Retro Game Day Pulled Pork Sliders with Tangy Slaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

Tender slow-cooked pulled pork piled on soft slider buns with a crisp, zesty cabbage slaw for the perfect game day snack. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 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 350 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 pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 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 cup, shredded red cabbage
• 1 medium, grated carrot
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mixture all over 3 lbs pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in a slow cooker with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily.
3. Step 3: While the pork cooks, make the slaw by combining 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1 cup shredded red cabbage, and 1 medium grated carrot in a bowl.
4. Step 4: In a separate small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, and 1 tbsp lemon juice until smooth. Pour over the cabbage mixture and toss to coat evenly. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Step 5: When the pork is done, shred it with two forks and mix with the cooking juices for moisture. To assemble, place a generous scoop of pulled pork on each of 12 slider buns and top with a spoonful of tangy slaw. Serve warm.