Spiced Tiki-Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Slaw
Slow-cooked pulled pork seasoned with warm tiki-inspired spices, topped with a tangy pineapple slaw, served on soft slider buns for a festive island flavor. This caribbean-inspired pork ready in about 495 minutes pairs trimmed 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 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.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs, trimmed pork shoulder
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup, finely diced fresh pineapple
- 1 cup, shredded red cabbage
- 2, thinly sliced green onions
- 8 slider buns
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to create the spice rub.
- Step 2: Rub the 2 lbs pork shoulder evenly with the spice mixture. Place in a slow cooker and pour 1/2 cup pineapple juice over the meat.
- Step 3: Cook on low for 8 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- Step 4: While pork cooks, mix 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup finely diced fresh pineapple, 1 cup shredded red cabbage, and 2 sliced green onions in a bowl to make the pineapple slaw; refrigerate until serving.
- Step 5: When pork is done, shred it with two forks directly in the slow cooker, mixing with the cooking juices.
- Step 6: To serve, pile warm pulled pork onto 8 slider buns and top each with a generous spoonful of pineapple slaw for a balanced sweet and spicy bite.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spiced Tiki-Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Slaw take to make?
Total time is about 495 minutes (15 min prep + 480 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Spiced Tiki-Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Slaw?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep trimmed pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Spiced Tiki-Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Slaw?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Spiced Tiki-Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Slaw for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Spiced Tiki-Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Slaw?
Caribbean pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.