Smoky Bourbon-Glazed Pulled Pork Sliders

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-05-25

Tender pulled pork slow-cooked and glazed with a smoky bourbon barbecue sauce, served on mini slider buns for perfect game day bites. This American-inspired barbecue 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 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 12 slider buns
• 1 cup, for topping (optional) coleslaw

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Rub this spice mix evenly over the entire surface of 3 lbs pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder in a slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours until the meat is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
3. Step 3: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey, 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tbsp honey. Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes glossy.
4. Step 4: Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Discard any large pieces of fat.
5. Step 5: Toss the shredded pork with half of the bourbon barbecue sauce until well coated.
6. Step 6: To assemble sliders, spoon generous portions of pulled pork onto 12 slider buns, drizzle with additional barbecue sauce, and top with 1 cup coleslaw if desired.