Pulled Pork Sliders

When I first started developing recipes, one of my first big hits was pulled pork made in a slow cooker. It was popular for many reasons, but mainly because it was so easy. Rub a pork shoulder with some spices, put it on a bed of onions and chicken broth, and slow cook away. The juicy pulled pork shreds like a dream, and I sometimes mix in barbecue sauce for some sweetness. I use this pulled pork in a lot of ways, but these pulled pork sliders are a crowd favorite and one I often pull out at parties. I keep the pork warm in the slow cooker and set out soft Hawaiian rolls, creamy coleslaw, and pickles. Guests assemble their own delicious sliders when they’re ready to eat, and I’m always asked for the recipe after they take a bite. I promise it’ll be a winner at your next party or game-watching event.

• They’re fun and delicious. The tender pulled pork is tossed with barbecue sauce, then layered with creamy coleslaw and tangy pickles in a soft Hawaiian roll. It’s fun to assemble your own little sandwich!
• It’s truly easy. The pulled pork is made in a slow cooker, and you don’t even have to sear it first. The rest of the ingredients for the sliders can be bought right at the store, no prep needed.

• Pork shoulder: For the pulled pork, you’ll need a bone-in or boneless roast that weighs around 4 pounds.
• Barbecue sauce: You can use any kind of store-bought or homemade tomato-based barbecue sauce.
• Coleslaw: Tangy coleslaw adds a refreshing crunch to the sliders, I like one that’s a little bit creamy.
• Hawaiian rolls: Soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls are the perfect bread for these sliders.

1. Slow cook the pork. Rub a pork shoulder with salt, sugar, and spices, then place on a bed of onions, garlic, and chicken broth in a slow cooker. Slow cook until the pork is tender.
2. Shred and season the pork. Take the pork shoulder out, then strain the cooking liquid. Shred the pork and mix it with the cooked onions and barbecue sauce back in the slow cooker. Keep it on the warm setting for serving.
3. Make the sliders. Only assemble the amount you plan to eat immediately, as the rolls get soggy quickly. Split Hawaiian sweet rolls and top with pulled pork, coleslaw, and a dill pickle round.

• Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken broth.
• Country-style pork ribs (which are not ribs but boneless pieces of pork shoulder) can be used instead of a full pork roast. Check on the ribs halfway through the slow cooking time, as they will cook more quickly.
• You can skip making the pork and purchase precooked pulled pork. You’ll need 3 cups for 12 sliders. If it isn’t sauced, mix in barbecue sauce to taste and warm up before making the sliders.

This recipe makes a lot of pulled pork, but since pork shoulder roasts aren’t usually sold in small portions, it’s still worth making. You can make multiple rounds of the sliders, but the pulled pork also freezes remarkably well for future meals. I recommend freezing it in one- to two-cup portions that you can use on a BBQ pizza, pile on top of chips for pulled pork nachos, or put out as part of a baked potato bar.