I couldn’t go wrong with more apple flavor. 🙂
This looks so tasty Marcie! I’m coming over to your house for the playoffs. Are you ready for company tonight? 🙂
I’m ready! Come on down. 🙂
I could get into football if I had one of those sandwiches in my hand!! Looks delicious Marcie, and not just because it was cooked for 10 hours in beer, LOL 😉
Yes, you would like it cooked in the alcohol! haha And football fan or not, this sandwich makes it worth sitting in on a game. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great weekend, Lisa!
Marcie, hope you are doing well.
The burger looks so juicy and delicious. I am sure this will be a hit for any party. Pinning
I am doing well, Ash, and I hope the same for you! (so nice hearing from you outside of IG). 🙂 Thank you for the pin, my friend!
Thank you, Dannii, and I have to have coleslaw and BBQ sauce on my pulled pork sandwich. They’re a must! 🙂
Good to know just in case you ever come over for dinner! 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
Well now I’m kicking myself for not trying cooking pork with hard cider before!! This looks absolutely fantastic – we love game day food like this in our house! Or really any day I’d be happy with this!
Thanks, Ashley! I don’t really drink hard apple cider much at all, but it sure is good in cookin’! 🙂
I feel like I usually spend most game days in the kitchen too! This year I will have to plan ahead, so I can try to enjoy the game a little bit more! I haven’t had pulled pork in forever, but I ate so much when I was in college and loved it so much! These look like the perfect gameday meal!
I totally need more recipes like this that I can make ahead so I can enjoy the game more too. Or maybe is it that I can’t sit still that long? I think it might be a combination of both. 🙂
I haven’t cooked with apple cider before this, Stacy, and I can’t believe it! It would be great for Super Bowl Sunday (which I may need to make another batch then). 🙂 I think the crunch from coleslaw is the best with pulled pork! It’s just not the same without it. Thanks, Stacy, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
I love experimenting with different cooking liquids in the slow cooker… Hard apple cider is such a great idea! There’s nothing like a good pulled pork sandwich!
This is my kind of dinner! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thanks, Karly, and Happy Monday! 🙂
Thanks, ladies! 🙂
I am a sucker for pulled pork! Love the apple cider in this!
Thanks, Nancy!
We love pulled pork (or chicken) too, and I can’t wait to try this recipe! I’m especially in love with the bbq sauce!
Thank you, Cathy! This is definitely a dish for the apple lovers! 🙂