This Coca-Cola Pulled Pork cooks effortlessly in the slow cooker with just a few simple ingredients resulting in a tender and delicious pork that is great in sandwiches, tacos or on top of salads.
Tender pulled Pork sandwiches are a classic crowd-pleasing summer dish. In this easy pulled pork recipe, I've used a pork loin in place of the traditional pork shoulder to reduce the fat for a less-greasy yet delicious pulled pork. This Coca-Cola Pulled Pork is great when served the traditional way on a bun with BBQ Sauce, or over a baked sweet potato for a gluten-free version, or in a bowl with cauliflower rice, pickled onions and cheddar cheese for a low-carb and keto option.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need to make Coca-Cola Pulled Pork:
- pork loin
- Coca-Cola
- liquid smoke
- smoked paprika
- cumin
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here's how to make Coca-Cola Pulled Pork:
Trim any extra fat off the pork loin, then cut it against the grain into 3 smaller pieces.
In a small bowl, stir together the smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place pork roast on a cutting board and rub the spice mixture evenly over all of the pork.
Add the Coca-Cola and liquid smoke to a greased slow cooker giving it a stir. Then, add the spice-coated pork to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
Once the pork has cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the slow cooker and place it on a plate. Use 2 forks to shred the meat. Then, return the shredded meat to the slow cooker and give everything a stir so the cooking juices flavor the meat. Allow the shredded meat to sit on low in the juices for 30 minutes before serving.
Hint: Serve this Coke Pulled Pork on buns with BBQ Sauce, Cole Slaw, sliced watermelon, potato chips and Jalapeno Mac and Cheese for a classic summer meal.
Substitutions
Want to substitute an ingredient in Coca-Cola Pulled Pork? Here's how
- Pork loin - use a pork butt or pork tenderloin in place of the pork loin.
- Coca-Cola - use an equal amount of Dr Pepper, Diet Coke, root beer, beer or chicken broth in place of the Coca-Cola.
- Spices - use 1-2 Tablespoons of a pre-mixed BBQ spice rub in place of the salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin and smoked paprika.
Variations
Try one of these variations of Pulled Pork with Coke:
- Spicy - add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to give the pulled pork some heat.
- Low-carb/ keto - use a diet or stevia-sweetened soda in place of the Coca-Cola.
Or try this Slow Cooker Asian Pulled Pork or Slow Cooker Pork Loin Carnitas.
Equipment
This equipment comes in handy when making Coca-Cola Pulled Pork:
Storage
Once the cooked Coca-Cola Pulled Pork has cooled, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. (Check out this article for more details on how to properly freeze and thaw cooked meat.)
Top tip
For extra flavor and texture, spread the cooked Coca-Cola Pork on a sheet pan, then drizzle with a ladle of the cooking liquid and broil for about 5 minutes, until the edges are crisp and browned.
FAQ
Soda tenderizes meat and the sugars in soda caramelize during the process of slow cooking resulting in a delicious pork that is tender, with sweet undertones.
Soda such as Coke, Dr Pepper or root beer produces a particularly flavorful pulled pork. A beer also works great in place of the soda or even an equal amount of vegetable, chicken or beef broth.
Related
Looking for other easy slow cooker recipes like this pulled pork with coke? Try these:
Pairing
Serve this Coca Cola Pulled Pork with one of these side dish recipes for a balanced meal the whole family will love:
Recipe
Coca-Cola Pulled Pork
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 5 pound pork loin
- 1 (12 oz) can Coca-Cola
- 2 Tablespoons liquid smoke
- 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Trim any extra fat off the pork loin, then cut it against the grain into 3 smaller pieces.
- In a small bowl, stir together the smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place pork roast on a cutting board and rub the spice mixture evenly over all of the pork.
- Add the Coca-Cola and liquid smoke to a greased slow cooker giving it a stir. Then, add the spice-coated pork to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
- Once the pork has cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the slow cooker and place it on a plate. Use 2 forks to shred the meat. Then, return the shredded meat to the slow cooker and give everything a stir so the cooking juices flavor the meat. Allow the shredded meat to sit on low in the juices for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Shannon
So much flavor!