Pulled Pork with Root Beer Sauce

Dino rarely has special requests for dinner, but last week he asked me to make this recipe again. I made it a year or 2 ago when I first got introduced to the wonderful world of slow-cooker cooking. It’s a GREAT recipe and it makes a lot. I don’t bother browning the meat, and I don’t put any toppings on the sandwiches – just the meat and the sauce.

Pulled Pork with Root Beer Sauce
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book Limited Edition

1 2 1/2 – 3 pound pork sirloin roast
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 medium onions
1 cup root beer
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
3 cups (two 12-ounce cans or bottles) root beer
1 cup bottled chili sauce
¼ teaspoon root beer concentrate, (optional)
several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce, (optional)
8-10 hamburger buns, split (toasted, if desired)
lettuce leaves, (optional)
tomato slices, (optional)

1. Trim fat from meat. If necessary, cut meat to fit into a 3 1/2 – 5-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper. In a large skillet brown meat on all sides in hot oil. Drain off fat. Transfer meat to cooker. Add onions, the 1 cup root beer, and garlic.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.

3. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a medium saucepan combine the 3 cups of root beer and the chili sauce. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 2 cups. If desired, add root beer concentrate and hot pepper sauce.

4. Transfer meat to a cutting board or serving platter. Using a slotted spoon, remove onions from cooking juices and place on a serving platter. Discard juices. Using 2 forks, pull meat apart into shreds. To serve, if desired, line buns with lettuce leaves and tomato slices. Add meat and onions; spoon on sauce.

Note: Do not use diet root beer.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 433 cal., 12 g total fat (3 g sat. fat), 89 mg chol., 877 mg sodium, 45 g carbo., 3 g fiber, 35 g pro. Daily Values: 4% vit. A, 14% vit. C, 10% calcium, 17% iron Exchanges: 2 Starch, 1 Other Carbo., 4 Lean Meat

MacGourmet Rating: 5 Stars