This 21 Day Fix Pulled Pork with Maple BBQ Sauce is so delicious and yet so insanely easy! Make it in your Crock Pot or your Instant Pot, and use my homemade BBQ sauce for extra flavor. This post contains affiliate links for products I am obsessed with.
Confession #111 – I’ve been known to eat Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce by the spoonful.
Are you gagging? I’m sorry.
My husband thinks it’s gross. Not the BBQ Sauce, just me eating it alone. You know, like without the BBQ.
And I totally know how processed and bad for you it is…I really do. But it’s so damn good.
Anyway, this might be why I had such trouble making a clean, fix approved homemade BBQ sauce last year. It was right around Father’s Day and I was determined to make one so all the dads could enjoy it at our cookout.
Four, maybe five failed attempts later, I quit. Nothing tasted the way I wanted it to.
I bought my bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s, defeated and sad.
But just recently someone in my challenge group said the BBQ sauce from the Core De Force recipe book was amazing. And this is a woman who loves food as much as I do.
So I decided to try it…and I tweaked it just a little to make it gluten-free. I also cooked it awhile until it was the thickness that I liked.
OMG, you guys.
Freaking delicious.
8 billion times better than anything I made last summer.
I am sad that I don’t have better pictures of this entire meal, but I seriously didn’t think I would love it as much as I did.
But WOW.
Anyway. You could cook this Pulled Pork in your Instant Pot or your Crock Pot. I made it in the Instant Pot recently and it was SO fast. That Sunday, the day had totally gotten away from me. And yet, I was able to have Pulled Pork on the table in around an hour.
Amazing.
And it’s the perfect vessel for the delicious and clean BBQ sauce, so you know, you don’t have to eat it with a spoon.
Unless you want to.
It’s totally cool by me.
Pulled Pork with Maple BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- 3-4 pound pork shoulder or roast fat trimmed (or sub 2 -3 pound pork tenderloin)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 sliced onion optional
- Sea or Himalayan salt
- Ground black pepper
- Garlic powder
- 1 cup chicken or veggie stock
For the BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Sprinkle sea or Himalayan salt and black pepper
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Cut your pork into smaller sections to make cook time faster. Make slits into pork slices and stuff with minced garlic. Sprinkle spices over both sides of the meat and set your IP to saute.
- Add olive oil to the bottom of your pot. When heated, add pieces of the pork, browning on both sides. Do this in small batches so you don't overcrowd your pot.
- Once you are finished, add the pork back into the pot and add onions if using. Pour stock over top. Set to manual for 60 minutes. When cook time is up, switch to natural release.
- Drain and shred pork and mix in BBQ sauce. Adjust seasonings as desired.
Slow Cooker
- Make slits into pork roast and stuff with minced garlic. Rub olive oil over meat and season well with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. **If you have time, sear each side of the pork in a large pot. If you don't have time, it's totally fine to skip this step.
- Place roast in crock with onions, if using, and stock. Cook for 8 hours on low. Drain and shred pork and mix in BBQ sauce. Adjust seasonings as desired.
BBQ Sauce
- Combine all ingredients into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat until desired thickness. Adjust seasonings as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Tonya says
This recipe was so delicious. The pork pulled apart, was super juicy and tender. And you can’t beat that it gets cooked in the slow cooker. The bbq sauce is super flavorful and easy to make. We will be making this over and over again.
Nancylynn says
Thank you Tonya! It’s one of our favorites, too!
Codie Malone says
Made this tonight and it was absolutely amazing! Thank you for your hard work and dedication
Nancylynn says
Thank you so much for your comment!
Crissy says
Hi! I’m not to Instant Pot. I have read on other recipes to deglaze the pot after sautéing the meat. Do I do that with this one as well? If so how? With water or the chicken broth??
Thanks!
Nancylynn says
Yes, it’s a great idea to deglaze! When you put the chicken broth in the pot, just use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the bits stuck on the bottom, and then set the cooktime. Great question!
Cami says
Delicious! This will be our new go-to recipe for pulled pork with or without the sauce.
Nancylynn says
Ahhh! That is awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time to rate and review, Cami!
Kim says
Can you use a pork butt for this? Thanks in advance!
Nancylynn says
Yes!
Ansley says
Do you wait the full 30 mins for natural release?
Nancylynn says
15 minutes should work!
Maggie says
Made this tonight with roasted cauliflower on the side. This was incredible!!!!! Thanks for another 5* recipe!!!
Sara says
We are allergic to pork, coconut, and soy. Could I make this with chicken? Since we cannot do coconut or soy, what could I replace it with?
Nancylynn says
Yes! This is how I make it with chicken – https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-instant-pot-bbq-chicken/
And for the sauce, could you try something like this? https://www.primalkitchen.com/products/classic-unsweetened-organic-bbq-sauce
Gracie says
I need some guidance. I recently purchased a 2 1/2 lb. bone in pork shoulder from my co-op and I would like to make in my crock pot. However, I only have a 4qt crock pot and most recipes call for a larger piece of pork. Having never made pulled pork before, I am struggling with how long to cook it for. Can you help me figure that out?
Nancylynn says
Hi! Can you fit it in your crock pot – even in pieces? I would still cook it for 8-10 hours on low!
Gracie says
I lost 2 hours of my day by plugging the crockpot into an outlet that didn’t work (new house) but once I got it going, it turned out great! Thank you for the advice!
Angelique says
What is the difference when you say teaspoon bc sweetener teaspoon when counting containers? I’m new to your blog and am currently meal planning right now – this site is a God send thank you fir sharing everything!
Nancylynn says
Hi! So oil teaspoons are in each 21 Day Fix bracket and should be counted as such…like plan A gets 3 oil teaspoons per day. Sweetener teaspoons are something to be mindful of, because Autumn says everyone can have 4 per day in the coffee bar, so I like to show how they count just to keep everyone from having too much sugar. Make sense? 🙂
Yvonne says
Hi
I made this the other night. It was awesome!
I added a little siracha to give the BBBQ sauce a little bite!
Angela says
This dish totally surprised me! I am not a fan of pork nor BBQ, but my husband is, so I thought I would give it a whirl. So glad I did as this will become a regular dish I make! This was really easy and so delicious.
Nancylynn says
Well, YAY!!!!
Katie says
Trying this tomorrow! How do you think the leftovers would freeze?
Nancylynn says
Perfectly!
Stephanie says
This bbq sauce is fantastic! I added some liquid smoke and smoked paprika for some extra flavor. Love it!
Nancylynn says
Oooh! That sounds AMAZING!!!
Alexis Blazer says
I used a pork loin and it turned out perfect! I never knew what a Coconut Amino was until I tried this recipe. It is similar to soy sauce. I followed the recipe exactly. It was quick, easy and so so good. Everyone loved and the leftovers were just as good. This will become a regular dish in our home.
Nancylynn says
Alexis! You totally made my night – I am SO happy you found a recipe that your whole family can enjoy! Thanks for taking the time to write – means so much!
Shi says
I’m new to the InstaPot community. When you say manual for 60 minutes, is that low or high pressure? Not to mention my InstaPot doesn’t even have a button that says manual.??♀️
And 60 minutes seems like an awful long time to use pressure cooker? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
Nancylynn says
Hi – do you have a pressure cook button? If so, that’s your manual button. This is one of the longest pressure cooker recipes – but it does truly take 60 minutes. Also – if a recipe doesn’t specify low pressure, always use high!!
Margie says
Hi Nancylynn, you never cease to amaze me!! Your recipes are more delicious than anything in restaurants!!! This one is going on my list to do. I think I have a pork loin in the freezer, if not, I know I have chicken ❤️ Can’t wait to make it!!
Nancylynn says
You are the sweetest ever, Margie!❤️
Megan Gonzales says
Can you do this with baby back ribs and if so would you need 2 racks?
Nancylynn says
I think two would fit, but I am not sure because ribs aren’t on the 21 Day Fix Food list.
Kimmy Smith says
Making this for dinner tonight in the IP! So excited, will let you know what the family think ?
Nancylynn says
Yay! Please do!
Kimmy Smith says
HUGE hit!! I made closer to 4lbs. So the only complaint was not enough sauce, next time I’ll just drop down to 3lbs. Thanks! This was so easy and great.
Nancylynn says
FANTASTIC!!!! Or double the sauce…you can never have enough!!! <3
Niki says
So what are the portions sizes with this equal out to? I’m new to this whole thing and I’m trying to get the hang of it.
Nancylynn says
Just measure 3/4 cup for a red/protein!
Mollie says
3/4th cup or 2/3rd is a serving? Can’t wait to try this!
Nancylynn says
Oops! Yes – it’s 3/4 cup!
Renee Davison says
Could I use raw honey instead of the pure maple syrup?
Nancylynn says
YES! It’s really yummy that way!
Kelsey Witherell says
Wondering what else you served with this dish? Can’t wait to try it!!
Karen Moller says
Hi! Whaat do you serve this with that maintains 21 Day fix approved? Maybe a lettuce wrap?
Nancylynn says
I love it with a vinegar based slaw on the side and either on a lettuce wrap or toasted piece of gluten-free whole grain bread or roll…
Suzan says
I made this and added Cayenne pepper for heat. So good!
Nancylynn says
Oooh!! I will definitely be trying that!! <3 <3 <3
Autumn Meyer says
What container count is this? I see 1 red, but it has onion and bbq sauce too so it has to have more. Any help would be appreciated! thanks!
Nancylynn says
When you divide the onion and the bbq into 6-8 servings that this pork serves, there isn’t much to count.
Robyn N says
My husband is diabetic, is it alright to substitute sugar free maple syrup instead of real maple syrup and honey?
Nancylynn says
If it’s something you are used to using, sure!!
Chas says
Is the coconut amino necessary? To be honest I don’t know what it is, but I do not like anything from a coconut (milk, oil, shreds, etc). Is there something else I could use?
Nancylynn says
Yes, but feel free to sub in low sodium soy sauce!
Mary says
Great question! I couldn’t find the coconut aminos when I went shopping. I do have soy sauce though! For future reference, where would you find the coconut aminos? Spice? Oil? By the coconut oil?
Nancylynn says
In my store, it’s right by the soy sauce! I would also check the gluten-free/organic section!
Adrienne says
When cooking in the instant pot, do you use high or low pressure? When you say natural release do you shut the pot off or leave the “keep warm” mode on?
Nancylynn says
I do high pressure! And natural release stays in the keep warm mode while it is releasing the pressure!
Allison says
This sounds delish! How many servings do you get from this recipe? (approximately)
Nancylynn says
Around 8!
Crystal says
Girrrrl.. This is AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!! The hubs doubted the sauce because of the smell while it simmered but he loved it!! The pork was tender and the sauce was tangy and sweet. It was heaven on a plate!!
Dotti says
Could I use pork loin?
Nancylynn says
Yes!
Stacie says
Does the BBQ sauce have a container count? Maybe a tsp?
Nancylynn says
It doesn’t have any oil! It’s free if you use in small amounts like in this recipe :).
Jen says
How many hours in the crock pot in High?
Nancylynn says
I would say around 4 hours!
Danielle Arakelian says
This looks so good! Do you happen to have a fixed approved slaw recipe?
Nancylynn says
I never put one up!! No idea why…need to get on that!!
Laura says
I normally make pulled pork in the slow cooker and I literally just pour a can of root beer in with it and then shred and cover in sweet baby rays. I have had trouble finding a fix approved bbq sauce that compares, so excited to try this! I’m wondering if I could use the Zevia ginger root beer in place of regular root beer, hmm. Thank you for this recipe!
Nancylynn says
Hi! I totally think that could work! I would try it! I used to always use regular ginger ale for my pulled pork, so I feel like Ginger Root Beer would be delicious.