Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Pulled Pork Sliders

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-01 · Updated 2026-06-01

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender pulled pork simmered in a smoky barbecue sauce, served on mini buns for perfect handheld sliders. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 315 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (boneless), brown sugar, smoked paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 370 calories and feeds 12, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 300 min Serves 12 American cuisine 370 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs pork shoulder (boneless)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup barbecue sauce
12 mini slider buns
1/2 cup sliced pickles
1 cup coleslaw

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mixture evenly all over 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder.
Step 2: Place pork shoulder in a slow cooker and pour 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar over the top. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours until pork is very tender and shreds easily.
Step 3: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Discard any large pieces of fat. Stir in 1 cup barbecue sauce until pork is fully coated.
Step 4: To assemble, place generous portions of pulled pork on 12 mini slider buns. Top each with 1 tbsp sliced pickles and 2 tbsp coleslaw. Serve warm as hearty sliders.