Description
A hands-off, crowd-pleasing recipe for tender, juicy pulled pork sliders made in the slow cooker, perfect for Memorial Day gatherings and casual get-togethers.
Ingredients
- 4–5 pounds pork shoulder (also called pork butt)
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced (about 7 oz / 200g)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (240 ml)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (25 g)
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (7 g)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (2 g)
- 1½ teaspoons salt (9 g)
- 24 slider buns (soft, slightly sweet; Hawaiian rolls recommended)
- Optional toppings: coleslaw, pickles, sliced jalapeños, extra BBQ sauce, crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from pork shoulder, leaving some fat for juiciness. Slice onion into thick rings and mince garlic. Pat pork dry with paper towels.
- Mix paprika, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend all over the pork shoulder.
- Place sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Set pork shoulder on top of onions. Pour minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, and half the BBQ sauce over the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours, or until pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
- Remove pork from slow cooker to a large bowl. Shred using two forks or meat claws, discarding large fatty pieces.
- Stir remaining BBQ sauce into shredded pork, adjusting to desired sauciness. Taste and add salt or pepper if needed.
- Pile pork onto slider buns and top with desired extras like coleslaw or pickles. Serve warm.
Notes
[‘Do not rush the cooking time; 8 hours on low is essential for tender pork.’, ‘Save and skim excess fat from slow cooker juices; stir some back into shredded pork for moisture.’, ‘Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 195°F (90°C) for perfect shredding.’, ‘Toast slider buns lightly to prevent sogginess.’, ‘Keep slider buns warm by wrapping in foil and placing in a low oven while shredding pork.’, ‘Pork can be cooked up to 2 days ahead and reheated gently.’, ‘Freezing pulled pork is possible for up to 3 months; do not freeze slider buns.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 280
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Protein: 17
Keywords: slow cooker, pulled pork, sliders, Memorial Day, BBQ, crowd-pleaser, easy recipe, pork shoulder