Spicy Missouri BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

Slow-cooked pulled pork infused with a smoky spice rub, topped with tangy coleslaw on toasted buns. 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 550 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 pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 3 cups coleslaw mix
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 8 hamburger buns
• 2 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper in a bowl to create the spice rub.
2. Step 2: Rub the 3 lbs pork shoulder evenly with 2 tbsp olive oil, then coat thoroughly with the spice rub. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Step 3: Place the pork shoulder in a slow cooker. Add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 tbsp yellow mustard around the meat. Cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is extremely tender and pulls apart easily.
4. Step 4: While the pork cooks, prepare the coleslaw by mixing 3 cups coleslaw mix with 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/4 cup apple juice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Step 5: Once the pork is cooked, shred it using two forks and mix with the cooking juices for moisture.
6. Step 6: Toast 8 hamburger buns lightly. Pile generous portions of pulled pork on each bun and top with a scoop of prepared coleslaw before serving.