How to make pulled pork sliders with loin or with Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder cooked with your favorite barbecue sauce. Served on Hawaiian rolls you can load on the toppings like coleslaw or enjoy as is.
If you are hosting the next big event at your house you have got to make slow cooker pulled pork sliders. Served on sweet Hawaiian rolls or even as lettuce wraps, this easy pork recipe is out of this world.
How to Make Pulled Pork for Sliders
in a pressure cooker
We used a large loin for the one shown below and in the recipe card. It is quite similar to our Instant Pot Hawaiian pulled pork recipe except cooked low and slow. If you want to get it done in a fraction of the time under high pressure you’d want to follow this recipe here. We have used it to make Pork for Tamales and these with leftovers too.
in a smoker
For a smokier flavor, use our smoked pulled pork tips. This is by far our favorite if we have the time and the weather is great for cooking outside. And then slider buns of your choice. The grocery store usually has some at the bakery of various sizes, or make individual pulled pork bread bowls.
in a slow cooker
This is probably my favorite way to go. You can see pictures below of how we have made it in the past. If you want the easiest method of all follow our 2 Ingredient Pulled Pork and done!
Tips
When we make our Sloppy Joe Sliders I typically will use the same rolls, sweet Hawaiian style buns. They are small and the kids love them. If you wanted open faced then I would choose Texas garlic toast baked to crispy and then load this stuff right on to the top!
For added sweetness you could replace some of the broth with pineapple juice and add tidbits on to the top. Want this to be on the spicy side? Dry Sriracha or red pepper flakes are great for that. We prefer sweeter over hot but that is up to you.
Ingredient Notes
- 3-4 lb pork loin is a good choice or if you can find a Pork Shank there is more fat on that so it will become more juicy and moist
- 1 onion chopped, white or yellow cut thick so they stay in tact a bit more is ideal
- Minced garlic, jarred or chopped from fresh cloves is great too of course
- Your favorite barbecue sauce is an easy go to, or make homemade sauce like our Mississippi Pork Roast
- Some apple cider vinegar will give you a pop of flavor to your sauce the meat cooks in
- Some broth of your choice, beef is best
- Worcestershire sauce is a deep flavor that will further add to the flavor of your sauce, thus more flavor to your pork
- Yellow or dijon mustard I prefer because there is a kick of spice in it
- Paprika and some garlic powder for seasonings work well
- Brown sugar for some sweetness, could add pineapple tidbits too
Variations and Substitutions
The sauce is up to you too. Of course you can just use a ready made bottle of barbecue sauce or whip up what we have listed below. Homemade is always better so you can adjust the heat level to make it just right for you and your family. I will share 3 methods but this is a fave as a Crockpot recipe.
If you are starting with pork tenderloin in crockpot it will take about 8-10 hours or so until you can pull it apart easily with 2 forks.
What toppings do you put on pulled pork sliders?
Ok so we have used this blue cheese coleslaw recipe but then we tweaked it up this year just to serve it on this! I felt like adding a bit more fruit, cold, to the top just took these sliders to the next level. And that is when Hawaiian cole slaw was born….. For bolder colors and a more firm texture, try a dollop of red cabbage coleslaw on the bottom bun. My husband likes just quick sauerkraut, go figure.
You can even make a slaw out of broccoli if you wanted to make something really unusual. Use your imagination and see what is at the store. I even had leftover macaroni salad left once and that was kinda’ killer in a surprising way.
Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb pork, shoulder, loin, butt
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste
- 24 small rolls
Instructions
- Place the pork in the crockpot and sprinkle on the chopped onion and minced garlic. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour the sauce mixture over the pork.
- Secure the lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until you can pull it apart easily with 2 forks. Remove the cooked pork from the crockpot and shred.
- Return the shredded pork to the crockpot and stir to coat completely in the sauce. Serve on buns topped with coleslaw.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
FAQ
Kind of. You can certainly make the meat until tender, shred, and leave on keep warm inside your slow cooker for a few hours before guests arrive. Do not combine on to the rolls until people are ready to eat though or those will get soggy, no good.
Set your Crockpot to keep warm and keep your meat in there. Make sure is is coated nicely with sauce and you may need to add a bit more as time progresses so it stays moist. Leave slider rolls on the side until ready to serve and eat.
Best way to save leftover cooked pork
If you do have leftovers make sure it has cooled completely to room temperature before you do anything else. Ideally the meat should be well coated with sauce so it stays moist. If it isn’t already add some more and toss to coat.
Then transfer what is left into a freezer bag and push ALL of the air out, that will keep it tender. Store that bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready for reheating leftover pulled pork I think the microwave is the easiest method.
Transfer into a heat safe bowl and warm 30 seconds at a time rotating the contents every time until hot. If you need to moisten with more bbq then do so once more. Use fresh rolls and toppings and serve up for a second go around, it saves quite well actually. Cabbage does not however so that should be remade. Beyond rolls for sandwiches you can top it over white rice or make pulled pork baked potato for a heartier meal too.
