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This Coca Cola Pulled Pork Recipe is an easy, flavorful, and versatile dining option! Make it in the slow cooker or instant pot to get a meal on the table with virtually no effort at all!
There’s nothing like an easy pulled pork recipe that’s full of smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors. And this one has it all! Brown sugar, chili, and coffee combine with spices in a dry rub that is complimented by the sugary sweetness of dark soda. Yum-o!
This recipe starts by slathering a pork butt or shoulder roast with an easy dry rub that comes together in no time. Here’s what you’ll need:
The Best Pulled Pork Dry Rub Ingredients
All you do is whisk the ingredients for the rub together and voila – a dry rub is made! (It's very similar to my favorite dry rub for chicken wings!)
The pork can be rubbed with the spice blend up to a day ahead of time. The longer it’s on the pork the more flavorful it will be!
The coffee may seem a little unconventional but trust me. It’s all roasty and toasty and compliments the sweetness of the soda perfectly. Speaking of soda…
Using Soda in Pulled Pork
My grandma tells this story of being in the grocery store and looking over the pork roasts. She was stopped by a woman who asked her how to cook them. My grandma mentioned she always uses a cup of coffee or a dark soda in her shredded pork.
Here’s why! The soda will add sweetness to the pork (so there’s a sweet and savory action happening).
Many of the flavor profiles of cola are rooted in spices – cinnamon, clove, chili, etc. so it will enhance the spices used in a rub.
The addition of liquid will also keep the pork moist and prevent it from drying out during the cooking process.
Finally, soda is acidic. This acid will help break down the fibers of the meat to leave you with the most tender pulled pork you ever did taste!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Using a crock pot or slow cooker is my go-to method for preparing shredded pork. It requires minimal prep, virtually no hands-on cooking, and can be made while you’re asleep or at work. It’s everything you want in an easy dinner recipe!
While my preferred way of preparing it is in a slow cooker, this recipe can also be made in an Instant Pot!
Making the recipe in an Instant Pot
Follow the directions just as above for slow cooker pulled pork but instead, set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 3 hours with the warm setting turned off. That’s it!
When releasing the pressure it’s important to note – because the soda is carbonated there will be a lot of pressure. It’s best to let it release naturally for around 30 minutes. Otherwise there will be soda spray all over the place.
How to use Coca Cola Pork
Obviously, the classic way to enjoy pulled pork is on a sandwich. Preferably with a pile of coleslaw on top!
But there’s a whole host of other ways to use it. Tacos, mac n cheese, quesadillas, pizza, nachos! The list goes on! Get creative, think outside the box, and invite me over for dinner!
Watch the recipe video!
Coca Cola Pulled Pork
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
For the Dry Rub:
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- 2 tablespoon instant coffee
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. chili powder
- ½ tsp. coriander
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
For the Pulled Pork:
- 6-8 pound bone-in pork shoulder roast
- 2 cups dark soda such as Coca Cola
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, salt, coffee, and all of the spices. Place the pork roast in the slow cooker and rub the entire surface of the meat with the spice blend. Be sure to thoroughly coat all sides. This can be done up to 24 hours in advance. If done in advance, cover the roast in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
To Cook the Pork in a Slow Cooker:
- Place pork, fat side up, in the slow cooker and pour in the soda. Cook on low for 10 – 12 hours, or until the bone will lift out of the roast with little to no resistance.
- Turn off the slow cooker and let pork sit until cool enough to handle.
- When ready to serve, remove pork roast from slow cooker and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Remove bone and discard, along with any large pieces of fat from the roast. Shred the pork with two forks (or your hands!).
- Skim the fat off the top of the juices in the slow cooker (if there is a lot of liquid, discard all but 4 cups from cooker) and return the pork to the cooker. Set slow cooker to warm and stir pork occasionally until warm enough to serve.
- For a classic BBQ pulled pork sandwich serve the pork on a soft bakery bun topped with BBQ sauce and coleslaw.
To Cook the Pork in a Pressure Cooker:
- Place pork, fat side up, in the pressure cooker and pour in the soda. Close the lid tightly and set the timer for 3 hours on high pressure without the warm setting engaged. When timer goes off, allow steam to release from pressure cooker naturally for 30 minutes before pressing the manual release valve.
- Proceed with shredding and serving the pork as instructed above.
Video
Notes
- Pork can be stored in fridge for up to five days or frozen for up to four months.
- Coffee can be substituted for soda as the liquid in this recipe, if desired.
Jamoody says
I made it for the first time about 2 weeks ago and I'm back to make it again! My family said it was the BEST pulled pork I've ever made.
I put the dry rub on the night before it was fabulous! Thank you 😊
Amanda Gajdosik says
HONORED to be a part of your family meals. THRILLEd that everyone enjoys this recipe. Thank you for rating and reviewing!
Gina Stoldt says
This has been my go-to recipe for a couple of years now. My family loves the flavor of this pulled pork. Thank you so much for sharing!
Amanda Gajdosik says
Hi Gina,
Thank you for your kind words and review! I am so honored to be part of your family's meals 🙂
All best!
Amanda
Marion Overgoor says
Het is een heerlijk recept, voor een breed smeuig resultaat gebruik ik goede smokey barbecuesaus meng met de Cola met een
scheutje hete honing. Uien licht aanbakken onder in de pan daarop de licht aangebraden varkensnek.😋😋😋
Dena says
This turned out so well. I’m pleasantly surprised and will use this recipe again.
Mary says
Can you put slow cooker on high some,or does it have to be on low the whole time?
Amanda Gajdosik says
Hi Mary, you can cook the pork on high for about half of the time you would normally cook it on low. It's better when cooked on low because the fibers of the meat have more time to break down and really become tender, but the high heat will still work!
Kim says
I’ll admit it. I am the WORST roast maker ever. So much so that I almost threw my last pork roast out. They’re always dry and flavorless. Then I found this recipe. Holy smokes!!!! I can’t even believe I made this. It was perfection. So juicy and tender and perfect on a bun topped with some slaw. I will never use another roast recipe again. This is the go to must make!
Amanda says
I am so happy to hear that, Kim. And so PROUD of you for rocking this recipe like a boss! <3