Spicy Northern Kentucky Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-26 · Updated 2026-05-26

Slow-cooked pulled pork infused with a smoky, spicy rub, piled high on toasted buns and topped with tangy slaw for a Southern-inspired sandwich. This Southern-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder roast, 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 pork shoulder roast
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 hamburger buns
• 3 cups coleslaw mix
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for slaw)
• 1/2 tsp salt (for slaw)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper (for slaw)

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, combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mixture all over a 3 lb pork shoulder roast.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork in a slow cooker. Pour 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup water around the pork. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily.
3. Step 3: While the pork cooks, mix 3 cups coleslaw mix with 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Step 4: When pork is done, shred it with two forks and stir to coat with cooking juices. Toast 8 hamburger buns until golden.
5. Step 5: Assemble sandwiches by piling pulled pork onto buns and topping with the prepared tangy slaw. Serve warm.