A Little Something For Your Slow Cooker

Our new neighbors just moved in this past weekend and I'm baking them a few sweet treats to walk over today after school. My boys have steadily been sitting in the driveway just staring at their house waiting to meet their new "friends".  I've been trying to give them a few days to get settled before walking over, so I think today's a good day to deliver a few goodies and introduce ourselves :) 

When we lived in Dallas the most precious family moved in next door about a year(ish) or so before we moved to Houston.  They were awesome.  Such great neighbors.  And they had moved to Dallas from Michigan.  That was a pretty far distance from home, so we made them this little goodie basket to welcome them to the neighborhood.  

The family who just moved in next door is from the area, so we won't need to include too much other than the food.  My boys are SO excited to meet them!!!

Now let's usher in the new month with a little something for your slow cooker.  

There's nothing I love more than having dinner waiting for me when I get home from school.  I decided to make this recipe last week when my husband had a friend over for the baseball game.  It got rave reviews from BOTH boys...ahem, MEN...so this is definitely a keeper. I highly suggest including the optional slaw.  I loved the crunch paired with the tender pork.  And the sauce?!   Well don't do without that, either!  

SLOW COOKER CHIPOTLE PULLED PORK WITH AVOCADO RANCH SAUCE

• via Food, Faith, Fitness
• 
  
• PULLED PORK  
• 1 Medium yellow onion, sliced
• 2 Tbsps Fresh garlic, minced
• 3 1/2 - 4 Lbs Pork shoulder removed of excess fat
• 1 Tbsp Brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp Cumin powder
• 1 tsp Chili powder
• 1/2 Tbsp Adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
• 1 Cup Water

• AVOCADO RANCH SAUCE
• 1 Small avocado, mashed 
• 2 Tbsp Fresh garlic, minced
• 1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp Ranch dressing (your choice)
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Adobo sauce
• 1/4 tsp Smoked paprika
• 2 tsps Onion powder
• 1/2 tsp Chili powder
• Salt/pepper to taste
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• Whole wheat hamburger buns
• Coleslaw mix for garnish (optional)

I know this looks like an awful lot of ingredients, but the prep isn't anything that will kill you.  Truly.  This is coming from someone who wants in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible...unless I'm hiding in the pantry eating all of my kids snacks.

First up, trim the fat off of your pork.  The shoulder is a pretty fatty piece of meat, so you can sub a different cut if you prefer.  Slice the onion and place that and the minced garlic on the bottom of your slow cooker and cover with a cup of water.

Mix together the brown sugar, salt, paprika, cumin, chili powder, and adobo sauce.  This is your rub and you'll want to lather your pork in it as well as possible.  Just rub it all in to cover your pork and then place the pork on top of the onions and garlic in the slow cooker.  

Cook on low for 8-10 hours OR on high for 6-8 hours (or until pork is tender and easily falls apart).  

Once tender, remove pork from slow cooker and shred.

Return back to the slow cooker and mix well with what's leftover of the rub/garlic/onion.  Cover until ready to serve.  

Before serving, whip up the avocado ranch sauce.  Place all of the sauce ingredients in a food processor and blend until creamy.  You can season it with salt and pepper if you so desire.

Serve the pork on whole wheat buns (or any other bun of your choice).  Top with the optional slaw (I definitely recommend including this ingredient!) and sprinkle with the avocado ranch sauce.  

There wasn't a bite left when it was all said and done.  The guys tore it up!  The pork was so tender and flavorful.  This will be on repeat in the months to come!  I'm already thinking about different ways I can incorporate the pulled pork into other recipes.  SO good!