Christmas Pulled Pork
Home » COOK » Recipes » Meat & Fish Recipes » Pork » Pulled Pork »Pulled pork is something that goes down really well with my family. It’s also an easy thing to make as you just throw it into the slow cooker and leave it. This gives you time to get on with other dishes, knowing that the main bit is all taken care of!
I was watching a Jamie Oliver Christmas Special on TV and he was making a jerk ham, mentioning how so many of the herbs and spices are Christmassy. It got me thinking how I could transfer that idea to pulled pork, so I did and it turned out well. It’s always risky trying something for the first time when you’re entertaining but other than making a bit too much, it was all good! I would tone down the cloves next time, as they did feel a bit overpowering, however, after a couple of days of leftovers, this flavour really mellowed. I also didn’t use the traditional Scotch bonnet peppers – I thought they’d be way too hot for my family to handle!
This Christmas Pulled Pork goes really well with the Quick Winter Cabbage Pickle or the Winter Slaw I shared earlier.

Christmas Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 1 x 5kg pork shoulder
- 6 bay leaves
- 2 tbsps cinnamon
- 2 tbsps allspice
- ½ whole cloves
- 2 tbsps ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- 8 cloves garlic, peeled
- 4 red chillies
- 200g soft brown sugar
- small bunch thyme
- ¾ jar orange marmalade
- 2 x 435g cans crushed pineapple
- 142g can tomato purée
- 200g jar teriyaki sauce
- 2 red onions, peeled and chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped in half
- 1 large parsnip, peeled and chopped in half
- 150g fresh or dried cranberries (optional)
Instructions
- Remove the fat layer from the pork and discard. Place the pork into a large bowl.
- In a food processor, whizz together the bay leaves, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, salt, black pepper, garlic, chillies and sugar.
- Rub this mixture all over the pork.
- In a bowl, mix together the marmalade, pineapple, tomato purée and teriyaki sauce.
- Pour this mixture over the pork, pull the leaves from the thyme and sprinkle over.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to marinade for 24 hours.
- To cook, set your slow cooker to high and place the red onions, carrot and parsnip on the bottom.
- Add the pork and pour over the remaining sauce. Replace the lid and cook for one hour on high before turning down to low to cook for 12 to 16 hours.
- About two hours before serving, add the cranberries if you are using them.
- The pork will naturally start falling apart, but you can pull it apart further using two forks.
- Can be eaten hot or cold.
This post is part of Cook, Craft, Create: December 2013, why not check out the other ideas this season?
November 18, 2014 @ 8:24 pm
That sounds like a great Christmas recipe for entertaining
November 18, 2014 @ 7:48 pm
This sounds delicious.
November 18, 2014 @ 4:20 pm
I love pulled pork, I’ve made it in a slow cooker but not this recipe, will def be trying this out
November 18, 2014 @ 3:41 pm
I have now decided this will be our Boxing Day meal :)
November 18, 2014 @ 2:39 pm
I love pulled pork can’t wait to try this out
November 18, 2014 @ 12:09 pm
This looks unbelievable, I’ve got to try this!
November 18, 2014 @ 9:24 am
Looks and sounds delicious
November 18, 2014 @ 1:26 am
my mouth is watering just reading your article about the pork I,m going to have to give it ago super recipe
November 18, 2014 @ 12:08 am
This looks amazing with the cabbage
November 17, 2014 @ 11:22 pm
This looks delicious id love to try it!
November 17, 2014 @ 9:43 pm
this one looks very interesting – I will definitely have a go at it
November 17, 2014 @ 8:46 pm
this looks yummy :)
November 17, 2014 @ 6:45 pm
A great idea – looking for ideas for christmas!
November 17, 2014 @ 6:24 pm
what a great idea, and it gives you sandwich filling as well
November 17, 2014 @ 3:49 pm
This looks absolutely fab, definitely giving this a go.
November 17, 2014 @ 2:21 pm
Not sure if my kids would eat the side bits but the meat looks amazing and tender!
November 17, 2014 @ 12:44 am
This is makin my mouth water looking at it , I’m defiantely trying this before christmas and if its as good as it looks It’s on the menu boxing day,
November 16, 2014 @ 10:37 pm
This looks super yummy!
November 16, 2014 @ 9:20 pm
Wow this would be nice with some spicy chutney and crusty bread on Christmas Eve x
November 16, 2014 @ 9:19 pm
I’ve not yet tried pulled pork, but this looks tasty.
November 16, 2014 @ 5:41 pm
Would love to try this, it looks delicious.
November 16, 2014 @ 4:39 pm
This looks yummy!
November 16, 2014 @ 9:10 am
Slow cooker pulled pork is one of my favourite dishes in the slow cooker and ready this has given me some ideas about how I can improve my dish!
November 16, 2014 @ 8:55 am
this looks delicious
November 15, 2014 @ 12:10 pm
This looks delish, and very different to my usual pulled pork recipe.
November 14, 2014 @ 11:17 pm
This sounds so delicious!
November 13, 2014 @ 5:40 pm
This sounds delicious, can’t wait to try it
November 8, 2014 @ 9:58 pm
I love pulled pork, will definitely be trying this!
November 7, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
Looks fantastic!
November 7, 2014 @ 9:22 am
This looks soo good
November 4, 2014 @ 2:07 pm
Wonderful idea! Will have to try this for Boxing Day or Christmas Eve :)
November 3, 2014 @ 1:30 pm
Wow, this literally made my mouth water, looks delicious.
November 2, 2014 @ 11:14 pm
Oh my goodness – this sounds amazing!
November 2, 2014 @ 6:59 pm
This looks delicious will definitely be trying it out!
November 1, 2014 @ 10:57 pm
Going to have to give this a try
November 1, 2014 @ 9:47 pm
I love pulled pork but its not something I have tried to make for myself – yet! Thank you for the recipe.
November 1, 2014 @ 9:35 pm
This sounds great for our lazy, after-Christmas family get-together.
October 30, 2014 @ 8:48 pm
This looks so good!
October 30, 2014 @ 10:35 am
I’ve never ever cooked pulled pork but I think I need to start…
October 29, 2014 @ 10:58 pm
Oh wow, this looks amazing!
October 29, 2014 @ 10:09 pm
Yummy! I love the colour of the cabbage too!
October 29, 2014 @ 2:47 pm
I love pulled pork, and this recipe sounds fab, will definately try this!
October 29, 2014 @ 2:02 pm
Oh my this sounds amazing! This will be the first thing I cook if I win the slow cooker :) x
October 29, 2014 @ 9:54 am
I absolutely adore pulled pork – may have to give this one a go!
October 29, 2014 @ 9:46 am
Looks amazing, I must try that!!
October 29, 2014 @ 4:35 am
Looks so yummy!!
October 29, 2014 @ 12:44 am
this sounds great, i may have to give it a try
October 28, 2014 @ 9:56 pm
Wow, this sounds amazing and something different to the ham we usually have. Love red cabbage and would go brilliantly
October 28, 2014 @ 10:31 pm
This looks and sounds amazing! Great recipe
October 28, 2014 @ 10:18 pm
This sounds amazing! x
October 28, 2014 @ 10:00 pm
looks just yummy x
October 28, 2014 @ 8:46 pm
Pulled pork is my wife’s favourite and now she has got an excuse to have it at Christmas time as well as BBQs!
October 28, 2014 @ 8:41 pm
This looks delicious!
October 28, 2014 @ 8:16 pm
Love pulled pork this looks amazing!
October 28, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
looks yummy gonna try this
October 28, 2014 @ 7:08 pm
I loved the Haiwain pulled pork and will definitely be giving this one a go
October 28, 2014 @ 6:49 pm
love the idea of a christmassy spin on pulled pork
October 28, 2014 @ 3:18 pm
ive tried the normal pulled pork so definitely trying this one!- Claire Jacobs
October 28, 2014 @ 2:45 pm
looks delicious!
October 28, 2014 @ 2:23 pm
fancy trying this for Christmas, hell, better try it before Christmas and love the winter slaw…
October 28, 2014 @ 12:27 pm
Oh, yes! Any sort of pulled meat is awesome in my book. This looks stupendous! I usually go braised red cabbage with it but slaw or pickles make a lovely fresh alternative.
May 27, 2014 @ 2:06 pm
Pulled pork suddenely seems to be really in fashion – Id never heard of it beforebut now im seeing it everywhere.