Southern-Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Tangy Slaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-11 · Updated 2026-06-11

Slow-cooked pulled pork served on toasted buns topped with a crisp vinegar-based slaw, capturing classic Southern regional barbecue flavors. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 495 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 450 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 boneless pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 cups shredded green cabbage
• 1 medium shredded carrot
• 8 hamburger buns
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Rub this spice mix evenly over 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in a slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours until fork-tender.
3. Step 3: While the pork cooks, in a medium bowl whisk together 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1/4 cup mayonnaise until smooth.
4. Step 4: Toss 3 cups shredded green cabbage and 1 shredded medium carrot with the dressing to make a tangy slaw. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Step 5: When pork is done, shred the meat using two forks and mix with the cooking juices.
6. Step 6: Toast 8 hamburger buns with 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes per side until golden.
7. Step 7: Assemble sandwiches by layering pulled pork on each bun bottom, topping with a generous scoop of slaw, and covering with the bun top.