This is the bestSlow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloinrecipe — an easy dish that only needs a few simple ingredients, with practically no prep! Toss everything into your crockpot and enjoy a smoky, flavor-packed BBQ pork tenderloin just a few hours later. Perfect for sandwiches, tacos, baked potatoes, or anything else you love!

This classic barbecue slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin recipe is about to amplify your kitchen game. With a few simple ingredients tossed into the Crock Pot, you'll have smoky, indulgent BBQ Pork Tenderloin in just about 4 hours--or less!

There’s something about pulled pork that warms the heart and the belly. It’s comfort food that doubles as a protein-packed, flavor-forward topping, filling, or accompaniment, depending on how you serve it.

There are other ways to make pulled pork, but the crockpot is by far the easiest method.Throwing everything into the slow cooker takes almost no time, and then in just a few hours, you have a delicious meal on your hands. (Not to mention, your home will smell amazing!)

I love this recipe forbusy, on-the-go weeknights, as well as for low-key family and friends gatherings on the weekend. Everyone enjoys this pulled pork meal, and I love that it’s aslow cooker recipe!

tongs crimping onto shreds of BBQ pulled pork.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin Recipe

So Simple:Super simple pulled pork recipe with just a few basic ingredients and cooked in the slow cooker.
Easy Prep:Easy enough for busy weeknights or family gatherings on the weekend.
Fan Fave:Absolutely afamily favorite, and an often requested recipe when I take it to events.
Fits All Seasons:Tender BBQ pulled pork is totally delicious all year round, no matter the season!

🍽️ My mom’sslow cooker pulled pork sandwichesare the perfect reason to make this pork tenderloin recipe!

Recipe Ingredients

Pork tenderloin —See notes below for other cuts of pork that can be substituted.
Chicken broth—It’s okay to use bouillon cubes or powder.
BBQ sauce—store-bought orhomemade
Smoked paprika—Don’t skip this — itmust be smoked paprika, not regular!
Other seasonings—salt, garlic powder, and onion powder

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make This Crockpot Pulled Pork BBQ Recipe

raw pork tenderloin in crock pot below and hand holding rubbing spices in a dish over it.

rawpork tenderloin in a crock pot before shredding.

Step 1:Make aspice rubby combining the seasonings.

Step 2:Rub the spice mixture all over the meat and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.

cooked pork tenderloin in a crock pot before shredding.

Step 3:Add water around the edge of the meat.

Step 4:Cook on high 4-5 hours, or until tender.

crock pot of pulled pork, cooked and shredded.

pork shredded in an instant pot and hand holding a white dish of BBQ sauce over it, ready to pout in.

Step 5:Remove the pork from the crock pot and shred.

Step 6:Return to the slow cooker, add barbecue sauce, and mix the meat with the sauce and juices.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make BBQ pork tenderloin in an Instant Pot?

A good rule of thumb for cooking pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot is to cook it on high pressure for 20 minutes per pound. A 2-pound tenderloin would need 40 minutes of cooking time on high pressure. To make it super, fall-apart tender, cook for 90 to 120 minutes and let it naturally release.

Can I double the recipe for a large group?

This recipe is excellent for a crowd because you can easily fit 3 to 4 tenderloins in most slow cookers. That’s my kind of party! Pay attention to the cooking time; as the pounds of pork increase, so should the amount of time cooked.

Why do you add the BBQ sauce at the end?

I’m a big fan of adding the BBQ sauce after the pork has been cooked. Adding it at the end safeguards it from overcooking or even burning the sauce. Plus, if you have BBQ sauce-naysayers in your home like I do, you can remove some of the meat before mixing in the sauce to save some plain pork for those who want it.

When is pulled pork done cooking?

Cook the pork on high for 4 to 5 hours until it’s easy to shred with a fork. The internal temperature should read 145° F with a meat thermometer when it’s done!

top view of the baking dish of BBQ pulled pork

Expert Tips

Make Ahead:Pulled pork is agreat freezer food. Store it in an airtight container for up to six months.
Quicker Cooking:Cutting up the pork, no matter how much you’re making, into 3 to 4 chubby pieces per tenderloin willreduce cook time. For busy days, this little trick is a lifesaver!
Time Tip:It’sdifficult to overcook pork in a slow cookerbecause you’re maintaining the moisture inside the Crock Pot—but once the meat is fork-tender, keep an eye on it.Cooking it way too long can cause it to get a little mushy.
Smokey Flavor:If you’d like more smokiness to the tenderloin, you can add a bit of liquid smoke when putting the ingredients in the slow cooker. I suggest starting with 1/4 teaspoon per pound of meat. You can add more later if needed!

close up of the corner of top view of the baking dish of BBQ pulled pork.

What Is The Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork?

Pork shoulder or pork butt is often used for pulled pork. You can also use pork tenderloin (like this recipe) for a leaner cut of meat!

Any of the following cuts of meat would work:

shoulder butt roast
boneless pork shoulder roast
pork butt (aka Boston butt)
picnic roast
pork tenderloin

How to Serve BBQ Pulled Pork

There are so many delicious ways to eat pulled pork. I personally love to eat it on a Kaiser roll or homemade buns with a big helping of classic sides like chips,coleslaworpotato salad, with additional BBQ sauce as needed and slices of yellow onion or even green onions.

And here are some other creative ways to serve it:

intacos, burritos or on top of nachos
layer it between gooey cheese in quesadillas
add it to grilled cheese sandwiches

It can even be served on fries or added to salads. It really is a very versatile main dish!

How to Store & Reheat Leftover Pulled Pork

Store any leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

When you’re ready to eat it, warm up just the amount needed for that meal in a skillet. Add a small amount of olive oil or butter to the skillet and cook just until it’s heated through.

In a pinch you can also reheat it in the microwave until just heated through.