When it comes to comfort food, nothing beats tender, slow-cooked pork drenched in tangy barbecue sauce.
One of the most popular cuts for this kind of dish is the Boston butt, which is often referred to as “Boston button” in some old-fashioned or regional recipe names.
This flavorful pork shoulder cut becomes fall-apart tender when cooked low and slow in a crockpot, making it the perfect foundation for pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ platters, or even a hearty family dinner.
In this article, we’ll dive into why the Boston butt works so well in the crockpot, how to prepare it with BBQ sauce, and a simple recipe you can try at home.
Why Use Boston Butt in the Crockpot?
The Boston butt, despite its name, doesn’t come from the rear of the pig but from the upper part of the shoulder.
It has just the right balance of meat and fat, which ensures the pork stays juicy and tender as it cooks for hours.
Unlike leaner cuts, it doesn’t dry out and instead soaks up all the flavor of your chosen seasonings and sauce.
BBQ Sauce – The Flavor Maker
BBQ sauce is the heart of this dish. Whether you prefer a tomato-based sauce with molasses sweetness, a vinegar-forward Carolina-style sauce, or something with a kick of spice, the sauce infuses into the pork as it simmers away in the crockpot.
The result is bold, rich flavor in every bite.
Some people like to start with a store-bought BBQ sauce for convenience, while others prefer making their own blend from scratch. Either way, the sauce becomes the soul of your Boston butt crockpot dish.
Crockpot Boston Button with BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
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3–4 lbs Boston butt (pork shoulder)
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1 large onion, sliced
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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2 cups BBQ sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
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½ cup chicken broth (or water)
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2 tbsp brown sugar
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1 tbsp smoked paprika
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1 tsp chili powder
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Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Prepare the pork – Trim excess fat from the Boston butt but leave some for flavor. Season it with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
Layer the crockpot – Place sliced onions and garlic at the bottom of the crockpot. Put the seasoned pork on top.
Add liquid – Pour in chicken broth and half of the BBQ sauce over the pork.
Cook low and slow – Cover and cook on Low for 8–10 hours or High for 4–6 hours, until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.
Shred the pork – Remove the pork from the crockpot, shred it with two forks, and discard any large pieces of fat.
Mix with sauce – Return shredded pork to the crockpot, add the remaining BBQ sauce, and stir well. Let it cook for another 15–20 minutes on low to absorb the flavor.
Serve – Pile the pork onto buns for BBQ sandwiches, serve with mashed potatoes, or enjoy it alongside coleslaw and cornbread.
Crockpot Boston Button with BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Method
- Trim excess fat from the Boston butt, leaving a little for flavor.
- Season the pork with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
- Place sliced onions and garlic at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Put the pork on top of the onions.
- Pour in chicken broth and half of the BBQ sauce.
- Cover and cook on Low for 8–10 hours or High for 4–6 hours until fork-tender.
- Remove pork, shred with two forks, and discard large fat pieces.
- Return shredded pork to crockpot and mix in remaining BBQ sauce.
- Cook on Low for another 15–20 minutes to absorb flavor.
- Serve hot on buns, with slaw, or as a main dish with sides.
Notes
- Make pulled pork sandwiches with buns and crunchy coleslaw.
- Use shredded pork for BBQ tacos with lime and cilantro.
- Serve with cornbread, baked beans, or potato salad for a complete meal.
The Crockpot Boston Button with BBQ Sauce is one of those recipes that never goes out of style.
It’s simple, hearty, and guaranteed to please a crowd.
By letting the crockpot do the hard work, you get flavorful, tender pork that’s perfect for family meals, potlucks, or even game-day gatherings.
Whether you call it Boston butt or Boston button, one thing’s for sure—this recipe is a keeper!
