Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

2 teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt divided

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 (3 1/2-pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast (Boston butt) trimmed

Cooking spray

1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup molasses

2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 cup peach preserves

2 cups vertically sliced onion

5 garlic cloves thinly sliced

1/4 cup bourbon

2 tablespoons cold water

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Combine paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper; rub evenly over pork. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork to pan; cook 10 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Place pork in a 6-quart electric slow cooker.

Add stock and next 4 ingredients (through crushed red pepper) to skillet; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add preserves, stirring with a whisk. Pour mixture over pork; top with onion and garlic. Cover and cook on LOW 6 1/2 hours or until pork is very tender. Remove pork from pan, reserving liquid; cool slightly. Shred with 2 forks. Remove onion with a slotted spoon; add to pork.

Place a large zip-top plastic bag inside a 4-cup glass measuring cup. Pour cooking liquid into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into skillet, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat. Stir bourbon into drippings; bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until mixture is reduced to about 1 1/2 cups. Combine 2 tablespoons cold water and cornstarch in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk; add cornstarch mixture to sauce, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Drizzle sauce over pork; toss gently to coat.

Nutrition

Calories: 206
Fat: 5.9g
Saturated fat: 2g
Monounsaturated fat: 2.6g
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.7g
Protein: 17g
Carbohydrate: 20g
Fiber: 1g
Cholesterol: 54mg
Iron: 2mg
Sodium: 369mg
Calcium: 41mg