Pulled Pork Chili is the best combination of authentic Mexican flavors and smoked pork! It can be made in the slow cooker, or even in the pressure cooker! Load this award-winning chili with your favorite chili toppings and enjoy!
If you’re looking for the perfect chili recipe, you are going to fall in love with this Pork Chili! It’s packed with amazing flavors that will knock your socks off!
Just throw a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker and pretty soon your house will smell amazing and you’ll be begging for dinner time to come! It’s an awesome weeknight dinner since it’s a cinch to make!
“WOW!!!! We love your recipe. We have made it a lot. Twice entered chili cook-off at church with the pot coming home empty and a second place on the last one. We have even swapped the pork for beef with very yummy results. Thanks for posting this!” Gwendalyn
Pulled Pork Chili Ingredients
You’ll need simple pantry ingredients to make this recipe. I’m going to give you a few ideas for substitutions just in case you don’t have all the ingredients on hand.
PORK: You could probably call this “leftover pulled pork chili” because I almost always use leftover shredded slow cooker pulled pork butt or shoulder (which freezes really well). If you don’t have that feel free to buy prepared pulled pork.
BEANS: Chili beans are great. Red beans, pinto beans, black beans, or kidney beans will work too. A combination will also be just fine!
TOMATOES: Fire roasted, diced, or whatever! I can my own tomatoes so I use them most often.
TOMATO SAUCE: Pretty basic pantry item, but if you don’t have it thin a little tomato paste down with water.
GARLIC: Use fresh cloves or use garlic paste which is my favorite. You could also use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
JALAPENO: It really does add great flavor. Jalapenos freeze well too so I always keep a few in the freezer for recipes like this. If you don’t have them you could add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper. Start with a little and add more to taste!
ONION: Fresh, dehydrated, or use 1 teaspoon onion powder.
SPICES: Cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika (can use sweet paprika but smoked gives the soup the BEST flavor), pepper, salt, oregano, brown sugar. In a pinch, you could use a packet of chili seasoning. It won’t taste the same though!
How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Chili
Pulled Pork Chili is one of those recipes where all you do is throw a few ingredients in the slow cooker and forget about it.
STEP 1: Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Stir.
STEP 2: Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 5-6 hours.
STEP 3: Serve with your favorite traditional chili recipe toppings; onions, sour cream, olives, corn chips, and of course cheese!
NOTE: If you don’t have time to make this chili in the slow cooker, it’s easy to make chili in the instant pot too. Just add all the ingredients and pressure cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Natural release pressure and serve!
NOTE: I haven’t ever tried it…but, I think this would be a fantastic baked chili recipe, especially if you baked it on the smoker. I’m going to fire up my Traeger and try it ASAP!
What to serve with this smoked pork chili
I think every chili recipe needs a side of bread. Cornbread and honey butter are a favorite at my house. Garlic Knots, Cheesy Monkey Bread, Homemade French Bread, and Parmesan Rolls are all great options too.
And if you need a few more soup and chili recipes be sure to check out my Jalapeno Popper Chili, Pizza Chili, Cheesy Potato Soup, Creamy Taco Soup, and Cream Cheese Chicken Soup! They’ll warm you up from the inside out!
Pulled Pork Chili Recipe
I’ve experimented with lots of pull pork chili recipes and THIS is the one!
Whether you are looking for a fix and forget meal, something to share at your next tailgating party, a recipe to make for an upcoming chili cook off, or just want to make a kick butt chili this is the recipe for you!
Smoked Pulled Pork Chili has that irresistible smoky flavor of pulled pork, a touch of a fire-roasted flavor, a tiny bit spicy, and a little bit sweet!
All the flavors combine together to make one flavor-packed chili! You’re gonna love it!
Pulled Pork Chili
Ingredients
Ingredients to make Pulled Pork Chili
- 2 16 ounce cans Chili Beans
- 2 14.5 ounce cans tomatoes
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 cups shredded pulled pork I bought mine already made. You can find it near the lunchmeat in the grocery store
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 whole jalapeno seed and membranes removed and diced
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
Chili Topping Ideas (Optional)
- shredded cheese
- diced tomatoes
- sliced green onions
- corn or tortilla chips
- sour cream
- cilantro
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Stir.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours.
- Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, corn chips, and cilantro if desired.
Mary says
This is my go to chili recipe! I have made it with smoked pork, smoked ribs, smoked brisket and even with ground turkey. So easy and flavorful, a huge hit with family & friends
Amy Engberson says
Yay! I’m glad you loved it! I love the idea of using different kinds of smoked meat! I’ll have to try some of them!
James pike says
Loved this Recipe! Deffinately a keeper For me! I only made 2 minor adjustments this Time! I omitted the Jalapeno as my wife is Allergic & I cooked it in my Instant pot on Chili Setting for 15 minutes After Sauteeing the onions and Garlic!! The Robust Flavoring & Smells had both my mother & Wife come to see what was Cooking.
Amy Engberson says
I love the idea of making this in the pressure cooker! That sounds so fast and easy, which is exactly what I need! It’s fun that you made dinner for your wife and mom!
Joanna says
Thanks for the recipe! I was wondering if you’ve tried adding the homemade pulled pork frozen or if you need to thaw it before putting it in with the rest of the ingredients? Thanks!
Amy Engberson says
I usually use pulled pork that’s leftover and in the fridge. You totally could add frozen pulled pork to this recipe though! It’s always nice to have prepared meat in the freezer for recipes just like this!
Sharon Keef says
Hi Amy I sure hope it’s a hit with mine I’m using left of pork roast . Just wondering if by chance u could shoot me an email and let me know if there is a way of getting fresh milk from dairy farms I wanna start making my own cheese and idk how to get the real milk . My email is sharonkeef0522@gmail.com thanks in advance
Amy Engberson says
Using leftover pulled pork is the BEST! I love making life quicker and easier! We don’t sell raw milk from our farm. Where are you from?
Gwendelyn Grizzle says
WOW!!!! We love your recipe. We have made it a lot. Twice entered chili cook-off at church with the pot coming home empty and a second place on the last one. We have even swapped the pork for beef with very yummy results. Thanks for posting this ❤️❤️
Amy Engberson says
Yay for you! That makes me so happy this chili was a hit at your church chili cookoff! The smoky flavors in this chili are different enough that it sets it apart from all the other chilis!
Susan says
Well, this was surprisingly good! I was looking for a way to use leftover pulled pork, and it really worked! Amy, you were right that pork with sauce adds nice flavor–a subtle sweetness to counter the tomato/spicy element. This was a fun twist on chili that I would definitely serve again! Thanks!
Amy Engberson says
I’m glad you were surprised in a good way! This chili is packed with flavor and I love that about it!
Annie says
My slow cooker broke and I’m wondering if you’ve ever tried this in an instant pot? How long would this cook for under high pressure do you think? Thanks!
Amy Engberson says
Oh no! Slow Cookers are lifesavers! I’m sure you could make this in the pressure cooker and it would work perfectly, although I’ve never tried it. I’d probably cook it for about 20 minutes. It shouldn’t take long since the beans and meat are already cooked. Let me know how it turns out!
Annie says
Thank you! Making this for lunch today. Will let you know how it turns out! Do you think I need to add any additional liquid since it’s a pressure cooker or should this be enough?
Annie says
I made it and it turned out good except it was a lot more “soupy” than what you show in that picture. Did you drain the beans? Or what am I missing?
Amy Engberson says
Hi Annie! Yes, I always drain beans unless it states otherwise in the recipe. That would have definitely added extra liquid to the chili. I’ll go back and edit the recipe to clear that up! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Annie says
Is the pulled pork you bought in the store flavored or plain? I was looking for recipes to use some leftover bbq pulled pork (already mixed with bbq sauce and frozen). Do you think that would work with this recipe? Sounds so delish!
Amy Engberson says
Hi Annie! I used pulled pork wih sauce already on it because it adds incredible amounts of flavor! It’s a fantastic way to use up leftovers!
Krista says
YUM! I love a good chili! I need to try this one out for sure! I love that it involves PORK!
Amy Engberson says
This is seriously my new favorite chili! It’s so yummy!
eat good 4 life says
So easy… I would love to serve something like this for dinner tonight. My love would nuts for it!
Amy Engberson says
Easy is the name of my game! That’s the only way to get dinner on the table night after night! And yes, I’m pretty sure he would go nuts for it!
Dee says
I just made chili tonight, but next time, I’m making this. looks delicious!
Amy Engberson says
I can’t wait for you to try it Dee! It’s has the most incredible flavors!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
This is genius! My crew loves pulled pork, so I know this will be a hit!
Amy Engberson says
I my goodness, if you love pulled pork you are going to love this chili! It’s so comforting especially on cold nights!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
What a fun story about your cowboy boys. 🙂 And what a delicious chili to serve ’em! This sounds like a wonderfully comforting meal for the chilly months ahead.
Amy Engberson says
Ha ha! Thanks Erin! They are so much fun to be around! Tuck this recipe away for cool evenings! It’s the BEST!
Jen says
I feel like this recipe was made specifically for us!! We love chili and pulled pork so this is a genius idea to put the two together!! Thank you
Amy Engberson says
I can already tell you are going to love this chili! It has so many of my favorite flavors all together in one yummy chili!