Honey-Mustard Glazed Pulled Pork Sliders with Pickled Red Onions

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-07 · Updated 2026-06-07

Tender pulled pork smothered in a honey-mustard glaze, topped with tangy pickled red onions, all served on soft slider buns — a picnic favorite. This american-inspired pork ready in about 500 minutes pairs pork shoulder, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 8, 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

• 2 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 medium, thinly sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 8 buns slider buns
• 2 tbsp, melted butter

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season 2 lbs pork shoulder evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 1 tsp garlic powder. Place in a slow cooker with 1/4 cup water, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours or until pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
2. Step 2: While pork cooks, prepare pickled red onions by combining 1/2 cup white vinegar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1 tsp salt in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until sugar dissolves, then pour over 1 medium thinly sliced red onion in a jar. Let cool and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Step 3: In a bowl, whisk 1/4 cup yellow mustard with 3 tbsp honey and 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar to make the glaze.
4. Step 4: Once pork is done, shred it with two forks in the slow cooker, discard any excess fat, and stir in the honey-mustard glaze until fully coated.
5. Step 5: Lightly brush 8 slider buns with 2 tbsp melted butter and toast on a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until golden.
6. Step 6: Assemble sliders by piling generous amounts of glazed pulled pork on each bun bottom and topping with a few pickled red onion slices. Cover with bun tops and serve warm or at room temperature.