Slow Cooker Mississippi-Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-31 · Updated 2026-07-31

Tender pulled pork slow-cooked with a smoky-spiced rub, served on toasted buns with tangy coleslaw for a classic Southern sandwich. This Southern-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, brown sugar, smoked paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 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

• 3 lbs pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 8 hamburger buns
• 3 cups coleslaw mix
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Rub this spice mix evenly over 3 lbs pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder into a slow cooker. Pour 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar around the meat. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is very tender and easily shredded.
3. Step 3: In a medium bowl, mix 3 cups coleslaw mix with 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until well combined; chill until ready to serve.
4. Step 4: Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred using two forks. Stir in 1 cup barbecue sauce until evenly coated.
5. Step 5: Toast 8 hamburger buns lightly. Pile pulled pork onto each bun and top with a generous scoop of the prepared coleslaw for serving.