Southern-Style Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Tangy Slaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

Tender slow-cooked pulled pork infused with southern spices, served with a crisp and tangy cabbage slaw. This Southern American-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 450 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
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 3 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 medium, shredded carrot
• 1/3 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: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mix evenly over 3 lbs pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the pork shoulder into a slow cooker. In a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup ketchup, and 2 tbsp mustard. Pour over the pork.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is fall-apart tender.
4. Step 4: While the pork cooks, prepare the slaw by combining 3 cups shredded cabbage and 1 medium shredded carrot in a large bowl.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss until well coated.
6. Step 6: Once the pork is done, shred it using two forks and mix with the cooking juices in the slow cooker for extra flavor.
7. Step 7: Serve the pulled pork topped with the tangy slaw on sandwich rolls or as a plated dish.