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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

By:Nagi
171 Comments
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These Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches are loaded with juicy flavour packed pulled pork smothered in a homemade BBQ Sauce, piled high onto buns and topped with coleslaw. 

Give it to me! I’m a big fan of soft buns piled high with juicy fillings, from Sloppy Joes to big Pastrami sandwiches, and big juicy burgers!

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. www.recipetineats.com

Pulled Pork Sandwich

Steak Sandwich on Monday. Pulled pork today.

It seems like it’s sandwich week. No one told you? Don’t worry. No one told me either! 😂

Actually, I could have shuffled the posting schedule around. But I don’t want to. I’ve been busting to share this recipe for ages, and finally it’s here and I’m not holding it back any longer!!!

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. www.recipetineats.com

Get an eyeful of this….every meat lovers’ dream come true…juicy pulled pork smothered in homemade BBQ sauce.

Knees. Weak. Every. Single. Time.

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. www.recipetineats.com

This kind of food is all me. The “get stuck into it, get it all over your hands/mouth” type of food. The kind that’s all about gatherings, food that’s meant to be shared, food that’s meant to be eaten in informal settings.

And also food that tastes a million bucks and yet is so simple to make. This recipe is all about two things:

  1. That pork. That pork, that pork. Generously seasoned with a flavour packed rub, cooked until super tender but not mushy. It only needs an hour of marinating time because there’s so much flavour infusion during the slow cooking. Either in the slow cooker or oven. But if you’re pressed for time, you can absolutely use a pressure cooker – works a treat!

  2. The BBQ Sauce! Make it from scratch as I do, or use store bought and dress it up by mixing it with the pork juices. Either way, the addition of the pork juices really takes the sauce to the next level. My preference is to make the sauce separately using some, but not all, the pork juices. I’ve made a “self saucing” version before by putting all the BBQ Sauce ingredients in with the pork but found that the sauce tastes too porky.

A quick classic Coleslaw*, some golden buns, then lay it all out on the table and let everyone help themselves.

Party time! Australia Day, Super Bowl Sunday…or just any day!! – Nagi x

* In case you or your hips are anti-mayo, try this No Mayo Coleslaw (it’s very, very good!) or a creamy Yogurt Coleslaw dressing (also very, very good!)

More Burgers, Sliders and Sandwiches

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. www.recipetineats.com

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. www.recipetineats.com

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich recipe video!

 

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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. recipetineats.com

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 8 hours
Total: 8 hours 15 minutes
Dinner, Party Food
Southern
5 from 34 votes
Servings6 -8
Tap or hover to scale
Print
See recipe video above. Tender perfectly seasoned slow cooker pulled pork smothered in a homemade BBQ Sauce (see notes for using store bought). Add a classic coleslaw then pile it high onto buns! Great food for gatherings - easy and good value to feed a crowd. Make this in the slow cooker, oven or pressure cooker. 

Ingredients

Rub

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp paprika powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 3/4 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Pork

  • 1.5 - 2.2 kg/ 3 - 4.5 lb pork shoulder or butt , skinless and boneless (Note 1)
  • 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice (Note 2)
  • 1 quantity Coleslaw
  • 6 - 8 bread rolls

BBQ Sauce (Note 5)

  • 1 cup pork juices from slow cooker, once cooked
  • 2 1/2 cups ketchup
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp each black pepper, onion (or garlic powder), mustard powder
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Mix together Rub then rub all over the pork. Optional: Marinate for 1 hour.
  • Place in the slow cooker and pour over apple cider. Slow cook for 8 hours on low or pressure cook for 1 hr 30 minutes on high. (Note 3)
  • Remove pork from liquid into a roasting pan. Reserve liquid.
  • OPTIONAL: Roast pork for 20 - 30 minutes at 180C/350F until browned (Note 4). Meanwhile, make BBQ Sauce.
  • Shred pork with forks - it should be fall apart tender (see video).
  • Toss in BBQ sauce - use as much as you like, the recipe makes enough to coat the pork well but not dripping in sauce, plus a bit extra on the side.
  • To make Pulled Pork Sandwiches, pile pork on warmed rolls and top with Coleslaw. I like to lay everything out for people to make their own.

BBQ Sauce

  • Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk. Bring to simmer, then turn down the heat so it simmers gently. Cook for 1 hour. Remove from stove and use per recipe.

Recipe Notes:

1. For larger pork sizes, scale up the Rub and Sauce. A 3 - 4 kg / 6 - 8lb pork will take 10 hours in the slow cooker. Also don't forget to scale up the Coleslaw recipe as one batch makes enough Coleslaw for 6 - 8 sandwiches (i.e. this recipe as is).
This recipe is also fantastic made with beef.
2. You can't really taste the cider, it's more for adding liquid into the slow cooker as well as a bit of flavour into the liquid in which the pork is cooked and also then used for the sauce. I used dry alcoholic apple cider. Sweet is also fine, and non alcoholic cider and apple juice work great too.
3. To make in the OVEN: Add 1 cup of water into the roasting pan. Place in 325F/160C oven for 3 hours, covered, then roast for a further 30 minutes uncovered until browned. Add more water if the liquid dries out too much. You should end up with about 2 cups of liquid when it finishes cooking.
4. I really like having some nice brown bits in the pulled pork which is why I do this step. Plus the caramelisation adds flavour.
5. To make this with store bought BBQ sauce, you will need 650ml / 22 oz barbecue sauce of choice. Add 1 cup of pork juices per recipe, then simmer on medium high for 30 minutes or until thickened, stirring regularly.
6. 1.5 kg / 3 lb pork shoulder makes enough for 6 large or 8 normal sized sandwiches. I typically allow for 250g / 0.5 lb pork per serving (raw pork weight) which is generous / safe.
7. Make Ahead: Fantastic for making ahead because it keeps so well. Cool shredded pork then refrigerate covered, keeping the sauce separate. To serve, add sauce and reheat pork in microwave (or oven), then toss (hard to toss when cold). To freeze, cool pork and BBQ Sauce then freeze for up to 3 months (keep separate). To reheat, defrost then reheat per above instructions.
8. The BBQ Sauce is a jacked up version ofthis wildly popular one from Food Network by the Neely's. The Pork recipe is my own.
9. The nutrition is very difficult to calculate because so much pork fat is discarded after the pork is cooked so this is a guide only assuming 8 servings, and that it is served on a normal bread roll.
Pulled Pork Sandwich Nutrition

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 295gCalories: 670cal (34%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

You can just imagine what’s going through his head as he gazes at a mammoth pile of pulled pork….

Dozer-BBQ-Pulled-Pork-Sandwiches-(60)

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. www.recipetineats.com

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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171 Comments

  2. Mary says

    5 stars
    OMG!! This was amazing. Made it last night for the birthday boy who was wanting pulled pork. He thinks it may be better than your BBQ brisket which is a favourite.

    Reply

  3. anne marie tomek says

    this was a fabulous pork recipe! We made it for the 4th and LOVED it. We used your homemade BBQ sauce, which was a fantastic sauce. Thank you so much for a delicious recipe that we will be making again! Also, I could just eat it without the BBQ sauce, as well. 🙂

    Reply

  6. Kirsty Andrews says

    5 stars
    YES!!! Another winner! That rub…my God, I could eat that on its own! Such a small effort for such a delicious result. I added a bit more brown sugar to my sauce and only cooked the sauce for 40 min. Just devine! Thank you 😀

    Reply

  8. Lucy says

    Another outstanding recipe! Our whole family loved this, even my husband who hates pork. Your barbecue sauce is way better than store bought ones that we have used! I’ve tried many of your recipes and all are yummy! Thank you!!!

    Reply

  9. Alanna says

    Hi Nagi. I have the pork in the slow cooker just now but was wondering if you have the measurements for the bbq sauce in grams and millilitres? Thanks!

    Reply

  10. Jackie says

    Absolutely delicious & super easy Nagi ❤️
    Thanks for an awesome recipe. I made this 2 weeks ago, we had it with brioche buns & your coleslaw recipe. Two days later we had leftover in tacos which tasted even more amazing! Both around our fire pit. My son has asked for it again everyday sine lol
    I found you about a year ago & have made numerous recipes. They’ve all been great!

    Reply

  11. Sarah says

    I am 6 hours through cooking the pork in the slow cooker and just realised I used apple cider vinegar in the slow cooker with the pork instead of apple cider or apple juice. Will this be ok?!

    Reply

      • Davinia says

        I put cider vinegar as well on accident. To fix it I removed the juices (I only had 25 mins left when I realized the error). Then I put just enough juice on top to keep it moist and put it back in the oven and turned the temp off (it was already coming apart at that point). The flavor was good and the tenderness was there. I added pear juice to the juices from the roasting plus my BBQ sauce to make the sauce for the sandwiches. It was perfect, to note, I did the oven roasting version.

        Reply

    • Nagi says

      Oh no Sarah!! Vinegar is going to be far too sour here – can you take the pork out of the liquid and take out the vinegar??? N x

      Reply

  12. Amy Bates says

    HI Nagi, love your recipes!! When using the instant pot do you allow natural release or quick release once the 90 minutes is completed?

    Thank you and love love your recipes!!

    Reply

  13. Tara says

    Huge fan of yours, Nagi. On this recipe – the slow cooker ship has sailed if I want to prepare for dinner this evening. Can you please let m know if the liquid should be the same in an Instant Pot?

    Reply

  17. Hummingbird says

    5 stars
    Delicous! Increased heat to medium for two hours after 6 hours and then cooked one final hour on low. The pulled pork sucked up sauce big time so I’ll either make more or hold back a small amount to pour over the top when serving. Another great Nagi recipe!!!

    Reply

  18. Karen says

    5 stars
    Nagi,

    This was sensational! In fact, it was so delicious that it has now replaced the way I cooked pulled pork for 20 years. My ultra picky husband even loves it. Thanks so much.

    Reply

  19. Liz says

    5 stars
    Ultra Yum! made this using pear juice instead of apple cider. Didn’t make the bbq sauce as I used the meat to make Banh Mi!!! Seriously delicious and now a new family favourite. Thanks Nagi for your great recipes

    Reply