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….
This looks insanely delicious! I never get bored of sandwiches expecially when they are full of gorgeous BBQ pulled pork NOM.
ME TOO!!!! ❤️
This pulled pork looks so good and I sure wish I had a sandwich right now! Thank you for sharing the recipe, Nagi! 🙂
I WANT ONE RIGHT NOW TOO!!! ? Have a great weekend Deb! N xx
Yummy in my tummy!Nagi did it AGAIN!!Time to stock up on the BEANO!?!As will also HAVE to make a side of baked beans!!Hm?I bet you have a fantastic recipe for some!!Time to PINRAID!!?!Do they make “DOGGIE BEANO”?YIKES!D0ZER FLATULENCE!?
Oooooh! BAKED BEANS, YEE HA!!! Yes I have to share a recipe soon. Happy weekend Teri!! N xx
Hello Nagi,
I am a huge fan of your recipes. I often feel like ditching every recipe and recipe book that I have because your recipes are simple, limited ingredients and always turn out fantastic. I am so pleased I stumbled on your blog.
In regards to this recipe, we are a family of non-pork eaters (started by my father-in-law who was a butcher!). Can I substitute another type of meat for pork?
Many thanks for all the hard work you put in to make our lives easier, and more flavoursome!
Regards,
Angela
Wow what a compliment, thanks Angela! This works fabulously with beef too – a nice piece of brisket or other slow cooking cut of beef. BBQ and beef is a gorgeous combination and I use them interchangeably using the exact same recipe. I’m so glad you enjoy my recipes, thank you again for the lovely compliment! N xx
Oh I feel rather stupid because if i had read the notes it clearly says it is fantastic with beef. Sorry.
Apart from brisket, what is the next best thing. My husband can’t resist eating pulled brisket but then ends up sick because of it being rather fatty.
Thanks again for your help. You are amazingly helpful and, from the posts I have read, very kind as well.
Regards,
Angela
No worries Angela, happy to help! Chuck is my next favourite for shredding, and it is leaner. Oh, and my other tip is to pour the juices into a bowl/jar and refrigerate. The fat rises to the top and hardens so you can remove it, then use the (much) less fatty juices to make the sauce. N x
Will let you know how it goes. I am sure it will be perfect.
Angela
You are such a legend!
Is it okay to use slices of chuck or better as one piece (if you can buy it that way)?
many thanks again
Hardly!!! ? Whole is definitely better. Definitely not slices, cooks too quickly! Butchers definitely sell chuck in whole pieces, and it’s really great value. 🙂
Definitely making this! A firm favourite…& a great freezer meal . Thanks again Nagi xx
Oooh hope you do Roni! Really is SO DELISH!!!! N xx
This looks amazing! I make slow cooker bbq pulled pork quite often, but all the sauce and stuff goes in the slow cooker together, so it does goes very liquidy and a bit mushy so the whole recipe + caramelistion looks unbeatable!
The only way to eat a BBQ pork sandwich is with cole slaw! We also add a splash of Frank’s hot sauce and a thin lengthwise slice of dill pickle. As I make this recipe this weekend, I’ll be praying about our next 4 years. I’d appreciate your prayers too.
i have wanted a proper, straightforward slow cooker pulled pork recipe for soooooo long. Thank you; this is getting made. I might even make the coleslaw (and I generally HATE coleslaw.)
I know what you mean Elspeth! I’ve been tweaking this recipe all year, wasn’t happy with the one I was using last year so even though I photographed it, I didn’t even share it! N x
woman after my own heart. The only way to eat a BBQ sandwich is topped with coleslaw. I am definitely going to try this recipe.
Couldn’t agree more! The sauce is so sensational, it’s based on the one by the Neely’s from Food Network 🙂 It’s famous!
I still have a slow cooker from way back. I heard they were coming back into fashion, and with a recipe like this I can understand why! Time I blew the dust off mine I think……….
Woah! Did they ever go out of fashion??? 😉 N xx
At least over here, yes…… I thought I was the only one who still had one, until recently I started seeing more recipes being published. The pork looks fantastic, I will be giving it a try.
Thanks as always.
Hi Nagi! Wonderful, i will definitely try this!
I wanted to ask you for an advice: I tried two slow cooker recipes (turkey breast and shredded chinese chicken). The turkey came out a bit dry (but taste was super!) and shredded chicken took only 3.5 hours on low and it turned out really dry! I’m sure your instructions are correct, but I don’t know how to adjust cooking times with my slow cooker if it cooks too..fast (ahahah)!
Have you ever had such problems?
Thank you in advance! A big hug to you and Dozer! Have a nice weekend! 🙂
I thought I’d chime in that I read an article after the renewed interest in crock pots/slow cookers (around 2000? it was YEARS ago, at any rate) that the “new” crock pots run hotter than those our mothers/grandmothers used in the 70s due to US govt regulations. Leaner meats don’t help, either. The basic fix is to add more liquid, if necessary, and not to lift the lid often.
I completely agree that modern slow cookers are much hotter. I always had to adjust times on recipes with the slow cooker I bought when I left home, until my mother-in-law had a house fire and got rid of her old small 70’s Crockpot, which I gratefully took. It cooks beautifully all day without overcooking.
I then started combing online ads and Facebook sell groups until I was able to buy a large 70’s Crockpot. So now I have three slow cookers, which I use for different recipes.
I would very much like to try this recipe, possibly with beef ribs (as my OH does not eat pork), or beef brisket.
Thanks for the tip Eva, I didn’t know that!
Woah! It sounds like your slow cooker is much hotter than most. Can I ask what brand it is? I have the Breville Fast Slow Cooker. I used a CrockPot a couple of weekends ago – one of those really old school ones – and it definitely ran super hot compared to mine. Good for some recipes, bad for others! Yours will be ok for this because pork shoulder is forgiving because it’s such a fatty cut. Perhaps stay away from slow cooking lean meats until we can figure out the time adjustment! Oh – chicken might be a good one to test with because it’s cheap and fast. Try it for 2 hours? Happy weekend to you Cinzia!
It is an Electrolux! I read only good reviews on the internet, so I asked it as a gift for Christmas 😀 It’s huge, so I wondered if cooking less than 1.5 – 2kg of meat could be the problem… but in the little cookbook sold with the slow cooker, recipes use less than 1kg! (I also tried a 1.2kg turkey leg, after only four hours on low it was perfectly cooked.)
Maybe I’m just unlucky and received a defective product!
I will make more time experiments with chicken!
Thank you for your answer, you’re so kind!!
Awwww, Nagi – that’s definitely another one of those ‘let’s torture Dozer’ photos. What a meanie!
You can post 2 sandwiches in a row any time IMHO. This is such a delicious classic. I might add it to my ‘make ahead freezer meals’ recipe list!
Who does 2 sandwiches in a row?? ? Oooh, that’s a good point, totally forgot to mention that it keeps well in the freezer. Happy weekend Helen! N xx