Low Sodium Pulled Pork Recipe

Servings: 16 1/3-cup servings

Estimated Sodium (Per Serving): 55mg

This low sodium pulled pork recipe is sweet, tangy, and a fantastic no-salt-added dinner idea! Start by slow cooking pork, onions, and spices, and tossing it with our favorite low sodium BBQ sauce.

This makes a fantastic dinner for entertaining, to enjoy on game day, or to make for a crowd. You can eat the pulled pork on sliders, with potatoes, or as a wrap.

Want more low sodium meat recipes? Try our low sodium chicken wings, low sodium teriyaki beef, and our favorite low sodium cedar plank salmon.

low sodium pork sliders with hawaiian rolls and a side dish of coleslaw

Table of Contents

I’ve been trying to recreate some amazing low sodium comfort food recipes from classics, and this tasty pulled pork tastes just as good as the original. It’s tender, juicy, sweet, and makes a fantastic sandwich.

This recipe can easily be made in a crock pot or slow cooker, or even a pressure cooker – I added instructions for both below. I love serving this with our low sodium coleslaw for a delicious family-style dinner.

Why This Recipe Works

It’s sweet, tangy, savory, and delicious!
An easy low sodium version of pulled pork! Has the same classic flavor without all the salt.
An easy low sodium recipe for pork shoulder.
Perfect for entertaining, tailgating, or gatherings.
Anyone can successfully make this dish by following our step-by-step photos and directions below.

Ingredients You’ll Need

See the recipe card below for a full list of instructions and ingredient amounts!

The base of this recipe is pork shoulder, which is the traditional cut of meat to make pulled pork from. It’s meaty, fatty, and has the perfect texture to shred after it’s been cooked. I like to trim off any excess fat before I cook the pork shoulder, as there will be plenty of fat inside the meat to get the traditional texture.

I also slow cook (or pressure cook) the pork shoulder with a little olive oil, red onions, and spices: paprika, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper. This gives both the pork and onions a lot of flavor.

Apple juice and a little apple cider vinegar give the pork a wonderful sweetness and a bit of tang. Pork + apples are a classic combination, and work wonderfully in this recipe.

And finally, mix the shredded pork with a low sodium BBQ sauce! I used my recipe that is made with tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, and spices. It adds a great flavor.

Additions and Substitutions

If you don’t want to make your own BBQ sauce, you can use a store-bought version that works for your dietary needs.

Feel free to add in sliced carrots with the onions while sauteeing for extra color or flavor.

Top your pulled pork with a scoop of low sodium coleslaw or low sodium sweet pickles for extra crunch!

How To Make This Recipe

sauteed olive oil and red onions in a pot for pulled pork

Step 1: To your slow cooker, add the olive oil and onions, and stir to combine.

unsalted pork shoulder in a pot with onions

Step 2: Place the pork shoulder over the onions.

apple juice poured into pulled pork with onions for a low sodium dinner

Step 3: Add in the paprika, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper over the pork. Pour the apple juice and apple cider vinegar to the pork and onions.

slow cooker low sodium pulled pork with unsalted BBQ sauce

Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or high for 5 to 6 hours, until the pork is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.

low sodium bbq pulled pork shredded with two forks in a bowl

Step 5: Once the pork has finished cooking, drain the juices, then place the pork and onions in a large bowl. Add the BBQ sauce, and shred the pork with 2 forks.

low sodium pork sliders with bbq pulled pork

Step 6: Serve the pulled pork on sandwiches, in lettuce wraps, or over potatoes. Enjoy!

Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Instructions

Set Instant Pot to Saute mode. Add the onions and olive oil and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft.
Add the pork shoulder, spices, apple juice, and apple cider vinegar on top of the onions.
Cook on High Pressure and cook for 60 minutes, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes (quick release the rest).
Remove pork and onions, shred with a fork, and mix with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Recipe FAQs

How much sodium is in pulled pork?

While commercially prepared pulled pork may vary, our low sodium pulled pork recipe has just 55mg sodium per 1/3 cup serving, as it uses no added salt and a low sodium BBQ sauce. If you are enjoying pulled pork cooked at a restaurant, be sure to ask for nutrition information.

How to store leftover low sodium pulled pork

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

How to make low sodium pulled pork ahead of time

You can make this ahead of time in your slow cooker, up to 3 days before serving. Just be sure to allow 1-2 hours for the pork to reheat in the slow cooker before serving.

low sodium pulled pork sliders with hawaiian buns for game day or tailgating!

More Low Sodium Tailgaiting Recipes

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