This slow cooker recipe for Italian Pulled Pork can be served in a sandwich smothered in Mozzarella or with pasta – either way, it’s one fantastic dish!
Everybody loves pork, but why is it such underrated meat in the kitchen? Even on this blog, pork has seemingly taken a back seat to the likes of chicken, and beef! But this shouldn’t be the case. I particularly love Pan-Seared Brined Pork Chops, but this recipe is on another level.
Pork offers immense flavor and dimension into a dish, and to show you, I’ve prepared an amazingly delicious Italian Pulled Pork recipe. After trying this dish, you’ll be seeing a lot more pork on this site because I am truly blown away!
Why This Recipe Works
- Slow cooking the pork ensures it is juicy and pulls apart easily.
- Italian flavors give this pulled pork recipe a twist that can’t be beat
- Adding wine to the dish gives it a rich and delicious taste that’s on another level.
How to make Slow cooker italian pulled pork
- Saute the onion and garlic.
- Mix the tomato paste and wine, simmer.
- Place the pork into the slow cooker.
- Add tomatoes, basil, and parsley to the wine mixture.
- Pour over the pork and cook for 8 hours.
- Pull the pork apart and assemble your sandwich.
- Serve and enjoy!
Pulled pork is extraordinarily popular. Let’s be honest here, pulled pork is the new bacon when it comes to additions to sandwiches, salads, and even eggs. My go-to choice when it comes to pork? I like using Smithfield Boneless Pork Shoulder.
Now back to the recipe. I’m big into Italian food so when we decided to have a Game Day party to celebrate football season being underway, I decided to do a dish I can leave in the slow cooker to cook all day and then serve it up in sandwiches when my guests were ready to eat.
The pork was beautifully tender and the tomato sauce was rich and packed full of flavor. It was so good, we had it leftover the following day with pasta. I’m telling you, I have never gotten so many compliments on a meal. 
As you can see, Smithfield Pork is incredibly versatile that can take on any flavor combination you throw at it! It’s a meat that you can dress up and serve for a fancy dinner, but at the same time, it’s something that you can throw in a slow cooker until it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender and heave it onto a roll for a football party or tailgate. So next time you’re thinking about using chicken, turkey, or beef, you should give pork a fighting chance! You might end up realizing that pork is your new favorite choice of meat!
Other Italian Dishes You’ll Love
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Let’s Make Slow Cooker Italian Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 1 Smithfield Boneless Pork Shoulder Roast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- black pepper
- 2 tablespoon olive oil separated
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion diced
- 28 oz crushed canned tomatoes
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup wine red or white whatever your prefer
- 2 good handfuls fresh basil torn
- 1 good handful fresh parsley chopped
- extra salt and pepper to taste
- For the Sandwich:
- Italian bread
- mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Dilute the tomato paste in the wine. Increase the heat, stir in the diluted tomato paste and continue to cook until the volume of the liquid is reduced by one-third.
- Add the pork to the slow cooker (whole with the netting removed)
- Once the diluted wine has reduced, add the tomatoes, basil, and parsley to the wine mixture. Season with salt and black pepper and stir well.
- Bring to the boil, then cover the pork with the sauce by ladling it into the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Remove the pork to a cutting board and using two forks pull the pork apart.
- To make the sandwich.
- Pile Italian bread high with the pulled pork. Cover with a little of the sauce and then with shredded mozzarella cheese
- and place under the broiler until the cheese has melted.
Nutrition Information:
*This is a Sponsored post from Smithfield*
Nathan says
Can u use pork in the can for this recipe.
Erren Hart says
I’m not sure what you mean.
Blockchain idea says
Looks sooooo delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you for your feedback and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
V says
what size of roast does this recipe represent? I have a 6lb roast, what is the cooking time per pound?
Thanks Much
Michelle says
This sounds amazing! I am going to try it tomorrow. I have all of the ingredients on hand except for the fresh basil & parsley. I have dried of both that I keep for emergencies. I dehydrated & stored them myself, though, so that should pardon the cooking sin a bit, lol. How much would you use of the dried?
Erren says
Hi Michelle, It’s hard to say as you made it and I don’t know how strong the flavor is. I’d start with a couple of teaspoons and go from there. Hope you like the recipe!
Bruno says
Hi Erren, we are having a fall party this Saturday and I look forward to making this! I have a lot of other things on the menu and expect about 20 people. Few questions, what size roast would you suggest? When you say dilute the tomato paste that means just put in the cup of wine correct? If I can’t melt cheese was thinking of leaving some sliced provolone or mozz for people to just drop on, what do you think? Thanks!
Erren says
For 20 people, you’re best off asking your butcher for the right size.
Yes, just add the tomato paste to the wine and if it’s being kept warm in the slow cooker, having cheese to add on top is a great idea! Hope you enjoy the recipe! ?
kl says
Family is tired of southern pulled pork, so I would like to try Italian style. Could you please let me know what size pork shoulder roast did you use in the recipe? Have you tried this with a bone in roast? Thanks for the recipe!
Erren says
Hi, I’m sure a bone in roast would work just fine. I used a 5lb roast but you can use a smaller one if you need to. Hope you like it.
Mia says
This looks wonderful! I have a quick question, though — I have a medical condition that forces me to abstain from all alcohol. Even when it’s reduced through cooking I can still become very sick. Is there a substitute I can use for the one cup of wine, maybe beef or chicken broth?
Erren says
Hi Mia, just exclude it. It will still be good without it.
Derek @ Dad With A Pan says
itallian you say? Gonna have to try this!
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits says
You can’t go wrong with pulled pork, and I’ve never had it Italian style but it looks perfect!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
This is delicious! Love that you slow cooked the pork in Italian flavors- so unexpected! 🙂
Erren says
Thanks a lot, Carrie 🙂