1-First Step: Gather and Prep Your Ingredients Start by collecting all your ingredients to make the process smooth. Dice the 1 small yellow sweet onion and measure out 1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic, as these form the flavor base. Drain and rinse the 2 cans of pinto beans to remove excess sodium, which helps keep the dish lighter. This prep takes about 10-15 minutes and sets the stage for a tasty slow cooker pork and beans meal.

2-Second Step: Combine the Base Ingredients Add the 2 cans of pinto beans, 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, the diced onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, and 2 teaspoons mustard powder into your slow cooker. Stir everything together until well mixed, creating a savory sauce that will coat the pork perfectly. This step ensures the flavors develop evenly, making your slow cooker pork and beans rich and cohesive.

3-Third Step: Prepare and Add the Pork Cut the 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder into 4 smaller pieces for even cooking, which helps it become tender without drying out. Nestle these pieces into the mixture in the slow cooker, making sure they’re submerged for maximum flavor absorption. For those adapting for dietary needs, you could reduce the pork here if you want a lighter version of slow cooker pork and beans.

4-Fourth Step: Cook Low and Slow Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for 6-8 hours, allowing the pork to reach that fall-apart tenderness. The long cook time is crucial for breaking down the pork’s connective tissue, while the beans just need to warm through. Check after 6 hours to see if the pork shreds easily; this makes slow cooker pork and beans incredibly forgiving for busy schedules.

5-Fifth Step: Shred and Serve Once done, remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks on a cutting board. Return the shredded pork to the pot and stir it back into the beans and sauce for a uniform texture. Serve hot, perhaps with a side like cornbread, and enjoy the fruits of your simple efforts in this classic slow cooker pork and beans recipe. The total time is about 6 hours and 15 minutes, making it perfect for meal prep.