Spiced North Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-24 · Updated 2026-04-24

Tender slow-cooked pulled pork infused with a smoky spice rub, served on soft buns with tangy coleslaw for a classic North Carolina BBQ experience. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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, trimmed pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked 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
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 hamburger buns
• 3 cups shredded cabbage and carrots coleslaw mix
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for slaw)
• 1 tsp sugar (for slaw)
• 1/2 tsp salt (for slaw)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper (for slaw)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Mix 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Rub this spice mix evenly over a 3 lb pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in a slow cooker and pour 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup water around it. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until pork is very tender and falls apart easily.
3. Step 3: While pork cooks, combine 3 cups coleslaw mix with 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a bowl. Mix well and refrigerate.
4. Step 4: Once pork is done, shred with two forks and mix with the cooking juices in the slow cooker. Toast 8 hamburger buns.
5. Step 5: Assemble sandwiches by piling pulled pork on the bottom bun and topping with 2-3 tbsp of prepared coleslaw. Serve immediately.