Costco Pulled Pork Recipe

This Costco Pulled Pork Recipe is a tender and juicy recipe, which is a homemade copycat of the popular store-bought version. It’s the ultimate comfort food, with instructions for the oven, slow cooker, and Instant Pot.

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Costco Pulled Pork Recipe Ingredients

• 4 lb pork shoulder, or butt
• 2 Tablespoons oil (optional, for searing)
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 ounces coke (not diet)
• BBQ sauce for coating meat (optional)

How To Make Costco Pulled Pork

1. Prepare the pork: Trim any large, excess pieces of fat from the pork shoulder and cut the meat into 4 large chunks.
2. Season the meat: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Rub this spice mixture generously all over the pieces of pork. For best results, you can do this the night before, cover the pork, and let it marinate in the refrigerator.
3. Choose your cooking method below.

Oven Method (Recommended)

1. Sear the pork (optional): Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned pork pieces and sear for a few minutes on all sides until a brown crust forms.
2. Bake: Preheat your oven to 300°F. Pour the Coke around the pork in the Dutch oven. Cover the pot with its lid and bake for 3 hours.
3. Finish cooking: Remove the lid and continue to cook for an additional 1-2 hours. The pork is done when it is very tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
4. Shred and serve: Remove the pork from the pot and shred the meat on a cutting board. You can serve it with the pan juices or toss it in your favorite barbecue sauce.

Slow Cooker Method

1. Place the seasoned pork pieces in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Pour the Coke around the pork.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
4. Remove the pork, shred it, and toss with pan juices or BBQ sauce.

Instant Pot Method

1. Place the seasoned pork pieces in the Instant Pot.
2. Pour the Coke around the pork.
3. Secure the lid and cook on Manual/High pressure for 70 minutes.
4. When the timer beeps, allow the pot to naturally release pressure for about 15 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure.
5. Remove the lid, take out the pork, and shred the meat.

Recipe Tips

• Why sear the pork? While optional, searing the pork before slow cooking creates a deep, brown crust on the outside of the meat. This process, called the Maillard reaction, adds a huge amount of savory, complex flavor to the finished pulled pork.
• Why use Coke in the recipe? The acidity in the soda helps to tenderize the meat, while the sugar adds a subtle sweetness and helps with caramelization. It’s a classic secret ingredient for incredibly tender pulled pork.
• What’s the best cut of pork? Pork shoulder, also known as pork butt or Boston butt, is the ideal choice. It has a good amount of fat and connective tissue that breaks down during the long, slow cooking process, resulting in moist, tender, and flavorful meat.
• How do I know when it’s done? The best indicator is texture. The pork should be “fall-apart” tender. You should be able to easily shred it with two forks with very little resistance.

What To Serve With Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is incredibly versatile. It’s most famously served on a bun, but here are other great ideas:

• Sandwiches: Piled high on a soft brioche or potato bun with coleslaw and pickles.
• Tacos: Served in warm tortillas with pineapple salsa and cotija cheese.
• Nachos: As a topping for tortilla chips with cheese sauce, jalapeños, and sour cream.
• Plates: Served as a main course with classic BBQ sides like mac and cheese, cornbread, and baked beans.

How To Store Pulled Pork

Refrigerate: Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze: Pulled pork freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Costco Pulled Pork Nutrition Facts

• Serving Size: 5 oz
• Calories: 310kcal
• Carbohydrates: 9g
• Protein: 36g
• Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 124mg
• Sodium: 554mg
• Potassium: 667mg
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 7g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on specific ingredients used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Costco Shrimp Salad Recipe
• Costco Rack of Pork Recipe
• Costco Pork Belly Recipe