This easy freezer pulled pork recipe feeds 8-10 people using a $5 cut of meat! Freeze it ahead of time for a quick simple weeknight dinner!

Pulled pork is one of those recipes that always intimidated me. Until, that is, I actually tried it and discovered not just how ridiculously easy it is to make, but how inexpensive it is to make a delicious, hearty meal for a crowd that even the pickiest eaters in the bunch will RAVE about!

The first time I made it I had planned to use pork shoulder (also known as Boston Butt), but the butcher at Publix was inexplicably out of all pork shoulders. When I told her I was planning to make pulled pork, she recommended I use a picnic cut instead, which is one of the cheapest cuts of meat, but works just as well. I was a little skeptical when I saw I could get a huge chunk of meat for just five dollars, but I decided to trust the butcher. After all, she’s never steered me wrong before!

Well. Let me just tell you that I have now made this easy freezer pulled pork recipe for a crowd several times, and it is always a huge hit! My $5 chunk of meat easily feeds 8 people, with enough for seconds (and even some thirds!)  It is also a nice “cheater” freezer recipe that can be prepared ahead as part of a freezer cooking day, then frozen until needed. Seriously, this one is a winner through and through.

Easy Freezer Pulled Pork

Assemble the ingredients for pulled pork: rootbeer, liquid smoke, barbecue sauce, pepper, salt and pork shoulder.

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Here is what you need:

2 2-3 pound pork shoulder (Boston Butt) or Picnic cut 
salt & pepper
1/2 sweet onion
2 cups barbecue sauce
2 cans Root Beer
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 tablespoons liquid smoke (optional)
rolls or hamburger buns
 

Rub the pork shoulder with salt and pepper before you begin cooking,

Step 1:  Rub meat with salt and pepper; set aside.

Dice a white onion using a kitchen knife.

Step 2: Chop onion; set aside.

Whisk together the barbecue sauce, root beer and seasonings.

Step 3: In medium bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, Root Beer, seasoned salt, and liquid smoke until smooth then add chopped onion.

Divide the meat into two gallon freezer bags and cover with the marinade.

Step 4: Divide meat into two gallon-size Ziploc bags. (Be sure to label bags before using!) Divide sauce in half and pour over meat; freeze until needed.

When you're ready, the pork cooks beautifully in the slow cooker, ready to shred and enjoy!

Step 5: Thaw in refrigerator; pour contents into slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours. Pull meat apart with fork then serve on rolls or hamburger buns.

Want more freezer meals? Here are some of our favorites!

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EASY SLOW-COOKED PULLED PORK

This recipe can be started in the morning and ready to hit the table for dinner with little effort but a ton of flavor!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Easy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 10 people

Ingredients

  • 2 2-3 pound pork shoulder also called pork butt or Boston Butt
  • salt & pepper
  • 1/2 sweet onion
  • 2 cups barbecue sauce
  • 2 cans Root Beer
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
  • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke optional
  • rolls or hamburger buns

Instructions

  1. Rub meat with salt and pepper; set aside.
  2. Chop onion; set aside.
  3. In medium bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, Root Beer, seasoned salt, and liquid smoke until smooth then add chopped onion.
  4. Divide meat into two gallon-size Ziploc bags. (Be sure to label bags before using!) Divide sauce in half and pour over meat; freeze until needed.
  5. Thaw in refrigerator; pour contents into slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours. Pull meat apart with fork then serve on rolls or hamburger buns.

Recipe Notes

Preparation time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 8 hours. Number of servings (yield): 8-10.

PIN FOR LATER

This easy freezer pulled pork recipe feeds 8-10 people using a $5 cut of meat! Freeze it ahead of time for a quick simple weeknight dinner!

What’s your favorite inexpensive way to feed a crowd?

Ruth Soukup

Ruth Soukup

Founder at Living Well Spending Less
Ruth Soukup is dedicated to helping people everywhere create a life they love by follwing their dreams and achieving their biggest goals. She is the host of the wildly popular Do It Scared podcast, as well as the founder of Living Well Spending Less® and Elite Blog Academy®. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including Do It Scared®: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Obstacles, and Create a Life You Love, which was the inspiration for this book. She lives in Florida with her husband Chuck, and 2 daughters Maggie & Annie.
Ruth Soukup

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