Flavorful Pulled Pork with Gochujang BBQ Sauce
Tender slow-cooked pork shoulder infused with a spicy-sweet Korean gochujang BBQ sauce, perfect for family gatherings or casual dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours (slow cooker low) or 4 to 6 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes to 10 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker low) or 4 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (Boston butt), bone-in or boneless
- Salt, about 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper, about ½ teaspoon
- 1/3 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ cup water or beef broth
Instructions
- Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Generously season all sides with salt and black pepper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together gochujang, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, onion powder, sesame oil, and water or beef broth until smooth and pourable.
- Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker. Pour about two-thirds of the gochujang BBQ sauce over the pork, turning to coat all sides. Reserve the remaining sauce for serving.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 6 hours until the meat is fork-tender and easily pulls apart. (If using a Dutch oven, roast at 275°F for 4-5 hours, turning halfway.)
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks into bite-sized pieces.
- Stir the shredded pork back into the reserved gochujang BBQ sauce. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve warm on toasted buns, over rice, or with a crisp slaw. Garnish with sesame seeds or sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. Add smoked paprika for a smoky flavor. If sauce is too thick after cooking, stir in a splash of water or broth. If pork isn’t shredding easily, cook longer. Sauce flavors improve if made the night before. Can also be cooked in a Dutch oven or Instant Pot (60-70 minutes high pressure).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 ounces of pu
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 32
Keywords: pulled pork, gochujang, BBQ sauce, slow cooker, Korean BBQ, tender pork, spicy-sweet sauce, family dinner