Recipe: Healthy Pulled Pork Sandwiches (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Lunch Recipes, Pork + Beef Recipes, Sandwiches and Wraps Recipes

Healthy Pulled Pork Sandwiches (In The Slow Cooker!)

We love these healthy pulled pork sandwiches made in the slow cooker. This recipe is so easy and the pork comes out tender and juicy every time! These BBQ sandwiches are filled with protein, and so delicious I started making twice the amount! You are just 4 steps away from a delicious meal everyone will love! This healthy pulled pork is perfect for busy days as you can just set it and forget it!

Let’s Talk Barbecue Sauce

When it comes to barbecue sauce, there are two options: buy your favorite storebought sauce or make your own. The tricky thing with barbecue sauce is that it can be loaded with sugar and other not-so-good-for-you ingredients. To make this healthy pulled pork sandwich, I love to make my Sweet and Sassy Reduced Sugar BBQ Sauce. Or if I’m rushed for time, I’ll serve it with a storebought version. Here are some of my favorites:

Trader Joe’s Bold & Smoky Kansas City BBQ Sauce
Primal Kitchen Organic and Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce
Annie’s Organic Original BBQ Sauce

Feel free to use whichever is your favorite, just make sure to peek at the nutrition information!

What Is The Best Cut of Meat for Pulled Pork?

Most pulled pork recipes call for a pork shoulder, which you can find at most grocery stores. A pork shoulder has a larger fat content to yield a tender, juicy result in the end. However, for our version of healthy pulled pork, we like to use pork tenderloin. It’s less fatty making it a better choice.

Can You Overcook Pulled Pork?

Yes, it is possible to overcook pulled pork. Typically, pork should be cooked to 145 degrees. However, since this healthy pulled pork recipe uses a slow cooker, it retains much of the moisture and doesn’t dry out as quickly. And in fact, to really yield tender pull-apart pork, you can (and should) actually cook this pulled pork to 190-195 degrees. The low and slow method will not result in dry meat cooked to this temperature.

How Do You Shred Pulled Pork?

Shredded pulled pork in a white dish

There are a few different methods for shredding pulled pork. The easiest is just to take two forks and pull the meat apart. Sometimes this can take some time, so if you make pulled pork time and time again, you might find these meat claws useful. They are able to grab hold of more meat at a time than forks, and pull through it easier.

What To Serve With These BBQ Pork Sandwiches

We love serving this healthy pulled pork with something fresh and bright that pair with the smokiness of these sandwiches. A coleslaw and/or fruit salad works well. Here are some of our favorites:

Leftover pulled pork? Make sure to check out our delicious pulled pork Asian salad.

Total Time: 365 minutes

Yield: 9 serving(s)

Ingredients

1-2 pork tenderloins approximately 3-4 lb.'s total
1 large yellow onion sliced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 large can chicken broth
6 whole grain sandwich buns
1 bottle of Trader Joe's Bold & Smoky Kansas City BBQ Sauce or sauce of your choice
4-6 qt slow cooker or large crock pot

Directions

Place the sliced onion at the bottom of your crock pot and top with pork tenderloins.
Sprinkle the seasoning onto the meat and add in chicken broth.
Cover and set to low heat for 6-8 hours.
The meat should fall apart and be ready to shred for sandwiches. Combine each serving of pulled pork with 2 tbsp BBQ sauce and spoon onto the bun. Enjoy!