Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Our Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches are a long-time favorite! They’re easy to make, great for a crowd, and are made with one of our go-to homemade BBQ sauces. Add even more from scratch flair by making your own brioche buns, too!
We’re returning to the archives today with a revamp from one of the first recipes we shared in 2015! These new and improved Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches are the ultimate sandwich from scratch and a great meal for a big group or meal prep. Flavorful, tender, saucy pulled pork slow-cooked in our homemade Whiskey BBQ Sauce with a quick homemade slaw for crunch, between our Homemade Brioche Buns. It doesn’t get much more from scratch than this!
Ingredients Needed
- Pork Shoulder – We love it when these go on sale in the grocery store! For this recipe, we use a 3 lb boneless shoulder.
- Whiskey BBQ Sauce – This is our favorite for this pulled pork because of the smokiness and subtle sweetness.
That’s it for the pulled pork itself! Sometimes, we just make the pulled pork and then use it not only for these Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches, but also on our nachos, or even in tacos!
For the Slaw:
- Cabbage – I like to use purple and green mainly for the contrasting colors, but you can also use all of one or the other.
- Carrot – A large grate is our preference, but a smaller grate also works!
- Mayonnaise – Have you made your own yet???
- Sugar – Just enough to add a touch of sweetness. But if you like your slaw sweeter, you can of course add more.
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice– Just the right amount of acidity!
- Salt and Pepper – Of course!
SO Easy to Make
Prep the Slaw
We love this slaw because it is so quick, easy, and no fuss. Add it all to a bowl and give it a good mix!
Sear and Slow Cook
Now it’s time to slow cook! The first step, though, is to prep the pork by trimming off some of the bigger pieces of fat and giving it a quick sear. Then, add it to your trusty Crock Pot, pour on that Whiskey BBQ Sauce, and slow cook!
Pro Tip: Don’t Skip the Sear!
While you can make this without searing the pork first, if you skip this step, you’re also going to skip out on a lot of flavor! Giving the outside of the meat a quick sear adds flavor through the Maillard Reaction, which converts sugars and amino acids into little flavor bombs. It’s a few added minutes for a LOT more flavor!
SHRED
Once it’s all done, you’ll have tender, saucy pork that you’ll easily be able to “pull” with a couple of forks.
GREAT for a Crowd!
This is such a great recipe for a crowd because it makes so much! Plus, you can prep so much of it in advance that it can be a sear and then dump and go! Also, you can use it in a variety of different ways, which is also great for serving a group. Serve it on bread, over rice, or go nuts and add it to some chips and our Easy Homemade Queso for a delicious and easy pulled pork nacho!
Assemble!
Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches! Saucy tender pork topped with a crunchy slaw and between a Homemade Brioche Bun. SO much from scratch goodness all in one bite!
Endlessly Customizable!
One of the best things about this recipe is that it is so customizable!
- Switch up the bread vessel by using a Vietnamese Baguette, a couple of slices of our Easy White Sandwich Bread, or make them into sliders with our Homemade Hawaiian Rolls.
- Use another BBQ sauce like our Best BBQ Sauce From Scratch or Blueberry BBQ Sauce!
- Kick up the slaw with some of our Kimchi Coleslaw or BLT Coleslaw!
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
If you want to see more, be sure to sign up for my 5 Easy Ways to Start Cooking From Scratch!
Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
- 3 lb pork shoulder boneless
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 2 cups Whiskey BBQ Sauce
Classic Slaw
- 1 cup green cabbage shredded
- 1 cup purple cabbage shredded
- 1/2 cup shredded carrot
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black ground pepper
Sandwiches
- Brioche Buns or any of your other favorites!
Instructions
- Prep Pork: Trim off some of the excess fat from the pork shoulder.
- Sear Pork: Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high and then add the pork shoulder. Sear on high for about 2-3 minutes on all sides.
- Slow Cook: Add seared pork shoulder to the crock pot and pour over BBQ sauce. Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hrs until pork it fork tender and the internal temp is at least 195℉.
- Make Slaw: Add shredded cabbage and carrot to a bowl and mix. Add mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and mix well, and then add to the cabbage and carrot. Mix well so that it all is well combined.
- Shred Pork: When the pork is done, use two forks to shred the pork in the crock pot. Mix well with the sauce/liquid.
- Enjoy: Create the sandwiches by adding pulled pork and slaw to a homemade brioche bun and enjoy!
I need to take out my crock pot!! Saving this to make on the weekend! Thank you!
I love my crock pots! We eat our share of pulled pork too – definitely trying these!! They sound delicious!!
stumbled and yummed
Thanks so much, Noel! 🙂
That is one tantalizing sandwich! I love pork, and this sandwich looks so moist and delicious!