Slow Cooker Garlicky Pulled Pork (Easy Freezer Meals!)

Minutes to prepare and delicious enough for company

This recipe is fast to put together and is delicious enough to serve to guests. Make a double batch and portion into individual meals to freeze. It's so great to have some easy options when life gets busy!

I often serve this to guests because it takes so little time (leaving me able to visit) and everyone always raves about it.

I was inspired by this slow cooker pork shoulder recipe over at delish.com, and have adjusted it to make it my own. I often serve it to guests and everyone always raves about it. It isn't smoky or covered in BBQ sauce and even those people in my life who aren't big pulled pork fans love this recipe. Just plain old garlicky deliciousness!

This recipe makes a big batch and the leftovers freeze beautifully - which makes meal prep a breeze! I'll portion into rice bowls steamed veggies (or even chopped fresh tomatoes and peppers if I don't have anything cooked) and pour some of the juices from the slow cooker overtop and voila!! SUPER FLAVOURFUL and easy-peasy freezer meals! See more freezer meal options (including freezing raw) below the recipe. Want more freezer meal recipes + practical tips to actually get them made? Download my free Family Favourites Freezer Meals pdf here.

Slow Cooker Garlicky Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 1 pork shoulder, about 6lbs (2.7kgs)

• 20 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil

• 2 teaspoons cumin

• 2 Tablespoons salt

• 2 teaspoons pepper

• 3 Tablespoons dried oregano

• 1/4 cup bottled lime juice

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients except the pork shoulder together in a small bowl to make a paste.

2. Score the pork shoulder all over with a knife by making criss-cross lines about 1 inch apart and 1 inch deep.

3. Rub the seasoning paste all over the pork, making sure to get it into all the score marks you cut into the pork.

4. Place the seasoned pork shoulder into your slow cooker. Cook on low for 7.5-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

5. Remove pork shoulder from the slow cooker and shred or slice. Return to the sauce in the slow cooker before serving.

6. Serve over rice (or in rice bowls with mixed veggies and extra sauce!), or as pulled pork sandwiches on buns.

Prep Ahead and Easy Freezer Meal Ideas

This recipe is so flexible when it comes to freezing. Here's a few different ways to do it. Pick one that works for your lifestyle!

1. Freeze cooked & portioned into individual servings: Once cooked, portion into small containers and freeze for individual meals. If you have leftover rice and veggies handy, add those together and spoon over some sauce from the slow cooker to have ready made rice bowls to reheat and eat!

2. Freeze big batch (cooked) for quick family dinners: Once cooked, simply freeze the leftovers in a larger container for a quick reheat and eat family dinner.

3. Freeze raw to cook later: You can prepare this recipe up to step 3 and freeze raw. Simply pull out of your freezer on Sunday to thaw, then drop it into your slow cooker on Wednesday or Thursday for a fresh cooked meal! This recipe makes A TON so you can also cut your pork shoulder in half, cook half for tonight's dinner and freeze the other half for a dinner next month!

4. Remix the leftovers: This recipe makes SO MUCH, and it is seasoned in a very versatile way. Eat it as rice bowls or sandwiches on day 1, add some chili powder, shredded cheese, salsa and guacamole for tacos on night 2, and use it as the protein in a giant veggie stir fry on night 3. You will be surprised the number of different flavour profiles this recipe will work with! Experiment and have some fun!