Root Beer Pulled Pork

I lived 23 years years in Texas (also born there), and if there's one thing Texans love it's BBQ. My very favorite BBQ is North Carolina-style with the vinegar base sauce, but my 2nd favorite is this root beer pulled pork and it's super easy with a crock pot because you pretty much just toss everything in the crock pot and let it do its magic. The root beer makes a tasty sweet and tangy sauce. Don't knock it till you try it!
These are the ingredients you will need: Root beer, yellow label syrup, liquid smoke, BBQ sauce, onion, pork rub and garlic.

Rub two tables spoons pork rub all over making sure to cover the whole pork roast. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Get the pan nice and hot and then add the roast. Sear the pork roast on all sides.

Remove the roast from the pan and add to a crock pot. Add the onion, garlic, one teaspoon of liquid smoke and one cup of root beer. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Ingredients: 

1 - 1 to 3 pound pork roast - I used a 1 1/2 lb pork sirloin tip roast

2 - tablespoons grill mates pork rub

2 - cups root beer

1 - small onion, cubed

2 - cloves garlic, chopped

2 - teaspoons liquid smoke

2 - tablespoons Yellow Label Syrup (substitutions listed in cooks note)

1 - 18 oz bottle Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce or use your favorite

Directions: 

Rinse the pork roast off with water and pat dry with a paper towel. Rub two tables spoons pork rub all over making sure to cover the whole pork roast.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Get the pan nice and hot and then add the roast.

Sear the pork roast on all sides. Remove the roast from the pan and add to a crock pot. Add the onion, garlic, one teaspoon of liquid smoke and one cup of root beer.

Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours. When done remove the roast from the crock pot and discard the liquid and onions.

 Let the roast cool and then shred the pork into pieces using two forks. Return the shredded meat to the crock pot.

Add the remaining one cup of root beer, BBQ sauce, yellow label syrup and remaining teaspoon of liquid smoke and stir to combine.

Cook the shredded meat an additional hour on low. Serve on hamburger buns, rolls or hoagies. I like to serve with homemade coleslaw and potato salad (the kind with yellow mustard!)

Note: Yellow Label Syrup is a mixture of cane syrup, honey and corn syrup.  A good substitute is Karo syrup, Cane syrup, moonshine syrup, sorghum, molasses, brown sugar or even honey can also be used. The Yellow Label Syrup just gives the pulled pork a touch of sweetness.