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Slow Cooker Boston Butt Recipe (Instant Pot Option)

Katie Wells Avatar

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Slow Cooker BBQ BOston Butt Recipe
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Pork Recipes » Slow Cooker Boston Butt Recipe (Instant Pot Option)

Growing up in the south, I’m pretty familiar with pork barbecue. I’m also familiar with the fact that most commercially available versions from barbecue places have high fructose corn syrup or other non-foods in their sauce.

Boston butt is one of the easiest cuts of pork to cut and it is also one of the cheapest to buy. I’ve been able to find Boston butt from pastured pork at great prices, and slow cooking this recipe makes it incredibly tender. It’s also an easy recipe to make on days when you are out of the house all day and need dinner to be ready when you get home.

For our family, one Boston butt will easily spread to 3-4 meals of leftovers and the kids love it. We’ve even done barbecue omelets with leftovers. If you’ve never tried Boston butt before, I’d encourage you to try this recipe.

Slow Cooker BBQ BOston Butt Recipe

Slow Cooker Boston Butt Recipe

An easy slow cooker barbecue recipe with flavors of pineapple and spices.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 5 minutes
Calories 585kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

8 +

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Thinly slice the onions and place them in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
  • Rinse the Boston butt and place it on top of the onions.
  • Sprinkle with spices.
  • Pour the whole can of pineapple over it. If using fresh pineapple, peel, core, and thin chop the pineapple and place over pork.
  • Add the apple cider vinegar.
  • Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 10-12 hours or until fork tender. Don’t open until at least 8 hours and then check for tenderness.
  • Shred with two forks to make pulled pork and top with barbecue sauce if using.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Boston Butt Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 585 Calories from Fat 277
% Daily Value*
Fat 30.8g47%
Saturated Fat 11.3g71%
Cholesterol 167mg56%
Sodium 1196mg52%
Carbohydrates 30.9g10%
Fiber 1.9g8%
Sugar 23.9g27%
Protein 44.1g88%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

For the Instant Pot: Follow steps 1-3 as written. Instead of using a slow cooker, put everything except the barbecue sauce in the Instant Pot and set on manual for 60 minutes. Let cook and let steam release naturally after cooking. Mix in the barbecue sauce after shredding. 

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Are you a barbecue fan? What is your secret recipe? Please share below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

40 responses to “Slow Cooker Boston Butt Recipe (Instant Pot Option)”

  1. Froukje Avatar

    When I pour the pineapple juice on, it washed all the spices of the meat, I’m so confused.

  2. Katie Avatar

    You didn’t say when to add the apple cider vinegar or did I miss it? I am making This now and put it in when species were sprinkled in. Is that right? Also, your ingredients list says crushed pineapple drained but the recipe says pineapple juice. I didn’t drain mine, but that was a personal preference. Just wanted to let you know!

    I’m excited to try this!

  3. Candy Avatar

    5 stars
    This recipe was delicious! We will definately make it again.

  4. Helen Avatar

    What cut of pork is Boston butt? Here in the UK we don’t call it that.

  5. Talitha Avatar

    Looks like previous questions about the pineapple juice vs canned pineapple have gone unaddressed, and I too am curious about this step. I guess I’ll try it with straight pineapple juice.

    1. Carolyn Avatar

      I used crushed pineapple in a can and just dumped the entire can in. It us so yum!!!

  6. Lisa Avatar

    I’m confused about the pineapple as well. Add a can of juice alone or a can of pineapple with juice? If calling for canned pineapple, what type?
    Thank you!

  7. Ellen Avatar

    google ‘shacks famous bbq sauce recipe’. It is delicious. Easy to make. The recipe will last you a year or more as It makes a gallon. And you can use organic ketchup and mustard to make it healthier.

  8. Dennis Avatar

    Hey there Wellness Mama, you rock! Whenever I go on Google to look for a recipe yours is always the best. So now I just look for your recipe and ignore the others. Thanks for your great taste.

  9. Judy Avatar

    How do you eat the pulled pork – by itself? We would normally eat it on a bun, so just wondering. It sounds really good!

      1. Christie Avatar
        Christie

        Blue Sky BBQ sauce is all natural if you can find it in your area.

  10. Amy Taylor Avatar
    Amy Taylor

    This is a huge tease for someone who is allergic to pineapple. Was planning on making a variation that uses apples/apple juice instead.

    1. Gavin Thomann Avatar
      Gavin Thomann

      It would probably be delicious with Apple! You might want to swap out the basil for parsley, and use red onions.

  11. Catie Meyer Schamel Avatar
    Catie Meyer Schamel

    I’m making this today, and really looking forward to it. Your directions didn’t mention when to add in the ACV, so I just tossed it in with the pineapple juice…was that right?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      That was right! Thanks for the heads up, I’ll try to edit that!

  12. Jife Avatar

    This was delicious!  It’s our new favorite pulled pork recipe.  😉

  13. Katie Avatar

    Thank you sooooo much for this recipe! I made it the other day and it was spectacular! This will become a staple in my house for sure.

  14. Kelly Avatar

    I’m a little confused.  Are you supposed to use a 15 oz can of pineapple or pineapple juice.  The ingredients say one thing, but the directions imply another.  Thanks.

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