Crock Pot Barbecue Recipes

Barbecue is a staple in Southern cuisine. There are many different types of barbecues, and many different opinions regarding which preparation method is best. For busy people, using a Crock Pot can be the easiest and best way to prepare pulled pork or pulled beef barbecue.

When you cook a pork roast or beef roast in liquid in a Crock Pot, it becomes very tender and pulls apart very easily. When seasoned with your favorite barbecue sauce, it can be a great treat by itself or as the filling for barbecue sandwiches.

The Basics of Crock Pot Barbecue

While there are many different ways to season beef or pork for barbecue, the basics of preparing crock pot barbecue involve slow cooking a roast in a crock pot on low for 8-10 hours.

Select a Cut of Meat

The first step is to select a cut of meat. Any type of beef or pork roast that will work well for barbecue, so select your favorite type in a size that easily fits in your Crock Pot without touching the sides of the crockery or the lid.

Suggested Cuts Include:

Beef - Round Roast, Chuck Roast, Brisket

Pork - Boston Butt, Pork Shoulder, Pork Loin

Select a Cooking Liquid

When you cook meat in a crock pot, it is very important that the meat simmer in liquid throughout the time it is cooking. Therefore second step is to decide what type of liquid you will cook the meat in. Water works very well for this purpose, although some people prefer to use a flavored liquid to enhance the flavor of the meat.

Popular Choices for Cooking Liquids Include

• Beef Stock
• Beef Broth
• French Onion Soup

Seasoning the Meat

You will not add barbecue sauce to the meat until after it is cooked. However, it is a good idea to rub the meat down with any type of dry seasonings that you would like to use before you start cooking it. There are as many different ways to season meat as there are spices.

Popular Spices for Crock Pot Barbecue Include

• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Creole Seasoning
• Any type of dry rub appropriate for the type of meat

Cooking the Meat

Simply pour your selected cooking liquid in the crock pot so that it covers approximately the first three inches of the pot's depth. Place the seasoned meat in the liquid, put the lid on, and turn the pot on low. Let it simmer for 8 - 10 hours.

Barbecue Time

When the meat has cooked the appropriate length of time, remove the roast from the Crock Pot. Be very careful, as it will be very tender and will flake apart easily. Remove the liquid from the Crock Pot. Shred the meat with a fork, then return it to the slow cooker and pour in a bottle of your favorite homemade barbecue sauce.

Let the barbecue sit for a little while to allow the flavor of the sauce to blend with the meat, and then serve with your favorite sides!