Most pulled pork recipes you’ll find online are heavily laden with sugar; we all know that’s the farthest from healthy.
So to answer your question if plain pulled pork is healthy— not with all that sugar, it’s not!
A dry rub is necessary for making good pulled pork, and it is often created using paprika, sugar, salt, and occasionally other spices.
We don’t mind the spices.
We don’t mind the rub either.
However, we don’t like sugar. Therefore, we won’t use any.
We don’t want to overdo it with sugary sauces, so we’re keeping it as basic as we can, using spice rubs and potent flavors to make the tastes stand out.
If you cook the pulled pork well and it’s already flavorful, there’s no need to smother it in sauces.
In this article, we’ll give you a slow cooker pulled pork recipe that is equal parts mouthwateringly delicious and healthy!
Healthy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
Pulled pork cooked in a crock pot is a flexible recipe that works for many different types of meals.
You can choose to serve it simple, covered in sauce, or flavored with your favorite seasonings.
In addition to the fact that it just takes ten minutes to prepare, or maybe a bit longer if you bake the potatoes to go along with the dish, some other reasons why we think this recipe is incredibly healthy include:
- Low fat – Traditionally, pulled pork is produced from higher-fat pork shoulder or pork butt. For this recipe, we chose pork tenderloins, because they are so much leaner. We adore this recipe for pulled pork shoulder if you do want one.
- High Protein – This dish is made entirely of protein— 41 grams per serving,
- Low-sugar barbecue sauce: use low or no-sugar barbecue sauce to make this dish low-carb. You don’t need all the sugar that’s present in most barbecue sauces.
There are several reasons why you should make pulled pork in an instant pot, some of which include:
- Doesn’t need constant attending: You can simply set something up on the slow cooker for hours and tend to other responsibilities, and by the time you’re done with a day of chores and errands, your food will be ready, fresh off the stove!
- You can use pulled pork in seemingly infinite recipes: tacos, sandwiches, pizza, salads— you name it!
- The meal prep ace: It’s up to you whether you want to prepare this pulled pork the night before so you can cook it in the morning or cook it on the weekend to keep in the fridge for quick meal prep during the week. Even better, you can portion it out and freeze it for later use in recipes.
Ingredients You’ll Need For Pulled Pork
To make pulled pork, you’ll need:
- ginger
- pepper
- onion powder
- olive oil
- pork tenderloin
- chicken broth
- sugar-free BBQ sauce
- garlic powder
- cinnamon
- paprika
How To Make Crockpot Pulled Pork That’s Healthy
It’s pretty simple to make healthy pulled pork. The spices are the secret!
- Get your ingredients ready, including the spices.
- Combine your spices and olive oil in a bowl, and marinate the pork.
- Once prepared to cook, place the chicken stock and marinated pork in the crockpot.
- Let it simmer and cook pulled pork slowly.
- Use a mixer or forks to shred it once you’re done cooking pulled pork.
- Add some BBQ sauce to the shredded pork, and voila! Your flavorful pulled pork is ready to be served.
What Meat Should You Use For Slow cooker pulled pork?
Pork tenderloins are generally less fatty, so we prefer to use them in this recipe.
You may also choose to use pork loin, pork shoulder, or pork butt!
How To Keep Crock Pot Pulled Pork Fresh
Storing: If kept in an airtight container, leftover pulled pork will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezing: This dish can be kept in the freezer for up to three months. Before eating, make sure the pork is completely defrosted.
Reheating: You may reheat pulled pork on the stovetop, in a lightly buttered skillet, or in the microwave or toaster oven.
Your Questions About Pulled Pork, Answered Here!
Finally, we answer some of the most pressing questions about pulled pork and its health benefits.
Can You Cook Raw Pork In A Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can! That’s what makes this slow cooker recipe so lovely. Turn on the slow cooker after placing the pork inside with the other ingredients. You don’t even have to think about it for eight to ten hours.
Is Eating Pulled Pork Good For Weightloss?
Pulled pork’s thermic impact, which is usually high, is another factor that may support weight loss. Thermogenesis is the process by which your body expends calories to generate heat.
Due to the high quality of protein in pulled pork, there must be a 30% increase in energy consumption.
Is Pulled Pork More Healthy Than Beef?
Beef may be better if you compare lean pig and beef products to see which has the fewest unhealthy fats.
However, fattier pig chops have much less saturated fat than big pieces of beef. Therefore, pork may occasionally be the healthier option, despite having a higher fat content.
This is because pigs have higher levels of healthy fats like polyunsaturated fatty acids than beef.
Is Pork Lean Meat?
Due to the use of the fattier slices of pig in its preparation and the addition of a sweet sauce and white bread, pulled pork is typically not lean in any way and is reserved for special occasions.
We love pulled pork and wanted to create a healthy version.
The first thing we altered was the type of meat. We used pork tenderloin. We just softened a relatively lean cut of meat by simmering it in a flavorful broth.
We wanted to try a little different with a tart vinaigrette-style dressing. We could add some crisp, raw vegetables for color and texture and serve them warm or cold.
How Long are Pork Chops Good in The Freezer?
Conclusion
While your traditional pulled pork recipes might not be the healthiest option, pulled pork recipes cooked in a slow cooker with sugar-free sauces make for healthier options.
The right lean meat can transform this beloved dish into a protein-rich superfood and be incorporated into any healthy diet.
So you don’t have to wait for holidays and special occasions to enjoy this glorious pork recipe because this recipe gives you all the goodness of authentic pulled pork without the fattiness. Happy cooking, and let us know how it turned out!
