Root Beer Pulled Pork

Yield: 10 – 12 servings (~1/2 cup each) for sandwiches

Or 24 Pulled Pork Parfait portions

Pulled pork is the perfect dish to serve for your party or your family. Serve it as a sandwich, appetizer or in a bowl! So versatile… What better meal appeal… besides the flavor as you taste the luscious blend of sweet and spicy!

Ingredients:

1 - 2 ½ to 3 pound pork butt or shoulder roast
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 medium onions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 ounce root beer (not diet)
1 teaspoon Spanish paprika
2 – 3 dashes cayenne pepper, optional
10 – 12 whole grain buns for sandwiches

Root Beer BBQ Sauce:

1/2 cup root beer (not diet)
1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup chili sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
dash cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup bourbon or brandy

Equipment:

4 – 5 quart slow cooker
Chef knife
Cutting board
Liquid measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Rubber spatula
Serving fork
2 dinner forks
Large platter
Ladle

Great meal to simmer all day in the slow cooker! Gather your ingredients and prep the onions and garlic and the rest is simple. Place the chopped onions and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle seasonings on top of the aromatic vegetables and stir with a rubber spatula. Trim some excess fat from top of pork if desired.

Pour root beer over vegetables and stir. The carbonation in the root beer will help to soften the tougher cut of pork prior to cooking. Root beer has the best flavor to sweeten the meat and tenderizes as it cooks too. I went to a restaurant once that used cola to marinate pork, so I thought root beer might work as well, plus add that great flavor.

For best flavor, place the pork roast in the liquid and spices and refrigerate to marinate flavors. Marinate for a few hours or overnight, turning meat at least once to distribute the marinate. When ready to cook, turn your slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 5 – 6 hours, or until meat pulls apart easily. If making your own sauce, combine all the BBQ sauce ingredients above and simmer for an hour… Delish!!

After meat is finished cooking, carefully remove meat from juices and place on a large platter. Using two dinner forks, pull meat apart and shred into small pieces. Using ladle, skim fat from liquid remaining in slow cooker until 1 – 1 ½ cups remain. Place pulled pork back into slow cooker with remaining juices and stir well. Taste pork and season with salt and peppers if needed. If a sweeter meat product is desired, add 1/4 cup brown sugar. Keep on warm until serving.

** If making my homemade Root Beer BBQ sauce, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes on low heat… Stirring occasionally.

Add a cup of my special Root Beer sauce… and drizzle a little at serving time… Enjoy!!

Pulled Pork Parfait Appetizers

Appetizer Portion:

4 -5 ounce plastic or glass cup
Bottom layer
3 tablespoons baked beans
Middle layer
2 tablespoons cole slaw
Top layer
3 tablespoons pulled pork
Garnish with small dill pickle spear or slice

Entrée Portion:

8 ounce glass or plastic cup
Bottom layer
1/3 cup baked beans
Middle layer
¼ cup cole slaw
Top layer
1/3 cup pulled pork
Garnish with dill pickle spear

To create your parfait… place Sweet ‘n Zesty Baked Beans on the bottom of cup. Add Creamy Cole Slaw and then top with Root Beer Pulled Pork like pictured above. To garnish add a drizzle of BBQ sauce and a pickle spear! So good …