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Tender Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

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A simple and forgiving slow cooker recipe for tender, juicy pulled pork sliders perfect for feeding a crowd with smoky, tangy, and sweet BBQ flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 to 5 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess fat but leaving some for moisture
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (for dry rub)
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (for dry rub)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • About 24 small slider buns or dinner rolls
  • Optional toppings: pickles, coleslaw, sliced red onions, extra BBQ sauce

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using to make the dry rub.
  3. Rub the dry rub mixture all over the pork shoulder, pressing it into the meat.
  4. Optional: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the pork shoulder on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to make the BBQ sauce.
  6. Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker and pour the BBQ sauce over the top, coating the pork well.
  7. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the pork is fork-tender and easily shreds.
  8. Transfer the pork to a large cutting board or bowl and shred using two forks or meat claws, discarding large pieces of fat.
  9. Mix the shredded pork back into the sauce in the slow cooker. If the sauce is too thin, simmer on high for 10-15 minutes to thicken.
  10. Slice the slider buns in half and pile generous portions of pulled pork onto the bottom halves.
  11. Add optional toppings like pickles or coleslaw, then cap with the top bun and serve warm.
  12. Keep pulled pork warm in the slow cooker’s keep warm setting if serving buffet-style and provide extra BBQ sauce on the side.

Notes

Optional searing of pork adds extra flavor but is not required. Reserve some cooking juices before shredding to keep pork moist. Adjust sauce thickness by simmering if too thin. Use gluten-free buns and BBQ sauce for gluten-free version. Can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar or maple syrup. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently with extra sauce or water to maintain moisture.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, pulled pork, BBQ, sliders, party food, easy recipe, crowd-pleaser, pork shoulder

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/tender-slow-cooker-bbq-pulled-pork-sliders-easy-recipe-for-a-crowd/