Tender Slow-Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
A simple and delicious slow-cooker pulled pork recipe with a rich, tangy BBQ sauce, perfect for easy party sliders that are tender and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-9 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes to 9 hours 15 minutes (LOW) or 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), well-marbled
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (thick, smoky like Sweet Baby Ray’s or Stubb’s)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 12 small slider buns
- Optional toppings: pickles, coleslaw, cheddar cheese slices, jalapeños
Instructions
- Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some for flavor, and pat dry with paper towels.
- Rub the pork thoroughly with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
- Place sliced onions and minced garlic evenly at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add the pork shoulder on top, fat-side up.
- In a bowl, combine BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar until smooth. Pour evenly over the pork.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8-9 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours until pork is fork-tender.
- Remove pork and shred with two forks, discarding large chunks of fat.
- Return shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce and onions; let soak for 10 minutes on LOW.
- Toast slider buns lightly if desired. Pile pulled pork on bottom half, add toppings, and crown with top bun.
Notes
Keep an eye on the slow cooker liquid during the last hour; remove lid if sauce is too watery to thicken. Let pork rest after shredding to redistribute juices. Toast buns lightly to prevent sogginess. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. Adjust sweetness of BBQ sauce with brown sugar or honey if too tangy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 0.28
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: slow cooker, pulled pork, BBQ, sliders, party food, easy recipe, comfort food