Super Bowl Sunday is just days away and I don’t know about you but I’m not looking forward to the standard chicken wings and nachos combo. In the hunt for a not so typical recipe for game day I came across this fabulous recipe for pulled pork on The Pioneer Woman. I did a test run just to make sure it would be a crowd pleaser and, I have to tell you, I’m sensing an obsession coming on. This pulled pork is everything a good tailgating recipe should be: delicious, impressive, and, best of all, easy! I made mine into tacos but it would be great for sliders or barbecue too.
Start by cutting an onion into big chunks and placing them in the bottom of the crockpot. I always use red onions because I like the sweetness but you can use whatever you like. bell peppers would also be a yummy fajita-like addition if you’re looking to add some color to the final product.
Next season both sides of the pork roast. I used Cavender’s seasoning, but basic salt and pepper will be just fine since you’re about the add some overwhelming spice to the mix with some chipotle peppers. (A not-so-small side note: I got the smallest roast I could, which was 9 pounds! Don’t worry about being exact with this recipe. As long as you keep the proportions right you’ll have a great end result.)
Top your seasoned roast with a big can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. I used the same size can The Pioneer Woman recipe calls for, because with the larger roast it was a little less spicy. (If you’re making this for a crowd you may want to go this route so you don’t set too many mouths on fire!)
Now for the secret ingredient: Dr. Pepper! I’m sure you’ve seen the variety of soda-based recipes on Pinterest but this combination of spicy and sweet is by far the most inventive I’ve come across. The addition of Dr. Pepper results in a slightly sweet first taste followed by the chipotle heat. SImply delicious! The soda also ensures you have a juicy roast that falls apart once it’s cooked.
My crockpot gets extremely hot so I left it on warm while I was out all day and it cooked perfectly. You’ll know it’s done when the meat pulls apart easily. all you have to do is shred the roast and put it back in the pot to keep warm. (You can use forks to pull it apart but I found it easier to just do it by hand.) I would suggest adding some of the juice, with or without the peppers, back in to keep everything nice and moist.
All that’s left to do now is dig in . . . put together your tacos, sliders, whatever and enjoy!