Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches are easy to make with pork shoulder, barbecue sauce, BBQ spice rub, sweet onion and ginger. Tender pork is shredded then piled high on rolls with cole slaw for a delicious comfort food sandwich.
Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients, pork sandwiches are perfect for parties, potlucks, and family dinners.
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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe
Tender barbecue pulled pork sandwiches made with juicy pork shoulder, tangy BBQ sauce, and crunchy cole slaw are the ultimate comfort food meal.
Few meals are as satisfying as a pile of juicy barbecue pulled pork tucked into a soft roll and topped with crisp, creamy cole slaw.
Add pickles slices for extra tang and crunch!
Slow-cooked until fork tender, the pork soaks up smoky BBQ flavor and becomes tender and flavorful.
The sweet onion and fresh ginger add an extra layer of flavor that makes this pulled pork unforgettably delicious.
Piled high on toasted rolls and finished with crunchy slaw, every bite is the perfect combination of sweet, smoky, savory, and tangy.
Best of all, this recipe can be made ahead, making entertaining stress-free and delicious.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd for game day, hosting a summer get together, or making an easy family dinner, this recipe will be a favorite.
This recipe makes 4 cups of shredded pork which is ideal for large gatherings. However, you can use some now and freeze the rest. This is a freezer-friendly recipe!
Once you make these homemade barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, they’re guaranteed to become a regular on your dinner menu rotation!
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How to Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
This is a quick overview of how to make this slow cooker bbq pulled pork recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
- Toss pork and BBQ spice rub together to evenly coat all the sides of the pork.
- Arrange the pork in a single layer on the bottom of your corckpot.
- In a bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, sweet onion and fresh ginger.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the pork, sreading to cover completely.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Remove the pork and shred with two forks. Reutrn the pork to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce to evenly coat.
- Place pork and then cole slaw on the bottoms of the rolls to make sandwiches
Hint: Make pulled pork sliders and serve on Hawaiian sweet rolls.
Expert recipe tips
- Use Well-Marbled Pork - Pork shoulder with good marbling creates the juiciest pulled pork. Avoid lean cuts because they can dry out during cooking.
- Don’t Rush the Cooking Time - Low and slow cooking creates tender pork that shreds easily. The pork is ready when it falls apart with a fork.
- Toast the Rolls - Toasted rolls hold up better to the saucy pulled pork and also adds extra flavor and texture to the sandwiches.
- Make Ahead - Pulled pork tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld together.
- Serve Extra Sauce - Keep additional barbecue sauce on the side for serving.
- Trim Excess Fat - Marbled pork is what helps to keep the pork moist and tender but if there is an excess amount of fat on the pork you can trim some of it off so the mixture isn't overly greasy after cooking.
Substitutions
- Boneless Pork Shoulder - Boneless pork butt can replace the pork shoulder.
- BBQ Rub – I used my homemade barbecue spice mix so I could control the spice and salt levels, but you can use your favorite store-bought seasoning blend.
- Barbecue Sauce - I used my homemade bbq sauce for this recipe but you can use your favorite bbq sauce instead.
- Sweet Onion – Sweet onion adds a milder onion flavor but you can substitute yellow onion or red onion.
- Rolls - Brioche buns, potato rolls, or any soft rolls work well with this recipe. Ciabatta rolls, a firmer roll, will also be good with this recipe.
- Cole Slaw – For a different texture you can use broccoli slaw or cabbage slaw mix instead of storebought cole slaw.
Variations
- Pulled Pork Sliders - Serve this recipe, as an appetizer or a fun dinner, on sweet Hawaiian slider rolls
- Spicy Pulled Pork – For added heat, add cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
- Hawaiian Style – For a sweet tropical flavor, top sandwiches with grilled pineapple slices.
- Cheesy Pulled Pork Sandwiches – For a cheesy sandwich, add melted cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese on top of the shredded pork.
- Tex-Mex Version – For a Tex-Mex flair, add sliced jalapeños, avocado, and cilantro.
Storage
- Refrigerator - Store leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer - Freeze cooled pulled pork in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Reheating - Reheat over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave with extra barbecue sauce to keep the pork moist.
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
FAQs
Boneless pork shoulder is the best cut of pork when making pulled pork because it becomes tender, juicy and shreds easily after cooking.
Yes, pulled pork reheats beautifully and actually the flavor gets even better the next day.
Yes, you can absolutely freeze cooled pulled pork in airtight freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
Ingredients for slow cooker bbq pulled pork recipe for sandwiches
- Boneless Pork Shoulder - Boneless pork shoulder is the perfect cut for pulled pork because it becomes fall-apart tender after slow cooking and shreds beautifully with just two forks. The marbling on the meat keeps the meat juicy and flavorful.
- BBQ Rub – My homemade BBQ rub seasons the pork with smoky, sweet, and savory spices that create deep barbecue flavor.
- Barbecue Sauce – My homemade barbecue sauce, or your favorite barbecue sauce, adds rich smoky sweetness and helps keep the pork moist and saucy as it slow cooks.
- Sweet Onion - Sweet onion adds natural sweetness with a savory depth that balances the smoky barbecue flavors perfectly.
- Fresh Ginger - Fresh ginger gives the pulled pork a subtle warm spice and bright flavor that makes this recipe extra special.
- Cole Slaw - Crunchy cole slaw adds freshness and texture that complements the tender pulled pork and rich barbecue sauce.
- Rolls - Soft sandwich rolls hold all the juicy pulled pork together while soaking up every delicious bit of barbecue sauce
What to serve with pulled pork sandwiches
Easy sandwich recipes
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut in large chunks
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ rub
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup finely chopped sweet onion
- 2 Tablespoons minced ginger
- 1 1/3 cups cole slaw
- 6 large soft rolls
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Instructions
- Toss the pork and BBQ rub until evenly coated.
- Arrange the pork in a single layer on the bottom of your slow cooker.
- In a bowl combine the barbecue sauce, sweet onion and ginger and pour over the pork, spreading to cover.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker, transfer to a cutting board and using two forks, shred the pork.
- Return the pork to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce until evenly coated.
- Toast the rolls, if desired.
- Place the bottoms of the rolls, cut side up, on your serving platter and top each with ½ cup shredded pork with sauce, 1/3 cup cole slaw.
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