This unofficial Slimming World BBQ pulled pork slow cooker recipe is a doddle to make. Using lean pork loin steaks, it's easy to shred and is delicious in a rich tomato and paprika sauce.
Healthy pulled pork in the slow cooker is the PERFECT Autumn and Winter recipe. The nights are darker, I'm more tired and this means I don't feel as motivated to stay healthy.
However, choosing a smarter meal to pop in your slow cooker is great so it can do all the hard work for you.
Just have it as a pulled ham salad, maybe some air-fried chips or a baked potato with beans on the side. It's so easy, it will become a regular unofficial Slimming World recipe.
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✔️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
Here's why we think you'll love this healthy BBQ pulled pork recipe:
- Minimal prep or effort
- Doesn't require pot watching
- Made with simple ingredients
- Perfect for batching and freezing
- Great alternative to pork burgers
- Easy one-pot recipe - no frying needed
- It's low in saturated fat after removing excess fat
- No need for a food processor or other equipment
🛒 Ingredient Notes
Please see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient quantities and preparation instructions at the bottom of this post.
Pork - you can use loin or pork shoulder steaks, but to support your weight loss if required, ensure you trim off visible fat first
Passata - this is tomato sauce, or you can use chopped tomatoes
Tomato puree - to intensify the sweet tomato taste
Garlic - this is fresh minced garlic, or you can swap for garlic powder
Apple cider vinegar - to add acidity and a little sweetness
Worcestershire sauce - or balsamic vinegar for gluten free
Mustard powder - or you could add horseradish for tang
Smoked paprika - or hot paprika
Chilli Powder - or a dash or Tabasco sauce
Sweetener - I use a natural brown sugar style sweetener, but you could use honey, pineapple juice or an apple
Salt and pepper - to taste, or swap the salt for soy sauce
📋 Instructions
1. For the first step, remove and discard all visible fat from your choice of pork.
Then add to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients.
2. Place the lid on top and choose one of the following cooking times:
- Low heat - 6-8 hours
- High heat - 3-4 hours
3. Transfer the pork to a chopped board and use a couple of forks to pull the meat apart.
4. Place back into the slow cooker and stir well and serve.
Serve in wholemeal bread buns with red onion, healthy coleslaw, etc
Tip: ensure you remove all excess fat from the meat before cooking in the slow cooker.
👩🍳 Substitutions
Depending on your dietary needs, here are a few simple swaps you can make:
- All BBQ ingredients - if not following Slimming World, Weight watchers or interested in the amount of calories you consume, you can follow this recipe and swap for store bought BBQ sauce
- Pork - swap for lean chicken breasts, turkey, pulled beef or dried soya mince
- Worcestershire sauce - swap for Henderson's Relish if needing Gluten Free
⚖️ Variations
Here are some different ways you can enhance and truly personalise this recipe:
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes for extra heat or sliced jalapenos
- Deluxe - saute onions in a hot frying pan and add to the slow cooker
- Kid friendly - omit any hot ingredients and serve with chips and ketchup
🔪 Equipment
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- Slow cooker
- Measuring jug
- Weighing scales
- Measuring spoons
- Garlic press
- Chopping board
- Chopping knife
❄️ Storage
Storing - store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezing - cool to room temperature and again, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. It's easy to make a batch and freeze ahead.
Reheating - reheat thoroughly for up to 3-4 minutes in the microwave, stirring mid-way. Or cover and bake in the oven on 180 degrees for 20 minutes.
💡Pro Tips
- If calorie counting, opt for leaner cuts like pork loin for low saturated fat to help support cholesterol
- Don't skip adding cooking liquid such as apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce as it will help keep it moist
- Ensure the meat reaches a minimum internal temperature of 70c or 205F so that it's safe to eat
- If feeding a lot of people, simply double or triple the ingredients
- Add seasoning at the end to control the taste
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
I have a few ideas of what to serve with pulled pork in the slow cooker. On the day of making, I topped it with healthy coleslaw and filled a big wholemeal bread bun. But you can also eat it with:
- Wholemeal wraps in leftover pulled pork carnitas
- Pulled pork tacos
- Sweet potato fries
- Slimming baked potato filling
- Healthy & Slimming oven baked or air fried chips
- Dollop of apple chutney
- Leafy green salad
- Tortillas to make enchiladas
- Potato salad
- Jewelled rice or cous cous
- Crushed potatoes
- Garlic and cheese hasselback potatoes
❓ FAQ
I personally think this leaner pulled pork is rather healthy as it works out at around 350 calories per serving. It's also considered very healthy when following many Slimming clubs.
This is because we've removed all of the visible fat before cooking to make it extra lean. And with it being high in protein, it should also keep you fuller for longer.
The only extra flavours we've added are herbs and spices. But obviously, it's down to you as to what you eat it with that will rack up the calories. So have a look at my healthy serving suggestions below.
Typically, pulled pork in the slow cooker is used with a larger cut of meat that is high in fat. That way, it's easier to shred, such as the shoulder.
However, it's often cooked with pork tenderloin. So here we're going to cook with pork tenderloin steaks which makes it much quicker to cook with.
This should shave off an hour of your time and cook on high for 3 hours.
To make healthy pulled pork in the slow cooker, firstly you'll need 800g of lean pork loin steaks. I ensure every bit of visible fat is removed. The other main ingredient is 250g of passata for the steaks to cook in a rich tomato sauce.
Then it's as simple as adding the herbs, spices, vinegar and Worcesterhire sauce to give it plenty of flavour without the need for fats. As for sweetener, you could always omit until the end as I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.
But try to opt for a natural sweetener like Sukrin to avoid an unpleasant metallic taste. Other ideas could be to add a teaspoon of honey or agave syrup.
Once you've put all of your ingredients in the slow cooker, there's no need to rub anything. Simply pop the lid on top and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7.
If you wanted to double or triple your ingredients, the timings would be the same.
Then once cooking, due to the steaks already being cooked, it's super easy to shred your pulled pork with two forks and serve.
Yes, you can cook this low fat pulled pork in the Instant Pot. Simple cook for 40 minutes on manual high pressure and allow it to naturally release.
➕ More Unofficial Slimming World Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍽️Pairing
Here are some of our favourite recipes to enjoy with pulled pork:
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📖 Recipe
Unofficial Slimming World BBQ Pulled Pork Slow Cooker Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 800 g pork loin steaks all fat removed
- 250 g passata
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Pepper
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon sweetener (I used sukrin gold)
- 1 tablespoon hot paprika
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Place everything in your slow cooker and pop the lid on.
- Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6-7.
- Pull the meat apart with 2 forks and place back into the slow cooker pot, stir well until coated and serve.
Disclaimer
*This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World. Slimming World's website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/. Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.
Rebecca
I have always done this recipe in the slow cooker but it died on me! Can I do it in the oven do you think? Thanks
Carol Morrison
Absolutely fabulous. Used pork shoulder joint remved all fat.
Enough for two days, with veg, didnt shred as was too beautiful to not eat in pieces.