Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

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This low carb keto pulled pork is delicious and so easy to make! It’s perfect for a satisfying meal that can be served with sauces, paired with sides, or added to another recipe.

Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (1)
Article Index
  • How to make pulled pork keto
  • What to do with low carb pulled pork leftovers
  • What goes with pulled pork
  • Slow cooker and pressure cooker options
  • More keto dinner ideas
  • Recipe

Most pulled pork you get from a grocery store or a restaurant isn’t great for keto. That’s because it’s served with a sauce that’s full of sugar.

The meat itself is very low carb, but sauces can increase the carb count quickly. You may not even realize you’re eating a sugary sauce.

That’s why I love making big batches of keto pulled pork at home! I know exactly what’s going into my recipe so there aren’t any hidden carbs.

The shredded pork is super tasty, easy to make, and gives me tons of leftovers to make more meals throughout the week. Plus, I can sweeten my sauce with stevia for the same taste without the sugar!

With a recipe so simple and delicious, there’s no reason not to make yourself a big batch. You’ll be so happy you did!

How to make pulled pork keto

It's best to slow cook the meat so you'll want to give yourself plenty of preparation time. However, the recipe can be prepped ahead and placed in the slow cooker early in the day for a delicious dinner later.

Here's the simple steps for making the recipe on a stove top:

  • Combine onion, garlic, chili peppers, tomato paste, mustard, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, sweetener, liquid smoke, and salt until smooth.
Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (2)
  • After the sauce is made, marinate the pork overnight or several hours before cooking for best results. A Boston butt or pork shoulder are the best cuts to use.
Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (3)
  • Place the pork into a large pot and cover with sauce. Add bay leaf, and about 1 quart water. And bring mixture to a boil.
Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (4)
  • Reduce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 2 hours, turning frequently, or until the meat pulls apart easily.
Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (5)
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. After meat is cool enough to handle, remove it from the sauce and shred with two forks into small pieces. Set aside.
Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (6)
  • Reduce the sauce by about two thirds. Then add the shredded pork back to the sauce. Additional salt can be added to taste, if needed. Be sure to remove the bay leaf before serving.
Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (7)

What to do with low carb pulled pork leftovers

If you look at the ingredients, you can see that this recipe makes a lot.

You could cut the recipe in half. But I prefer to make the full recipe so I have plenty leftover for easy lunches or to add to other tasty recipes!

Serving suggestions

  • Taco night. Have a make-your-own taco night with friends or family. Just add your favorite taco toppings! You can even make almond flour tortillas.
  • Top off a salad. Add some shredded cheese, avocado, diced tomatoes, and chipotle ranch for a southwestern salad.
  • Make quesadillas. Add the pulled pork to my low carb quesadilla recipe.
  • Wrap it up. Wraps are a great easy lunch. You can make coconut flour tortillas or use lettuce for a sandwich wrap.

Keto pulled pork recipes

  • Keto Mac and Cheese Leftover Pulled Pork Casserole is creamy, cheesy, and delicious! The pulled pork adds amazing flavor to the comfort food.
  • Tomato Melt Pulled Pork Appetizers is simple to make and almost tastes like a pulled pork pizza bite!
  • Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers bake up quickly and have so much flavor, you won’t even miss the rice.
  • This Pork Casserole combines the meat with okra and bacon and tops it off with a low carb cornbread.

With all these ideas, you could eat the meat a different way every single day!

Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (8)

What goes with pulled pork

Wondering what low carb sides go well with this dish? Thanks to the stevia and optional molasses in low carb pulled pork, it goes well with many traditional BBQ sides.

Here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration:

  • Cauliflower Cheese Bread
  • Zucchini Gratin
  • Jicama Keto Fries or Keto Zucchini Fries
  • Low Carb Coleslaw
  • Keto Broccoli Salad

To really play up the barbeque flavors, you can also top the pulled pork with my Keto BBQ sauce!

Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (9)

Slow cooker and pressure cooker options

If you don’t want to make this recipe on the stove, you also have the option to adapt it to a keto pulled pork slow cooker recipe.

This is great if you want to prep everything in the morning and then come home after work to a delicious low carb dinner!

Just mix all the sauce ingredients in the slow cooker, then add the pork and mix until it’s coated. Add liquid to about halfway up the pork to keep it from drying out.

Cook it on low for at least 6 hours or until you’re ready to eat it. Follow steps 3 and 4 from the recipe before serving.

Alternatively, you could make this recipe using an Instant Pot. Again, mix the ingredients in the Instant Pot, then add the pork and mix so it’s coated. Be sure to add the amount of liquid your Instant Pot calls for.

Use the manual pressure cook setting on high for 60 minutes, then let it naturally release for 20 minutes. After that, follow steps 3 and 4 of the recipe before serving.

Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (10)

More keto dinner ideas

Looking for more easy, tasty low carb dinner recipes that everyone will love? Check out these favorites:

  • Keto Chicken Nuggets taste just as good as the real thing. Totally kid approved!
  • BBQ Keto Pulled Chicken uses the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy meal with plenty of leftovers.
  • Keto Eggplant Parmesan is a casserole with a gluten-free breading for a cozy dish that’s loaded with cheese and authentic Italian flavor!
  • Keto Pizza Casserole calls for simple ingredients and is always a big hit with the whole family.
  • Crock Pot Tacos with Slow Cooker Ground Beef is seasoned with a homemade taco seasoning mix for an easy dish packed with flavor.
  • Keto Pork Loin Slow Cooker recipe results in tender and juicy meat every time. It’s made with a balsamic vinegar seasoning.

Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!

Recipe

Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (11)

Keto Low Carb Pulled Pork

Pulled pork by itself is low carb, but the added sauce typically contains sugar. This shredded pork mix uses a sauce sweetened with stevia.

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Total Time:2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Print Pin Review Recipe Save Recipe

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 495

Video

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons dry minced onion
  • 6 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 chili peppers chopped
  • 2 teaspoons chile powder
  • 3 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • ¾ cup white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon stevia concentrated powder
  • 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses optional (for brown sugar flavor)
  • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 pounds pork butt shoulder roast trimmed of excess fat

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Mix all sauce ingredients (everything except the bay leaf and the pork roast) until smooth. If you have extra time, marinate the pork in the sauce overnight or for several hours before cooking.

  • Place pork into a large pot and cover with sauce. Add bay leaf, and about 1 quart water. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, covered, turning frequently, for 2 hours or until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork.

  • Remove from heat and cool pork in the sauce. After meat cools, remove it from the sauce and shred it into small pieces. Set aside.

  • Reduce the sauce by about two thirds. Add the shredded pork back to the sauce. Add additional salt, if desired. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Notes

Approximate net carbs with half a pita: about 3.2g

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 495 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 664mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 4.1mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2.7mg

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 1g | % Carbs: 0.8% | % Protein: 35.7% | % Fat: 63.5% | SmartPoints: 14

Notes on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Copyright

© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.

First Published: November 6, 2010... Last Updated: April 1, 2020

Low Carb Keto Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to pulled pork? ›

Pulled pork is made with pork shoulder, also called pork butt for whatever reason, and has lots of collagen which when cooked low and slow melts into gelatin which makes for tons of flavor and moist meat. Best to cook at about 200–225°F and get the internal temperature up to 190°F.

What can I substitute for Dr Pepper in pulled pork? ›

Dr Pepper Substitute – If you don't keep Dr Pepper around, that's okay! Any carbonated beverage will do the trick. Try a regular cola, or swap in flavored seltzer water to cut down on sugar.

What goes well with pulled pork? ›

Because pork can be a bit of a heavier dish, we've paired it with plenty of veggies—sautéed mustard greens, cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, grilled green beans—and fresh salads to give a refreshing contrast.

What carb goes with pulled pork? ›

Veggies: green beans, collard/turnip greens, a basic salad with a vinaigrette, pickles, broccoli salad, cole slaw. Carbs: brown butter cornbread (with sliced raw onion on the side), mac and cheese, herbed potato salad.

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in? ›

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

What liquid keeps pulled pork moist? ›

Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot. To add a strong flavor during the process, white wine can also be sprayed. You can shred the pork during smoking or in the crockpot.

Why add apple cider vinegar to pulled pork? ›

Why add apple cider vinegar to pulled pork? Pulled pork relies on both the vinegar's acidity and the low-and-slow cooking process to tenderize the meat, breaking down the protein to give the dish its signature moist, fall-apart texture. Cider vinegar also provides a tangy counterpoint to the fatty pork.

Why add co*ke to pulled pork? ›

The Coca-Cola makes the meat fall-off-the-bone tender. I could make my own barbecue sauce but choose to use Famous Dave's Rich & Sassy sauce instead. It's easier, and my family loves it! Use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce if Famous Dave's brand is unavailable in your area.

Why do you put apple cider vinegar in pulled pork? ›

The acid from the apple cider and apple cider vinegar help to tenderize the meat while also keeping it juicy and flavorful. The low and slow cooking method makes it fall apart as soon as your fork touches it and shreds beautifully.

What kind of sauce goes with pulled pork? ›

  • Barbecue sauce. A classic barbecue sauce can be store-bought or homemade and is often used to coat the cooked, shredded pork. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar-based sauce. A tangy apple cider vinegar-based sauce is a popular choice in some regions, particularly in Eastern North Carolina. ...
  • North Carolina-style sauce.

What kind of bun is good for pulled pork? ›

What kind of rolls are best for pulled pork sandwiches? My first choice is a brioche bun. Other great options include hamburger or potato buns, dinner rolls, and hawaiian rolls.

Is pork good for no carb diet? ›

The best meats for weight loss on keto include beef, pork, chicken, bison, and salmon. All of these meats are free of carbs, rich in protein, and versatile. Choosing leaner cuts may make it easier to burn excess stored body fat while on keto.

Which part of pork is best for keto? ›

On the ketogenic diet bacon gets all the glory, but there are actually fattier options for pork on keto like pork belly and ribs. Keto pork is loaded with healthy fats and proteins.

Is pork OK for keto? ›

Most animal proteins — such as eggs, beef, pork, poultry, and seafood — are low in carbs and appropriate for the keto diet.

How do I get more flavor in my pulled pork? ›

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

Why do you put vinegar in pulled pork? ›

After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat. It also helps mellow out the darker, gamier-tasting parts of the butt. This makes enough for a 8 pound pork butt/shoulder.

Why add soda to pulled pork? ›

All you'll need to do is pour an entire can of root beer into your slow cooker — or whatever vessel you're using to make your pulled pork — and let the soda work its magic. The sugar and carbonization will work together to flavor your meat and make it melt-in-your-mouth tender.

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