Tender BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
A delicious and easy homemade recipe for tender BBQ pulled pork sliders, perfect for gatherings and crowd-pleasers. Slow-cooked pork shoulder shredded and mixed with a tangy homemade BBQ sauce, served on soft slider buns.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours (slow cooker low) or 4 to 5 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes to 10 hours 20 minutes (slow cooker low) or 4 hours 20 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), bone-in or boneless, well-marbled
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Approximately 12 small slider buns (soft and slightly sweet, e.g., King’s Hawaiian)
- Coleslaw (optional)
- Pickles (optional)
- Sliced jalapeños (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil for searing
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some fat for moisture. Pat dry with paper towels. (5 minutes)
- Mix smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Rub all over the pork shoulder, pressing in well. (5 minutes)
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork shoulder on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. (15 minutes)
- Transfer pork to slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until tender and easily shredded. (Time varies)
- While pork cooks, combine ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning. (20 minutes)
- Remove pork from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Discard large fat chunks. (10 minutes)
- Pour half of the BBQ sauce into the slow cooker with shredded pork and stir to coat evenly. Save remaining sauce for serving or basting. (5 minutes)
- Warm slider buns slightly in oven or skillet. Assemble sliders by piling BBQ pulled pork on buns, adding coleslaw or pickles if desired. Brush buns lightly with leftover BBQ sauce. Serve immediately. (10 minutes)
Notes
Searing the pork shoulder before slow cooking adds deep flavor. Cook low and slow for best tenderness. Keep some BBQ sauce aside to avoid soggy sliders. Warm buns before assembling to prevent sogginess. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. Leftovers store well in fridge up to 4 days or freezer up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
Keywords: BBQ pulled pork, sliders, slow cooker, pulled pork recipe, BBQ sauce, party food, easy dinner, comfort food