Carnival-Inspired Smoky Pulled Pork Sliders

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender pulled pork with smoky spices served on mini buns, reminiscent of fun carnival treats and festive gatherings. This American-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 215 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, smoked paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 12, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 195 min Serves 12 American cuisine 360 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs, trimmed and cut into large chunks pork shoulder
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup barbecue sauce
12 mini slider buns
1 cup, for topping coleslaw
1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mix evenly over 3 lbs pork shoulder chunks.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. Sear the pork chunks on all sides until browned, about 3 minutes per side.
Step 3: Pour 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar over the pork and cover the pot tightly with a lid. Transfer to the oven and cook for 3 hours until the pork is very tender.
Step 4: Remove pork from the pot and shred it using two forks. Mix in 1 cup barbecue sauce until the meat is well coated.
Step 5: Toast 12 mini slider buns lightly. Assemble sliders by placing generous pulled pork portions on each bun and topping with 1 cup coleslaw evenly divided among them.