Slow-Cooked Spiced Pulled Pork with Tangy Slaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

Tender pulled pork simmered with warm spices and topped with a crisp, tangy cabbage slaw for a perfect southern-style sandwich filling. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, paprika, ground cumin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, 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, trimmed pork shoulder
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups shredded green cabbage
• 1 medium shredded carrot
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp salt (for slaw)
• 1/8 tsp black pepper (for slaw)
• 4 burger buns

Slow cookers worth buying for this → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Rub this spice blend evenly over 2 lbs trimmed pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in 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 the pork is very tender and shreds easily.
3. Step 3: While pork cooks, in a medium bowl, mix 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1 medium shredded carrot, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper until creamy and well combined; refrigerate until serving.
4. Step 4: When pork is done, remove it from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Drain excess liquid.
5. Step 5: Toast 4 burger buns lightly. Pile each bun with a generous amount of pulled pork and top with the tangy slaw for a balanced texture and flavor contrast.