Get ready to fall in love with these melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork sliders! Tender, juicy pork simmered in a flavorful sauce, served on soft slider buns and topped with your favorite fixings.
They're perfect for game day, parties, or a simple weeknight meal.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Indulge in tender, juicy pulled pork nestled in soft slider buns. This slow cooker recipe is your answer for effortless BBQ perfection. The pork slowly simmers in a flavorful sauce, infusing it with smoky, savory deliciousness.
- Slow cooker convenience: Simply throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do its magic, while your home fills with the mouthwatering aroma of barbecue.
- Fall-apart tender pork: The pork cooks slowly in flavorful broth, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth tender meat that shreds effortlessly.
- Flavorful BBQ sauce: You can use your favorite store-bought sauce or whip up a homemade version for a truly personalized flavor.
- Soft and buttery slider rolls: Slider rolls are the perfect size for holding all the delicious pulled pork and sauce without falling apart.
- Customizable toppings: Add your favorite toppings like coleslaw, pickles, red onion, or jalapenos for an extra burst of flavor and texture.
Making sliders is a great way to feed a large group of people. This recipe is simple and the results are always delicious. Plus, it's the perfect dish for a summer BBQ!
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BBQ Pulled Pork Slider Ingredients
Making your own BBQ pulled pork sliders is easier than you think! These sliders are perfect for a party or a casual gathering with friends.
They're even easier to make with the slow cooker, and are sure to be a hit at your next gathering. So gather up your ingredients and get started today!
- Pork shoulder - Picnic or butt roast cuts are also good choices. They should be about 4 ½ to 5 lbs. The same process is for any of these three cuts.
- Chopped onion
- Ketchup
- Maple syrup - Pure Maple syrup is best, but the common pancake syrup works fine also.
- Apple cider vinegar - or Rice vinegar
- Paprika - regular or smoked if you want a smokier flavor.
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Coleslaw and buns for serving
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Pulled Pork Sliders
First, prepare the shoulder or picnic roast for the slow cooker. Then, set out some small brioche buns, sauces, and coleslaw out in bowls so your guests assemble their own sliders however they like. Top with BBQ sauce (try our Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Sauce), Cilantro Lime Coleslaw, or any of your other favorite toppings!
Prepare The Pork Roast
- Trim the excess fat off the meat, and then pat dry.
Season The Pork
- Season the meat by generously rubbing the spices onto the surface.
Prepare The Sauce
- In a small bowl, mix the vinegar, maple syrup, and remaining spices.
- Stir in the ketchup, onion, spice blend well, for a simple maple based barbecue sauce.
Line The Slow Cooker
- Line your slow cooker pot with a slow cooker liner. Add a little BBQ sauce to the bottom.
PRO TIP: You can use any large size oven roasting bag also if you don't have a slow cooker liner.
Slow Cook The Pulled Pork
- Lay the seasoned picnic roast into the slow cooker.
- Coat the meat with the remaining sauce.
- Cover and program to cook on slow for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.
Shred The Meat And Serve On Slider Buns
- When your pulled pork is finished cooking it will loosen easily with a fork. You will then break it up in chunks or shreds, depending on the style of pulled pork you prefer. Break it up, mix it well with the self made juices in the slow cooker.
It may seem a little soupy at first, but the shredded meat will absorb a lot of it. Mix it well. Add more vinegar for a Carolina style pulled pork, or more barbecue for Texas style BBQ pork sliders.
Serving Suggestions
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders are a surefire way to please everyone at your next gathering. Heap the shredded meat on buns for pulled pork sandwiches or sliders and top with your favorite cold, crisp cabbage slaw.
Serve with chips, French fries, or beans. Serve pulled pork sliders with some extra sauce for dipping, some Pickled Jalapenos or Bread & Butter Refrigerator Pickles and you'll have everyone asking for the recipe!
More recipes that go great with this meal are:
- Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Texas Cowboy Beans
- Southern Braised Collard Greens
- 31 Crocktober Fix and Forget Recipes
Related Recipes
Substitutions
- You can use chicken breasts and thighs for a chicken version of this sliders recipe.
- Stick to the breasts and thighs though, so fishing the bones out is easy. You will need about 5 pounds total meat. Discard the chicken skin before cooking.
Variations
Depending on the flavors you like you can play around with this recipe to get great variations:
- Add about 1 teaspoon of chipotle ground chili powder, or about ⅓ of a can of canned chipotle peppers.
- Use some Cajun spice blend and omit the ketchup and maple syrup, using beer instead.
- Add a can of Dr. Pepper to the pork butt with the spices and vinegar. Reduce the ketchup to ½ cup. Don't use diet Dr. Pepper!
- For a smoky flavor, add ¼ of diced bacon to the bottom of the slow cooker with the sauce.
Equipment
You will want a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker or crockpot. If your pork roast is large, or you're cooking for a large family, use the 6 quart.
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Storage
- Store the pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This is the best option for leftovers that you plan to eat soon.
- You can also freeze the pulled pork in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. This is a great option if you have a lot of leftovers or if you want to save them for later.
Tips for Success
- Look for either crockpot or slow cooker liner bags, as these make clean up super easy when making this pulled pork recipe.
- If planning a party, make the pulled pork at least 1 day ahead, the flavors will blend together even more!
Frequently Asked Questions
You will need about 10 lbs of raw pork before trimming to serve to large pulled pork sandwiches per person.
Try using the Hawaiian rolls, they are a great texture for making sliders and just the right size.
You can use regular hamburger buns, or brioche hamburger buns for a sweeter flavor.
More Delish Ideas
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
Equipment
- Crockpot 6 qt Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 5 lb pork shoulder (or pork butt, or pork picnic)
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup (or brown sugar)
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1.4 teaspoon pepper, ground
- Buns & Coleslaw for serving
Instructions
- Fit the slow cooker with the cooking liner.
- Add ketchup and apple cider vinegar to a bowl. Stir until mixed.1 cup ketchup, ¼ cup cider vinegar
- Add maple syrup (or brown sugar), paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.3 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1.4 teaspoon pepper, ground
- Add the chopped onions to the ketchup mixture, blend in well. Add a few tablespoons of the sauce to the bottom of the lined slow cooker.1 cup onion, chopped
- Add the seasoned pork roast and pour the remaining sauce on top of the roast. Spread it evenly on top of the roast.5 lb pork shoulder
- Cover and cook on the HIGH setting for 4 to 5 hours, or LOW for 8 hours. It should be fork tender.
- Remove roast using tongs or two forks into a large bowl or pot. Pull apart into shred size of your choosing. Add back some of the liquids from the slow cooker, or add in some of your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Pile on buns, top with sauce and/or coleslaw, and serve!Buns & Coleslaw for serving
Notes
- Look for either crock pot or slow cooker liner bags, as these make clean up super easy.
- If planning a party, make your pulled pork at least 1 day ahead, the flavors will blend together even more!
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