Southern Bistro Pulled Pork Sliders with Pickled Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender slow-cooked pulled pork piled onto soft slider buns with tangy homemade pickled onions for a perfect Southern-inspired bite. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 495 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 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 480 min Serves 8 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 lbs pork shoulder
1 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup water
2 tbsp granulated sugar
8 slider buns
1/2 cup barbecue sauce

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Rub this spice mixture evenly over 2 lbs pork shoulder. Place the pork in a slow cooker.
Step 3: Cook on low for 8 hours or until the pork is tender and easily shredded with two forks.
Step 4: While the pork cooks, combine 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1 medium thinly sliced red onion in a jar or bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves, and let sit for at least 1 hour to pickle.
Step 5: When the pork is done, shred it inside the slow cooker using two forks and mix with 1/2 cup barbecue sauce.
Step 6: To assemble sliders, spoon the pulled pork onto 8 slider buns and top with a generous amount of pickled onions.