How to make any pulled meat in the slow cooker (beef, pork, lamb, and more)

I’ll show you how to create the most delicious Shredded Meat for Any Recipe in the Slow Cooker (beef, pork, lamb, elk). This shredded meat tutorial is helpful for any meat-based recipe from pulled pork sandwiches to shepherd’s pie.

You will want to try these recipes out too: The Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich, BBQ Pork Tenderloin in the Crock Pot and Garlic Herb Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin.

How to Make Just About Any Kind of Pulled Meat in the Slow Cooker

I have made “pulled ________” no less than a million times in the crock pot. I have thrown in everything from pork and lamb, to beef and elk, and I love it every single time. This is one of my all-time favorite ways to cook a chunk of meat. It takes no skill and very little hands-on time, and it comes out perfect every single time.

I have done a ton of reading in preparation for writing this because I swear that I’m the only one cooking hunks of meat in the slow cooker without adding much more than some salt and pepper. I don’t add water. I don’t add sauces. I don’t add much of anything, and it’s always awesome. When it comes to cooking meat in the slow cooker, I’m going to share my method, even if it isn’t what everyone else is doing. I’ve been making it this way for at least 10 years, and I know that it works.

The Best Crockpot Shredded Meat Recipe

I like to prepare my meat in the slow cooker because then it’s a really nice basic meat that you can use in just about anything. I can add things to it later (like homemade barbecue sauce) for sandwiches, or I can throw it in casseroles, tacos, or enchiladas. I can put it on salads or in a sandwich (super delicious with some cheese and pepper and onions for a mock cheesesteak sandwich). It’s so versatile and no one complains because there’s a sauce or onions or something in the meat that they don’t like.

Do I Need to Add Water to the Slow Cooker When Cooking Meat?

I don’t add water because the meat tends to make its own juice while cooking, and having it cook in its own juice is the best. I also just stick to simple seasonings because that’s what’s good and most versatile in the end.

If you happen to have a cut of meat that looks particularly lean, then you might want to consider adding some moisture to the slow cooker, since it won’t be making much on its own. I like to add apple juice (maybe just a cup) in this case. Or after a few hours, if there isn’t any liquid on the bottom of the slow cooker, then I might add some juice at that point. It’s nice to kind of wait and see what the cut of meat is going to do before making changes.

What is the Best Meat to Use in the Slow Cooker?

Here’s my two cents on what kinds of meat to use. You can really use any kind of meat because the slow cooker is magic (I have this one, and this one is the #1 best seller on Amazon if you are in the market). We raise our own lambs and pork and get elk from friends, so I’m not picky about the cuts of meat because I’m just using what is in my freezer.

What Type of Meat Cuts are Best for Slow Cookers?

I have a few pointers about this. When it comes to pork, most people will buy butt, picnic, or shoulder roast. When it comes to beef, you’ll want to look for a rump/bottom round, chuck, or pot roast. I don’t have opinions on lamb or elk because I’ve never purchased either at a store, but I have cooked “roasts” of both with great success. I have had pretty equal results with both bone-in and boneless cuts. Choosing meat with some fat marbling as well as fat on the outside is a great option because fat equals flavor. Don’t remove extra fat before cooking — you can remove it afterwards.

Do I Need to Sear the Meat Before I Put it in the Slow Cooker?

You can get added depth of flavor by searing the outside of the roast in a very hot pan (with a good drizzle of olive oil in the bottom) on all sides before adding it to the slow cooker. I don’t do this often, but it is an option.

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Here’s more tried and true slow cooker meals I know you’ll love:

• Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops
• 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Legs
• Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot
• Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes
• Easy Slow Cooker Chili
• Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)
• Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup
• 12 Slow Cooker Lasagnas
• Perfect Slow Cooker Pot Roast
• Creamy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
• Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna
• Slow Cooker Refried Beans Recipe

There you have it: my very tried and true, but not textbook, directions to cooking just about any kind of meat in the slow cooker. This is a great option when it comes to doing a big prep batch of cooking one day of the week, and it is my favorite to serve at big family parties, picnics, and gatherings. You can’t beat delicious meat that pretty much cooks itself.