Description

Foolproof, sweet, and tangy pulled pork sliders made in a slow cooker. This easy summer recipe feeds a crowd without keeping you in the kitchen, resulting in tender, smoky pork on soft Hawaiian rolls.

Ingredients

Scale

5–6 pounds pork shoulder or butt
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt
18–20 Hawaiian sweet rolls
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon garlic powder (for butter)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup water

Instructions

Pat the pork dry and trim large fat chunks. Mix brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and salt to create a dry rub. Rub the mixture all over the pork.
Whisk together apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. Pour this mixture over the pork in the slow cooker along with ½ cup of water.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the pork is fork-tender.
Remove pork from the slow cooker and shred using two forks. Strain the cooking liquid, skim off fat, and reserve about 1 cup. Pour ½ cup of the liquid back over the shredded pork and toss to combine.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Mix melted butter with 1 teaspoon garlic powder and brush generously over the top bun layer.
Place the bottom bun layer in a 9×13 baking dish. Spread shredded pork evenly over the buns and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Place the top bun layer (butter-side up) over the cheese.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes if you want crispy tops.
Let sliders cool for 5 minutes before cutting along the indentations. Serve warm with pickles on the side.

Notes

Pork shoulder is preferred for its fat content which keeps it moist. If using bone-in pork, ensure it fits in the slow cooker. For a spicy version, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. The cooking liquid can be saved for soup or stew. Do not freeze assembled sliders as the buns will become mushy; freeze the shredded pork only.

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 hours
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slider
Calories: 280
Sugar: 10
Sodium: 850
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 22
Fiber: 1
Protein: 18

Keywords: pulled pork, slow cooker, sliders, labor day recipe, summer bbq, easy crowd pleaser, hawaiian rolls, pork shoulder