Tender Pulled Pork Sandwich (Printable)

Tender slow-cooked pork shoulder shredded and mixed with barbecue sauce, served on soft buns with optional coleslaw.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pulled Pork

01 - 3.3 lbs boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), trimmed
02 - 2 tsp kosher salt
03 - 1 tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tbsp smoked paprika
05 - 2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - ½ cup apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 cup chicken broth

→ Barbecue Sauce

12 - 1 cup barbecue sauce, plus additional for serving

→ For Serving

13 - 6 soft sandwich buns
14 - Coleslaw (optional)
15 - Dill pickle slices (optional)

# How To:

01 - Combine kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, and brown sugar in a small bowl, mixing thoroughly.
02 - Rub the prepared spice mixture evenly over the entire surface of the pork shoulder.
03 - Place the seasoned pork shoulder into the slow cooker. Pour apple cider vinegar and chicken broth around the pork without pouring directly on top.
04 - Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours, until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
05 - Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks, discarding any excess fat.
06 - Skim any excess fat from the cooking liquid in the slow cooker, return the shredded pork, and stir in barbecue sauce. Heat on low for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
07 - Pile the pulled pork onto soft buns, adding extra barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and pickle slices as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It practically cooks itself while you're busy with other things, no fussing required.
  • The meat gets so tender it falls apart with barely any effort, and that's deeply satisfying.
  • One batch feeds a crowd and tastes even better as leftovers the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip skimming the fat from the liquid, even though it seems like extra work—it changes everything about how the final sandwich tastes.
  • If your pork isn't shredding easily after 8 hours, give it another hour; every slow cooker is slightly different, and some pork shoulders are bigger than they look.
03 -
  • If your pork is especially fatty, don't feel bad about trimming more of it off—leaner meat actually shreds more cleanly and takes the sauce better.
  • Serve with something bright and crunchy on the side, like coleslaw or a vinegar-based salad, because the pork is rich and needs that contrast.
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