Slow Cooker Southern-Style Pulled Pork with Tangy Slaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-17 · Updated 2026-05-17

Tender slow-cooked pork shoulder infused with classic Southern spices, served with a crisp and tangy cabbage slaw. This Southern-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (bone-in), brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 460 calories and feeds 6, 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 (bone-in)
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp honey
• 4 cups shredded green cabbage
• 1/2 small, thinly sliced red onion
• 1 medium, grated carrot
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for slaw)
• 1/2 tsp salt (for slaw)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper (for slaw)

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 brown sugar, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mixture all over a 3 lb bone-in pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder into a slow cooker. Pour 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar over the pork and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is very tender and easily shredded.
3. Step 3: While the pork cooks, prepare the slaw by combining 4 cups shredded green cabbage, 1/2 thinly sliced red onion, and 1 grated medium carrot in a large bowl.
4. Step 4: In a separate small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth.
5. Step 5: Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss thoroughly to coat. Refrigerate the slaw until ready to serve.
6. Step 6: Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Discard any excess fat.
7. Step 7: Serve the pulled pork topped with the tangy slaw for a classic Southern-style meal.