Description
This recipe delivers incredibly tender, sweet, and smoky pulled pork with almost zero effort. It’s a go-to for game days and gatherings because it feeds a crowd and the slow cooker does all the work, making it a perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 lb boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 18–24 slider buns
- Coleslaw, pickles (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Rub: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Sear the Pork: Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture evenly over all sides. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork on all sides until a deep brown crust forms, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Build the Sauce: Transfer the seared pork to your slow cooker. In the same skillet, whisk together the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Slow Cook: Pour the sauce over the pork in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the pork is fork-tender.
- Shred & Serve: Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a large cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any large pieces of fat. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir to coat it thoroughly in the sauce. Let it sit for 10 minutes to absorb the juices.
- Assemble: Pile the warm pulled pork onto slider buns. Top with your favorite fixings like coleslaw or pickles and serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe is ideal for large gatherings.
- Customize the toppings according to your taste.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg