These pulled pork sliders are packed with flavour and perfect for feeding a crowd. With juicy slow-cooked pork and soft, fluffy buns, they’re ideal for gatherings, lunchboxes or an easy weeknight meal.
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My mum is a really good cook. She can taste something and recreate it perfectly (most of the time even better) and I hope one day I have her skills. Last year, she'd been to a friend's for lunch and been served a meltingly-soft pulled pork shoulder.
That was our Easter lunch sorted. The only issue was the timing. We were having people over at midday and as the pork needed to roast in the oven for at least 13 hours, we had to put it on before bed.
I stayed up to see how mum prepared it. She tenderly rubbed the pork with oil then coated it in a combination of spices, salt and pepper.
Then, like an avalanche, the spice mix started sliding down the sides of the pork onto the tray. Neither of us had our glasses on so failed to see that the pork was actually vacuum wrapped inside the plastic wrap and she'd just lovingly prepared the plastic.
Good thing she had a nice supply of spices. Attempt number two was successful and we awoke on Easter Sunday to the most amazing smell.
Ever since then, whenever I see pulled pork on a menu I have to have it and my most recent pulled pork sandwich at Montville left me determined to try my own version in the slow cooker.
I had a girls night a couple of weeks ago where we all contributed part of the meal and the host (me) made the main. I nominated myself because I desperately wanted more than one person to try the pork.
After doing a bit of Googling and taking notes from various recipes I came up with my own combination that resulted in a sweet, juicy meat perfect for stuffing between top and bottom of a freshly-baked burger bun - a tasty pulled pork slider.
I tossed a little bit of shredded red cabbage through the meat before serving to give it some colour and a bit of crunch but it's totally optional. I would recommend a little smear of aioli on the bun too. It makes them taste even more mouth-watering.
The meat freezes really well too so don't worry about wasting any left overs. Just pop it in the freezer along with some burger buns and you have emergency dinner ready in the time it takes everything to defrost. Enjoy!
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Check out 12 winter slow cooker favourites.
Recipe
Pulled pork sliders
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 kg free-range pork shoulder
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 4 cloves smoked garlic crushed (regular garlic is ok)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon sage
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup apple juice
- ½ head read cabbage shredded, to serve
- Burger buns
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat then brown the meat on all sides.
- Place it in the dish of the slow cooker.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and pour over the meat to coat.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Remove the meat from the slow-cooker and use two forks to shred it discarding any fatty chunks.
- Return the meat to the slow cooker and stir it through the sauce then cook on high without the lid for another hour or until the sauce thickens.
- Stir through the shredded cabbage and serve on split burger buns.
Jacqui says
Have just put this in the slow cooker for tonight. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Smells amazing already!
Claire says
I hope you like it Jacqui!
Matt says
That was amazing! Never thought of doing the pork in a slow cooker, what a genius idea.
We had to make a couple of changes, one of them being a lack of apple juice. Instead we used passionfruit and elder flower juice and also, I figured I'd try smoked paprika since I didn't have smoked garlic. Winner!
Thanks for another awesome recipe :)
Claire says
Oh wow Matt that sounds amazing! So glad you liked it.
The Life of Clare says
I really need to get a slow cooker so I can make things like this!!! It looks absolutely delicious. I do love a little burger!
Claire says
Yes you do!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
What fabulous looking little sliders-and you can't go wrong with pulled pork :) And that's a great talent that your mother has too!
Claire says
No, no you can't!
Lisa the Gourmet Wog says
Oh gosh I could really do with one of these right now! Love that you can freeze any leftovers for another day. Great recipe :)
Claire says
It's a great thing to have in the freezer!