Description
Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich is a flavorful and simple comfort food featuring tender, slow-cooked pork shoulder infused with smoky barbecue sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or casual gatherings, this recipe offers juicy pulled pork piled high on soft buns with optional crunchy coleslaw, delivering a delicious and hassle-free meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3–4 lbs pork shoulder (trimmed of excess fat)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 6–8 soft sandwich buns or brioche buns
Optional Toppings
- Coleslaw (for serving)
- Sliced pickles
- Sliced jalapeños
- Crispy onions
- Fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley
Optional Variations
- Hot sauce or cayenne pepper (for spicy kick)
- Honey or brown sugar (for sweet and tangy flavor)
- Smoked paprika or liquid smoke (for smoky flavor boost)
- Lettuce leaves or low-carb bread (for low-carb substitution)
- Jackfruit (as a vegetarian alternative to pork)
Instructions
- Season the Pork: Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and generously season it all over with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to create a flavorful crust and enhance the pork’s natural taste.
- Slow Cook the Pork: Place the seasoned pork in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, add apple cider vinegar, and cook on low heat. Slow cooker method takes 6-8 hours until the meat is tender enough to shred easily; Instant Pot method takes about 1 hour.
- Shred the Pork: Remove the cooked pork and shred it using two forks, pulling apart all the tender strands to achieve the perfect pulled pork texture.
- Mix in BBQ Sauce: Transfer the shredded pork to a bowl and stir in your BBQ sauce thoroughly, coating each bite with a glossy, tangy flavor. Adjust the amount of sauce to your preference.
- Assemble the Sandwich: Warm the buns and pile the saucy pulled pork high. Add optional toppings like coleslaw, pickles, or jalapeños if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- Season the pork the night before for deeper flavor penetration.
- Use pork shoulder for the best tender and juicy pulled pork; leaner cuts may dry out.
- Cook low and slow to ensure tender, shreddable pork.
- Add BBQ sauce gradually to control moisture and flavor.
- Lightly toast buns to prevent sogginess from the juices.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (slow cooker) or 1 hour (Instant Pot)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg