Tender Pulled Pork Sliders with Easy Homemade Apple Slaw
Smoky, tender pulled pork paired with crisp, fresh apple slaw makes these sliders a perfect crowd-pleaser for gatherings or casual meals. Easy to prepare with simple ingredients and slow-cooked to juicy perfection.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours (slow cooker low) or 4 to 5 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes to 10 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker low) or 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), bone-in or boneless
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup apple cider or apple juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 large Granny Smith apples, cored and julienned
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- ½ cup shredded carrot
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 slider buns or dinner rolls
- Optional: pickles for extra tang
Instructions
- Prepare the pork rub by mixing smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
- Pat the pork shoulder dry and rub the spice mixture all over the pork, pressing it in well.
- Place the pork shoulder in a slow cooker or Dutch oven. Pour apple cider and apple cider vinegar around the meat, avoiding washing off the rub.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours until the pork is fall-apart tender.
- Check tenderness by poking with a fork; cook longer if needed.
- Remove pork and shred using two forks or meat claws, discarding large fat chunks. Stir in some cooking juices to keep it moist.
- Make the apple slaw by tossing julienned apples, shredded cabbage, shredded carrot, and parsley in a large bowl.
- Whisk mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a smaller bowl, then pour over the apple mixture and toss to coat evenly. Chill until ready to serve.
- Split and toast slider buns if desired. Assemble sliders by piling pulled pork on the bun bottom, topping with apple slaw, and finishing with the bun top. Add pickles if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Save some pork juices to drizzle over sliders before serving for extra moisture. Assemble sliders just before serving to avoid soggy buns. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. Substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise for a lighter slaw. Toss slaw again before serving if it sits for a while.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 0.32
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: pulled pork sliders, apple slaw, slow cooker pulled pork, easy sliders, homemade slaw, party food, comfort food