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!
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!!!
Get an eyeful of this….every meat lovers’ dream come true…juicy pulled pork smothered in homemade BBQ sauce.
Knees. Weak. Every. Single. Time.
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:
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!
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
Big, juicy Hamburgers
Steak Sandwich – super quick
Chicken Burger – juicy seasoned chicken breast steak with the lot!
Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken Burger – chicken marinated in a homemade flavour bomb Peri Peri sauce
Cubanos – The famous Cuban roast pork sandwich from The Chef movie
Pastrami Sandwiches – Rye bread piled high with homemade pastrami. EPIC!
Veggie Burger – Meatless made amazing. Puts those doughy bricks at the shops to shame!
Browse all Burgers and Sandwiches & Sliders recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich recipe video!
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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
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:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
You can just imagine what’s going through his head as he gazes at a mammoth pile of pulled pork….
Made this tonight for the second time. Had a brain freeze and used apple cider vinegar. Still tasted great.
Omg!! So did I, I misread and only after reading your comment now know I’ve done incorrectly. I’ve still got 6hrs to go, should I try to correct it? APV going to ruin it?
Mary said that hers turned out ok – it might be a bit more tart but the rich pork should be able to take it! N x
Phew. Thanks for your prompt response. Hoping the sweetness of the sauce will help it out also. I’m Looking forward to eating this one. (And your book coming out 😁)
Hi Nagi, im thinking of making this in the pressure cooker today, do you have any further instructions for that method for Note 3 just mentions oven cooking.
Try this with Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce which is vinegar based and therefore doesn’t cover up the taste of the pork as much and cuts through the richness of the meat. That’s next level.
Hi Nagi, with a 5kg+ piece of pork, how long should I slowcooker or cook in the oven?
Thank you. Kind regards Lesley
Absolutely amazing flavor! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes!! The whole family loved 💕 it!
Hi Nagi!
Can I marinate overnight instead of 1 hour so i can prepare a night before?
Sooo good! Everyone raves about this recipe
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.
I love hearing this Mary!!! N x
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. 🙂
That’s great to hear Anne Marie, I hope you had a great 4th July! N x
I forgot Apple juice, could I use pineapple juice instead?
Sure can Elaine! N x
I forgot Apple juice. Would it be ok to put in pineapple???
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 😀
Absolutely amazing!
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!!!
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!
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!
Sounds like you nailed it Jackie!!! N x
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?!
Sarah, what did you do! Im in the same boat! Aghhhh! 🤦🏻♀️
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.
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
I did the same thing and am finding myself in the same exact situation!! HELP!!! please 🙂
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!!
Hi Amy, I’ve done both and it’s been perfect. N x
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?
Hi Tara – yes the same liquid for an instant pot – N x
Hi Nagi. Can you use pork scotch roast for this?
Hi Mieka, you sure can! Enjoy!