Heart-Healthy Barbecue Pulled Pork

Satisfy your cravings without compromising your health with this Heart-Healthy Barbecue Pulled Pork recipe—a lightened-up take on a smoky classic! Made with lean pork tenderloin and a flavorful homemade barbecue sauce featuring no-salt-added tomato sauce, honey, and a hint of apple cider vinegar, this dish delivers all the bold, tangy-sweet barbecue flavors you love while being kind to your heart. Slowly simmered in a slow cooker until fork-tender, the pork is shredded and served on whole wheat buns, offering a wholesome twist. For an extra crunch, top it with fresh coleslaw! Perfect for weeknight dinners or gatherings, this recipe combines simplicity, comfort, and nutrition in every bite. Keywords: heart-healthy pulled pork, barbecue pulled pork recipe, slow cooker pulled pork, healthy BBQ recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:240 mins

Total Time:260 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Pork tenderloin
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 cup No-salt-added tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Honey
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon Liquid smoke (optional)
• 8 pieces Whole wheat hamburger buns
• 2 cups Coleslaw (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Trim any visible fat from the pork tenderloin to keep the dish heart-healthy.

Step 2

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

Transfer the onion and garlic mixture to a slow cooker. Place the trimmed pork tenderloin on top.

Step 5

In a mixing bowl, combine the tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, paprika, ground cumin, black pepper, and liquid smoke (if using). Whisk until smooth.

Step 6

Pour the barbecue sauce mixture over the pork in the slow cooker, ensuring the meat is well-coated.

Step 7

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the pork is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork.

Step 8

Once cooked, remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and mix with the sauce.

Step 9

Serve the heart-healthy pulled pork on whole wheat hamburger buns and top with coleslaw if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2431.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3759.5

Total Fat 130.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 26.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7.1g
Cholesterol 655.0mg	0%
Sodium 6483.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 352.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 48.3g	0%
Total Sugars 132.2g
Protein 288.7g	0%

Vitamin D 72.6IU	0%
Calcium 1141.7mg	0%
Iron 32.4mg	0%
Potassium 6318.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 31.4%

Protein: 30.9%

Carbs: 37.7%