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Blackberry BBQ Sauce makes slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin flavorful and fall-apart tender. It's simple to make and equally perfect for weeknight dinners and entertaining.

Slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin in a blackberry bbq sauce on a bun.

Barbecue pulled pork tenderloin is comfort food at its best: packed with flavor from fruity and tangy BBQ sauce, but without any work! Just dump everything into a slow cooker, let the flavors blend, and then shred it.

It has a backyard barbecue vibe, which is why it's a popular choice for family gatherings. While it cooks, you'll have plenty of time to make fantastic sides, like Southern vinegar slaw!

You'll love this recipe because:

It takes minutes to prepare.
You control the type and amount of sweetener added to the Blackberry Barbecue Sauce.
It's perfect for parties. Double up on the recipe and serve it straight out of the crock.
There are many ways to enjoy it, from sandwiches and nachos to topping a baked potato.
The leftovers taste great! It reheats and freezes well.
It can be made low-carb and served on keto-friendly buns.

Jump to:

Ingredient Notes
Can you cook pork tenderloin in a crock-pot?
Directions with Pictures
Blackberry Jam BBQ Sauce
Variations
Make it a Meal
Storage, Reheating, Make-Ahead
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
📋 Recipe

Ingredient Notes

Here's what you need to make pulled pork tenderloin and homemade blackberry barbecue sauce:

Collage of ingredients to make pulled pork tenderloin with blackberry barbecue sauce: pork tenderloin, onion, ketchup, red wine vinegar, blackberry preserves, ground mustard, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and pork tenderloin i packaging.

Of special note:

Blackberry preserves or jam—Both are readily available in seedless versions, so annoying seeds don't get stuck in your teeth. Preserves are a little chunkier and contain larger pieces of fruit, while jams have the fruit more thoroughly crushed.

Can you cook pork tenderloin in a crock-pot?

The short answer is YES!

We made a version of this recipe at our Make-Ahead Meal Stores. We used pork shoulders, Boston butts, and picnic shoulders, which are traditional choices for slow cooking because of the marbled fat. But we always offered pork tenderloin, too!

This cut of pork is lean and a bit healthier than the others. It can be shredded or sliced and is perfect for recipes with lots of flavor like this one or Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Salsa.

Directions with Pictures

Here's how to make blackberry bbq sauce and pulled pork tenderloin in a slow cooker:

Collage of numbered pictures to make the recipe: 1) pork and onions in slow ccoker, 2) bowl with sauce 3) sauce in slow cooker 4) cooked and shredded pork in bowl.

Place pork and sliced onions into the slow cooker.
Combine barbecue sauce ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Remove about ⅓ cup of sauce and store in a sealed container until serving time.
Pour blackberry barbecue sauce over the top. Cook on low for 5-6 or high for 3-4 hours. The exact time will vary depending on the appliance and how crowded it is.
Use two forks to shred the pork.

IMPORTANT: The reserved sauce drizzled on the pork at serving time should never touch raw pork.

Blackberry Jam BBQ Sauce

The best thing about homemade BBQ sauces is that you can adjust the sugar content to meet your needs. Reduce the amount of sugar in this blackberry barbecue sauce by:

Leaving out the brown sugar or using a sugar substitute.
Using low-sugar ketchup.
Selecting a brand of blackberry preserves with no added sugar.

Cayenne pepper gives the sauce a kick. If you don't want too much heat, use a pinch or cut it out.

Note: Blackberry BBQ Sauce is also fantastic on chicken and pork chops!

Variations

Make it low-carb - Use low-sugar or no-sugar ketchup, blackberry preserves, and sugar.
Try a different preserve flavor, such as blueberry, strawberry, or peach. You can also use blueberry compote to make a different flavored sauce.

Crock-pot pulled pork tenderloin on a bun.

Make it a Meal

Here's a simple, healthy menu plan where Pulled Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry BBQ Sauce is the star:

Buns. Toast the bread so it doesn't get soggy. For a lower-carb version, use keto chaffles or cauliflower waffles.
Cole Slaw doesn't need to be fancy, since the pork has so much flavor. Some people enjoy it on top of sandwiches.
- Alternative: Green salad is particularly nice if you're going bunless.
Corn on the Cob. Cook corn in the husk in minutes! This side dish gives the feel of a BBQ without much effort.
Fruit. Watermelon caprese salad, fruit salad, or showcase your favorite seasonal fruit!

Are you having a party? Keep shredded pork warmed in the slow cooker and let everyone serve themselves with tongs.

Storage, Reheating, Make-Ahead

Refrigerator - Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
Freezer - Store leftovers in a plastic bag, with excess air removed, in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheat - Warm leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Make-Ahead Sauce - Mix the sauce up ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for about a week.
Freezer Meal - Add the raw ingredients to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly, remove excess air, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and cook as you usually would.

More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

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