Simple, full of flavor, and super versatile! This easy recipe for Apple Butter Pulled Pork is perfect on sandwiches, tacos, pizzas, and good old fashioned barbeque plates piled high with potato salad.
This content is sponsored by Musselman’s Apple Butter but all opinion, photos, and original recipes are my own. I’ve partnered with Musselman’s this year to bring you a wide variety of Apple Butter recipes because gahhhh there is so much more to do with apple butter than just put it on toast.
I have made this Apple Butter Pulled Pork so many times in the last 30 days… it’s almost embarrassing.
But I guess with a nod to its deliciousness AND its total versatility, no one around here seems to have noticed. Or really seems to mind. I think that MUST be because I have served it no less that 4 different ways. All were a hit, all came together REALLY easily, and bonus!!! There’s going to be pizza.
I feel like I should start with a disclaimer — this IS a slow cooker recipe. It’s also one of those slow cooker recipes that requires an itsy bitsy bit of work before you toss everything in the pot. But it’s like 10 minutes of work. You have 10 minutes, right? ( If you want to just throw a bunch of stuff in and get going with your day, this Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili is totally the ticket)
A good slow cooker pork recipe starts with a good seasoning and then a good sear.
I used Musselman’s Apple Butter to make the sauce. It has a great, unique taste — there’s a lot of depth to the flavor and I really like it in recipes that can go sweet OR savory. Apple Butter walks a nice little line somewhere in the middle.
[socialpug_tweet tweet=”.@mussapplebutter walks a nice line between sweet and savory. Makes for great BBQ. #AppleButterSpin” display_tweet=”.@mussapplebutter walks a nice line between sweet and savory. Makes for great BBQ. #AppleButterSpin” style=”1″]
I added apple cider vinegar and a little dijon mustard to the sauce too, but if I’m being totally honest here, I definitely made this pork once with just the apple butter. #stillgood
The best best BEST thing about this recipe though, is that you can take it in SO many different directions. This easy sandwich is just Apple Butter Pulled Pork + the Apple Bacon Slaw from my BBQ Bites recipe. And actually you could use this pork for the BBQ in those bites, too.
You could make tacos with the pulled pork and this Pineapple Slaw . Sweet and spicy — and the slaw comes together in 5 minutes, which makes this EVERY BIT of a 15 minute dinner (once you cook the pork, I mean).
Grab yourself a plate and pile it high with Warm Herbed Potato Salad, some Apple Butter Pulled Pork, and a few veggies. That is southern dinner at its finest.
Put the pork on a biscuit. A big fat fluffy Greek Yogurt Cheddar Biscuit, to be exact.
Let’s look at sandwiches again…
If you can’t tell, I love these.
And I did not forget that I promised you pizza.
Pulled Pork Pizza is OUTSTANDING!!! It’s piled high with things like caramelized onions, bacon, and look! There’s pineapple again! Also it’s on a Copycat Mellow Mushroom Pizza Crust so it’s automatically #1.
(full recipe for the crust and the pizza will be available tomorrow — cook the pork ahead of time!)
Since there are so many directions to go here, I recommend doubling the recipe.
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 - 2 pounds pork tenderloin roast
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- Heat the oil over medium high in a large skillet. Sprinkle the pork on all sides with the salt, pepper, paprika, and cumin. Sear the pork in the skillet to form a nice crust; about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Place the seared pork in your slow cooker. Whisk together the apple butter, cider vinegar, and dijon mustard. Pour it over the pork. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
- Shred the pork using two forks, carefully discarding any bones. Leave it in the sauce you made.
- Keep warm until serving; this can also be made a day ahead.
For more Apple Butter Recipes by me Click HERE.
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Stephanie Rolfe
Monday 4th of April 2016
Hi Heather! Does this freeze well? May not use all at once and would love to have some on hand when needed/wanted. Thanks!
Heather Tullos
Wednesday 6th of April 2016
Hi Stephanie! It absolutely freezes well! Enjoy!
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
Thursday 19th of March 2015
I want to make this really soon! I'm loving the apple butter idea!!
Heather Tullos
Friday 20th of March 2015
Hope you'll try it! Thanks, Jaren!
Jordan @ Smile Sandwich
Wednesday 18th of March 2015
This looks amazing - and so easy to make! I love the sweet and savory combination.
Heather Tullos
Friday 20th of March 2015
Super easy to make. Thanks Jordan!!
Maegan @thebakermama
Wednesday 18th of March 2015
Love pulled pork and love all the ways I could use this recipe! Definitely doubling it!
Heather Tullos
Friday 20th of March 2015
We always double it Maegan! That's the name of the game when you are feeding boys!
Paula Jones
Friday 13th of March 2015
This is the perfect flavor pairing!! GReat recipe Heather!