We just adore pulled pork! It’s easy and delicious, and — no offense to our more classic BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe — this honey chipotle pulled pork is our current favorite. The sweetness of honey and brown sugar with smoky chipotle makes a rich pulled pork sauce that’ll knock your socks off. Plus, our recipe includes three cooking methods: Low and slow in a Dutch oven, “set it and forget it” in a Crock-Pot, or do it in an Instant Pot if you need your pulled pork, stat! Whichever method you choose, serve the finished honey chipotle pork piled into warm rolls — an icy cold beer on the side is optional but recommended. For even more dinner inspiration, check out our Best Slow Cooker Recipes or our Best Pork Chop Recipes!
The Best Cut Of Pork For Pulled Pork
When you head to the store to make this honey chipotle pulled pork recipe, look for a 4-pound boneless pork shoulder. Not all pork shoulder cuts are exactly the same, though! The shoulder is a big cut and you actually want to get (if you can) the best piece of the shoulder meat for making pulled pork, which is called the “pork butt.” So, if you can, ask your butcher for pork butt, which is a cut of pork that comes from the shoulder of a pig. Sometimes pork butt will be labeled “Boston butt” or even “pork shoulder roast.” Happy hunting!
Ingredients For Our Honey Chipotle Pulled Pork Sauce
Ketchup. Ketchup is one of our favorite secret weapons. It’s loaded with umami, just a hint of sweetness, plus a lovely combination of spices. It’s a powerhouse!
Brown sugar. A little sticky sweetness to go with the honey.
Honey. There’s no need to use a fancy honey here
Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Worcestershire sauce. Another umami bomb, Worcestershire sauce is a must.
Mustard powder. Colman’s is the classic brand, but any mustard powder you like is fine here.
Garlic powder & onion powder. We’re using garlic powder and onion powder rather than fresh to make it easier to melt them into a sauce.
Chicken stock. To make all those flavorful ingredients saucy.
Apple cider vinegar. A bit of acid to balance everything out and help break down the pulled pork.
How To Make Honey Chipotle Pulled Pork
Make the honey chipotle sauce: stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, honey, chipotle chiles, Worcestershire, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Prep your Dutch oven, slow cooker or Instant Pot: pour in the stock, vinegar, and half of the chipotle honey sauce. Nestle in the pork shoulder and cover the pot.
Walk away. Pop that pot in the hot oven and basically ignore it for about 3 hours.
Now, take the lid off and walk away again! Let it roast away for another hour or even 2 hours, until the pork falls apart easily.
Pull that pork apart! Use a slotted spoon to lift the meat out of the pan and move it to a big platter. Use two forks to pull the pork apart and drizzle it all over with the rest of your chipotle honey sauce.
Note! If you don’t have time to do the full Dutch oven version, try our speedy Instant Pot version below.
How To Serve Honey Chipotle Pulled Pork
We love to serve pulled pork sandwich style, simply piled in a bun! It’s an easy classic.
Try a pulled pork quesadilla, for a heartier dinner or kid-friendly win!
Pile it into tortillas for yummy honey chipotle pulled pork tacos. They’d be delicious topped with homemade Guacamole and Pickled Onions.
Try putting any leftover pulled pork into the best breakfast hash you’ve ever tasted!
More Finger-Licking Cookout Recipes
More Slow Cooker Inspo Ahead!
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