Description
Affordable, smoky pulled pork sliders with a tangy vinegar-based slaw. This hands-off recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd on holidays like Labor Day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 pork shoulders (pork butt), 5-7 lbs each
- 1/2 cup Pink BBQ Rub (paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne)
- 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (for cooking liquid)
- 1–2 cups Smoking Wood Chips (hickory or applewood)
- 2 tablespoons Butter (optional, for brushing)
- 1 medium head Green Cabbage, shredded
- 2 large Carrots, grated
- 1 small Yellow Onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (for slaw)
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Hot Sauce (optional)
- 12–16 Slider Buns (Hawaiian or brioche)
Instructions
- Rinse pork shoulders and pat dry. Remove large fat pockets but leave some. Coat generously with BBQ rub and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Preheat smoker to 225°F (107°C). Add wood chips and place pork on the grate. Insert meat thermometer.
- Smoke pork until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), approximately 4-5 hours.
- Wrap pork tightly in heavy-duty foil or butcher paper with a splash of apple cider vinegar or juice. Return to smoker.
- Continue smoking until internal temperature reaches 195-205°F (90-96°C) and meat is probe-tender, approximately 2-3 more hours.
- Remove pork and let rest in foil for 30 minutes. Shred meat using two forks, discarding large fat/bone pieces.
- Combine shredded cabbage, carrots, and onion in a large bowl.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Pour over vegetables and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Warm slider buns. Pile smoked pork onto buns and top with slaw. Serve immediately.
Notes
Resting the pork for 30 minutes is crucial to keep it juicy. Use a thermometer to ensure the internal temp reaches 195-205°F for easy shredding. The slaw tastes better if made ahead and refrigerated. Pork shoulder is affordable and freezes well for future meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider with slaw
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: smoked pulled pork, sliders, budget dinner, labor day recipe, pork shoulder, tangy slaw, barbecue, crowd pleaser