Game Day Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders with Tangy Slaw

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-14 · Updated 2026-06-14

Slow-cooked pulled pork seasoned with bold spices served on soft slider buns topped with a crunchy, vinegar-based slaw — perfect for casual game day fun. This american-inspired pork ready in about 500 minutes pairs trimmed pork shoulder, brown sugar, smoked paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs, trimmed pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 12 slider buns
• 2 cups, shredded green cabbage
• 1 medium, shredded carrot
• 1/4 cup, thinly sliced red onion
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for slaw)
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp salt (for slaw)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper (for slaw)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1.5 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mix all over the 3 lbs pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder into a slow cooker. Pour 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup water around the pork. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily.
3. Step 3: While the pork cooks, prepare the slaw by mixing 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1 medium shredded carrot, and 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion in a bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss to combine.
4. Step 4: After the pork is done, shred it with two forks, mixing it with the cooking juices for moisture. To serve, pile the pulled pork onto the 12 slider buns and top each with a generous spoonful of the tangy slaw.