Indoor Adventure Park-Inspired Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sliders

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-19 · Updated 2026-06-19

Tender pulled pork braised in a tangy and spicy barbecue sauce, served on soft slider buns with crunchy slaw for a fun and flavorful bite-sized meal. This american-inspired pork ready in about 440 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 380 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
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 8 slider buns
• 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
• 1 cup carrot, shredded
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt (for slaw)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mix all over 2 lbs pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides until browned, about 4 minutes per side.
3. Step 3: Transfer pork to a slow cooker. Pour 1 cup barbecue sauce, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and 2 tbsp honey over the pork. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours until pork is tender and easily shredded.
4. Step 4: While pork cooks, prepare the slaw by mixing 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1 cup shredded carrot, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl. Refrigerate until serving.
5. Step 5: Once pork is done, shred it using two forks and mix with the cooking juices.
6. Step 6: Assemble sliders by placing a generous scoop of pulled pork on each of 8 slider buns and topping with a spoonful of the prepared slaw. Serve warm.