Happy Friday! Fall is in the air, the weather is cooling down and I couldn’t be more happy! I love this time of year 🙂
Last week I needed to make a meal for a large crowd that was easily transportable. I’m used to making meals for 2, 4 or 6 if I’m getting crazy. This needed to be for around 20 people. To the internet I went searching, and where did that take me? I should have known…The Pioneer Woman to the rescue! She’s famous for making meals for big crowds and transports her food around the ranch all the time. When I saw the Spicy Dr. Pepper Pork, I knew it was meant to be. It’s one of her most popular recipes on her site.
It was easy to make, and was a definite crowd pleaser. The recipe called for cooking the pork in a dutch oven. I was at work during the day so I threw everything in the crock pot for 12 hours and when I got home, it was fall apart tender and ready to go. I will warn you, this recipe is spicy, so if you’re not a spicy fan, I would use only half the can of chipotle peppers. Other than that, if you need to feed the masses and can’t be at home cooking all day, give this recipe a try!
Start off roughly chopping a large onion. Throw that in the crock. Note: You will need a large Crock-Pot for this dish.
Next, get your Pork Shoulder a.k.a. Butt Roast
I like the Pioneer Woman, feel the need to rinse the pork after unwrapping. Is this mandatory? Certainly not, it’s just the crazy woman in my head that makes me do it.
Generously salt and pepper the roast on all sides
Throw that big boy in the Crock-Pot, fat side up
This is where things get spicy. I warn you again with peace and love, if you don’t like spice, please use half the can.
If you want to clear your sinuses, throw in the whole can. The crowd I was cooking for really likes spicy food. Challenge accepted.
Get out your Dr. Pepper. This happened to be my favorite soda as a child. It still holds a special place in my heart.
And pour it in. Also add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the cooking liquid on the side.
Pop that lid on, turn on high, and come back 12 hours later.
Hello lover!
Remove the pork and shred with 2 forks. Remove half of the liquid and set aside. Add pork back in and as much liquid as needed to keep it moist but not dripping wet. How much liquid you need will depend on how long you’ll need to keep it warm. Mine was kept warm overnight so it needed a little extra.
Spicy Dr. Pepper Pork
Ingredients
1 whole Large Onion
1 whole Pork Shoulder (“pork Butt”) – 5 To 7 Pounds
Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 can (11 Ounce) Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce
2 cans Dr. Pepper
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
Directions
Peel the onion and cut it into wedges. Lay them in the bottom of a Crock-Pot.
Generously salt and pepper the pork roast on all sides, set it on top of the onions in the pan.
Pour the can of chipotle peppers over the pork (include the sauce.) Pour in 3 cups (2-12oz cans) of Dr Pepper. Add brown sugar to the juice and stir in.
Place lid tightly on Crock-Pot, set on high. Cook for 12 hours. Check meat; it should be absolutely falling apart (use two forks to test.) If it’s not falling apart, keep cooking for another hour.
Remove meat from pot and place on a cutting board or other work surface. Use two forks to shred meat, discarding large pieces of fat. Strain as much of the fat off the top of the cooking liquid as you can and discard it. Remove half of the cooking liquid. Return the shredded meat to the Crock-Pot and as much liquid as needed to keep it moist but not dripping wet, keep warm until ready to serve. (You can also refrigerate the meat and liquid separately, then remove hardened fat once it’s cold. Then heat up the liquid on the stovetop and return the meat to the liquid to warm up.
Serve on warm flour tortillas. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, grated cheese, avocado slices, salsa, and whatever else you’d like.
It would also be good on buns with coleslaw.
Recipe slightly adapted from the Pioneer Woman
I love everything from cake to kale. Life is all about balance. I like to live, laugh and love to the fullest! Our time is too short not to enjoy ourselves.
Adding this to my list of “to make” items. I am a self confessed Pioneer Woman groupie! Your version looks wonderful!
It’s awesome! I am too 🙂 Thanks so much! Happy Friday!
This sounds and looks SOO good!! I’m definitely going to make this sometime, That Pioneer Woman does know her stuff! 😉 Thanks for sharing & Happy Friday!
It’s wonderful! Yes she does 🙂 Have an weekend!
Wow! Love that!!
Thanks 🙂
Oh my goodness, what a crowd pleaser this surely must be, Sarah! Looks awesome!
Definite crowd pleaser! Thanks Ngan 🙂
This looks wonderful! I made my first shredded pork last weekend – a-ma-zing. The inner German made me use beer instead of your soft drink, though 😉
Happy Fiesta Friday,
Ginger
Thanks Ginger! I like your style 😉 Happy FF!
Oh wow, Dr Pepper, it’s been a really long time since I’ve had that soda. Great idea with the pork, looks delicious.
Thank you! It’s been a really long time since I’ve had it as well. It works perfectly with this pork!
Wow, this looks amazing Sarah – pork and Dr. Pepper? What a great combo 🙂
Thanks Loretta! It’s a surprisingly delicious combo!
This looks so flavorful and delicious, Sarah! I have never used Dr Pepper before in cooking. So creative! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
I had never used it before this recipe either. It’s was surprisingly delicious! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I love Ree’s recipes too Sarah & this one sure looks like a winner! Love the addition of chipotle and Dr. Pepper, must make the pork so flavorful! Thanks for sharing at FF 🙂
Ree is one of my favorites for sure. Her recipes never disappoint. Have a great weekend 🙂
This spicy version is fun 🙂 I made slow-cooker pulled pork with root beer and couldn’t believe how delicious it came out! Love the chipotles!!
Who ever thought using soda would make such tasty meat! Thank you very much!!
I just love a recipe that can cook away while you are busy. There are so many ways that this can be served too! Bravo.
Those are the best recipes, aren’t they! Thanks so much 🙂
Yum!! Dr Pepper was also one of my favourite soft drinks as a kid, I try not to drink much soda these days but I do treat myself occasionally. But if I have it with pork, it doesn’t count as drinking soda right?! This looks really yummy, I would definitely have to go for the half can of peppers, my tongue is a wimp!
Thanks Michelle! I hardly ever drink soda now either. And no, if it’s with pork it doesn’t count 🙂 I’m kind of a wimp with spice too, but I’m starting to come around with my Husband being such a spice lover!
My problem is I love the taste of spicy things, but my wimpy side normally ends up winning!
Yep, that’s me too!
I can just imagine the amazing taste of this!
I’ll bring you some Lori 🙂
I’m sure this is super delicious! I have heard of cooking with Coke, but never Dr. Pepper! How cool! 😀
Thank you Julianna, it really is delicious! I was the same way, heard of cooking with Coke and even root beer, but not Dr. Pepper, but it sure worked out well 🙂
Great recipe Sarah – I have used soda in a number of recipes; cakes, ham, baked beans – always adds some good flavor 🙂
Thank you so much! I haven’t tried soad in cake or baked beans, but now you have my wheels turning 🙂
Happy Fiesta Friday, Sarah!! This looks so delicious!! I love spicy food too…and this is a wonderful recipe …and perfect to bring to our table this week! I have a sirloin roast sitting in the fridge that I’m about to throw in the crock pot, and you have me wondering how that would taste if I just cooked it like this… I bet delicious. Ok, yep. You talked me into it!! Thanks so much for sharing… Awesome post!! <3
Happy Fiesta Friday 🙂 If you love spicy you’ll really love this! I bet that roast would taste good this way. Let me know how it turns out!
Looks yum!
Thank you! It is really delicious!
Yum! Definitely trying this!
Thanks lady! It’s so good!
When I read the title I thought “Dr. Pepper?….really??”, so I browsed down and saw that yes, indeed. Really interesting ingredient, but I guess the caramel-like sweetness go well with the pork:) It looks delicious and I can only imagine how tasty it must be in a tortilla;)
It’s an interesting combination for sure, but I promise it works wonderfully 🙂