Pulled pork is incredibly popular at the moment and making it in a slow cooker is really easy. The Beer Pulled Pork can be used in so many different ways but a family favourite is using it in burgers.

Overview

A wonderfully simple recipe to make and feed you for all week. Beer pulled pork is a summer staple in my house; it makes for wonderful pulled pork buns, especially when mixed with fresh salad and chilli coleslaw. I love being able to just turn on the slow cooker and leave the pork to cook slowly overnight. Once you’ve made this once you’ll never cook pulled pork the same.

Why you’ll love this recipe

You can cook the pulled pork in the slow cooker and leave it. You don’t have to spend all day over the hob cooking.
You can make the beer pulled pork ahead of time for a picnic or party. The pulled pork buns make for wonderful street party food for the King’s coronation.
The mix of the pork in beer and the spiced coleslaw is wonderful and will quickly be a staple in your

Ingredients

For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.

BEER

The beer really helps to tenderise the meat and adds such a wonderful flavour. Any beer will work so you can use what you have in the house. Lighter IPAs will give a lighter hoppy taste whereas darker beers like Guinness will provide a richer, deep flavour.

If you’re cooking an extra large joint of pork. I would mix half beer with half stock to stop it becoming overpowering.

PORK

In this recipe, I used a large joint of pork shoulder to slow cook and I really think this was the best joint to use for the pork in beer. It took on the flavour of the beer, stayed juicy and the fat from the meat really added to full meaty flavour. You can use any pork joint thought, even a pork loin would be delicious, just don’t forget to reduce the cooking time.

HERBS & SPICES

Whilst you can add any of your favourite seasonings to this beer pork roast slow cooker, I personally like to keep it simple with salt & black pepper, thyme and chopped parsley. A bit of brown sugar also really makes the pork and beer flavours pop.

How to make – step by step

For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.

To start, pop your pork into your oven dish (with a lid) or slow cooker and top up with your beer of choice. As a rough guide, you’ll want almost the same quantity of liquid as meat, just a little less.

Add your sugar, and herbs and make sure the fat side of your pork joint is facing up so that all that flavour goes into the pork.
Cook the meat slower over 6 hours in the oven or 10 hours on low in your slow cooker. I like to cook this overnight so I’m not tempted to check it.

Spiced Coleslaw

Chop your carrot, red cabbage, onion & chilli and combine along with some salt and the juice of half a lime (this adds a zing and helps keep your veggies crisp).
Then stir this in with some olive oil, yoghurt and balsamic vinegar.

Mayonnaise

This is a simple combine and stir recipe, so to start combine your mayo, dijon mustard, olive oil and white wine vinegar. Mix all this together and then add some chopped parsley to finish.

Now all the ingredients are prepped, add your coleslaw to the bottom of your burger bun, add the beer pulled pork on top and finish with a healthy dollop of the mustard mayo.

Top Tips

Cook your pulled pork in beer on low heat in your slow cooker overnight. This will help the tannins in the beer to have time to work their magic in tenderising the pork.
Don’t forget to add seasonings and herbs to your pulled pork, this will help to bring out the flavours.
You can make this pulled pork slow cooked in beer at the start of the week and freeze it in portions. That way you can enjoy pulled pork every night of the week with minimal cooking!

Serving Suggestions

I like to make a lot of pulled work and use it throughout the week in different meals.

You can make the slow cooker pulled pork into a curry, in burger buns like I have here or as part of your roast dinner. This delicious tender beer pulled pork with roast potatoes and gravy is enough to make your mouth water.

Find my slaw recipe here

Equipment

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Slow Cooker or Oven Safe pot with lid

Mixing Bowl

Substitutions and variations

ALCOHOL FREE PULLED PORK

You can omit the beer from this recipe in order to make slow cooker pulled pork, just don’t forget to add some stock to your pot to keep the pulled porl tender and juicy. You could use an alcohol-free/ 0% beer in place of the beer to keep the flavours without the alcohol content.

Storing / Making ahead of time options

The beer pulled pork can be made at the start of the week and then either popped in the fridge or frozen to use throughout the week. It only takes a short time to defrost so you can usually get it out just prior to cooking.

Just don’t forget to check your pork is fully defrosted and hot all the way through before eating.

FAQS

What kind of beer is good for pulled pork?

Any beer is good for pulled pork, I used a bottled ale for this recipe of beer pulled pork but any beer will do. The dark stouts give the pulled pork a really rich flavour.

Is pork good with beer?

Pork is so good with beer, the hoppy taste from the beer blends perfectly with the juicy slow cooked pork. I love adding in some spices & herbs to really bring out the flavours from both components.

Does beer tenderize pork?

Beer does tenderize pork along with other meats like beef, this is because it contains tannins and alpha acids that help break down fibres in meat, making it more tender and full of flavour.

Can you slow cook pork in beer?

Yes! You can slow cook pork in beer and it tastes wonderful. You simply have to pour your beer of choice into the slow cooker and add the pork. Season and leave for about 10 hours on low. Cooking the pork slowly on low heat means it comes out really tender and juicy.

What can you serve with pulled pork cooked in beer?

I like to serve burger buns and a spiced coleslaw with pulled pork cooked in beer. The fresh and tangy coleslaw really brings out the flavours of the pulled pork cooked in beer. You could also serve this beer pulled pork with chips, taco shells or roast potatoes!

Other Recipes you might like

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pulled pork cooked in beer in a seeded bun with a chunky slaw made with red cabbage and carrot

Wimbledon brewery tower SPA for the pulled pork recipe

I used Wimbledon Brewery’s Tower SPA to cook the pork shoulder in. It has a fruit, floral spice and orange smell with a full, rounded taste with a bittersweet finish.

I would really recommend a visit to Wimbledon Brewery. They do tours and tastings and on Saturday have a food and beer market. You can also buy their beer online. It’s definitely worth getting a few extra bottles to enjoy with the burgers!
www.wimbledonbrewery.com