Kalamazoo-Inspired Cherry BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-14 · Updated 2026-06-14

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.

Slow-cooked pulled pork infused with a sweet and tangy cherry BBQ sauce, served on toasted buns for a hearty sandwich with regional flair. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, 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 550 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 480 min Serves 8 American cuisine 550 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs pork shoulder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 cup cherry preserves
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp yellow mustard
8 hamburger buns
1 cup (optional) coleslaw

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Instructions

Step 1: Combine 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder in a small bowl. Rub this spice mix evenly over all sides of 3 lbs pork shoulder.
Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours until tender and easily shredded with a fork.
Step 3: In a medium saucepan, mix 1 cup cherry preserves, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tbsp yellow mustard. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
Step 4: Shred the cooked pork using two forks, then stir in half of the cherry BBQ sauce until fully coated.
Step 5: Toast 8 hamburger buns until golden. Pile the pulled pork onto the buns, top with remaining BBQ sauce and 1 cup coleslaw if desired, then serve immediately.