Spicy Pulled Pork Sliders
There’s nothing like tender, juicy, sweet and spicy pulled pork sliders! Especially when the pulled pork is made using a mouth-watering, homemade spice rub and slow-cooked in a crock pot.
What You Will Love About These Spicy BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
- Tender, juicy, seasoned pulled pork roast. Although this recipe includes plenty of extras, the foundation is the pork, and it’s so delicious that it can be eaten alone.
- It’s a sweet and spicy delight. Heat meets sweet between warm, toasted sliders. You will love this recipe!
- Set it and forget it. Once you put the pork in your slow cooker, you can turn it on, set a timer and walk away for hours until it’s ready.
Inspired by a Back Roads Texas BBQ Joint
Like many of my recipes, a restaurant experience inspired this one. Once upon a time, taking the long way home on back roads, I stopped in to a little BBQ joint. I ordered a pulled-pork sandwich that was out of this world! Made with tender, spicy pulled pork mixed with jalapenos, topped with BBQ sauce and a drizzle of honey, and sandwiched between warm, toasted buns … it was heaven.
I am not ashamed to admit that I ate two of the sandwiches! I just HAD to recreate that magic so we could eat these at home (and I could share them with you). They are a family favorite with my kids (now adults) and my grandkids.
Slider Recipe Ingredients
Pork Roast – The ideal selection of meat for pulled pork sandwiches or sliders is a pork butt (also called a “Boston butt”) roast, but you can also use a shoulder roast. Both come from the shoulder of the pig, but pork butt is higher up on the shoulder and has more marbling, resulting in a more tender and juicy meat.
I would not recommend using a pork loin roast. I have tried it, hoping to create a leaner version, and I was disappointed. The fattier cut of a butt or shoulder roast gives the meat more flavor and moisture, and makes it shreddable.
The Pulled Pork Spice Rub – My homemade spice rub, using 12 pantry ingredients, is the secret “sauce” for this slow-cooker pulled pork recipe. You will need: chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, salt, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, cinnamon and a pinch of ground cloves.
Pro Tip: You can double or triple the spice rub recipe quantities, use what you need, and then store the rest in an airtight container for the next time you make pulled pork.
Jalapenos – You can use jarred jalapenos (I typically do) or dice up some fresh jalapeno. How much you use is entirely up to you and your preferred spice level.
BBQ Sauce – Use your favorite barbecue sauce. Because you’ll be adding honey, I suggest one that isn’t too sweet.
Honey – Optional, but I wouldn’t skip it. The mix of heat with a bit of drizzled honey sets these spicy pulled-pork sliders apart!
Slider Buns – Sliders are best for this recipe. They’re perfect for parties, and both kids and adults love them. If you prefer, however, you can use regular-sized buns without any issues. If you’re cooking/eating dairy-free, be sure to read the ingredients (some aren’t made with milk, others are).
How to Make this Recipe: Step-by Step Instructions for Easy Pulled Pork Sliders
Step 1: First, you’ll make the homemade rub, so pull out your spices. I like to arrange them in chronological order and then move them to another part of the counter when I’m done, so I don’t accidentally miss one (lesson learned the hard way … more than once). Combine them all in a bowl.
Step 2: Stir the spices together in a bowl, ensuring they are mixed well. If you double or triple the spice rub recipe, you’ll use about 1/4 cup for this recipe; put the remainder into an airtight storage container to save it for the next time you make this.
Step 3: Rub your 1/4 cup (or so) spice mixture onto and into the pork. Let it sit/rest for an hour.
Step 4: Turn your crockpot on high. Put the spiced pork roast into your crockpot, cover the lid and cook on high for 5 hours. Do not add water, and keep the lid closed. Don’t worry, the butt/shoulder roast will produce enough liquid on its own.
How to Assemble These Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Step 5: After the pork roast is done, pull it out of the slow cooker, place it on a large plate and shred the pork with two forks.
Step 6: Dice up some jalapenos (fresh or jarred). Add it to your tender pulled pork and mix it up OR keep the meat and jalapenos separate so each person can control their sandwich’s heat level.
OPTIONAL – In between steps 6 and 7, butter your buns and toast them lightly in a large skillet or on an electric griddle.
Step 7: Add your meat, jalapenos and preferred BBQ sauce to your sliders. You can add some red onion if you’d like. They add an extra crunch and make them pretty.
Step 8: Drizzle a little honey on each one, close up your slider rolls … and ENJOY!
Delicious Sides
Looking for side dishes to go with spicy pulled-pork sliders? Try one (or more) of these:
Homemade Malt Vinegar Potato Chips
Spicy Pulled Pork Sliders
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Large Plate
- 1 Skillet or Electric Griddle (for toasting your buns – optional)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast you can use bone-in; will take a little longer to cook
- 12 slider buns or regular-sized buns
- 2 Tbsp sliced jalapenos from a jar or as many as you like!
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp your favorite BBQ sauce
The Rub
- 1.5 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- pinch ground cloves
Instructions
Making the Rub & Preparing the Meat
- Mix together all of the ingredients for the rub. You will be using about half (1/4 cup). Put the other half (another 1//4 cup) in an airtight container and save for the next time you make this.
- Pull the pork out of the package; place it on a plate and pat it dry.
- Pour some of the rub on top of the pork and rub it on and in the pork; turn it over and add more of the mixture, rubbing it on the meat until it's covered.
- Let the pork sit for an hour with the rub on it.
Cooking the Meat
- Turn your crock pot on high.
- Place the meat in the crock pot (do not add water or anything else); close the lid and cook for 5 hours (it will break apart easily when it's done).
Pulling the Meat
- Pull the fat off the meat and discard.
- Use a fork to break up the meat in the crock pot (it should break apart easily); break into chunks as thin or thick as you prefer
- Scoop as much meat out of the crock pot as you'll need for your sandwiches and place on a plate or cutting board. Chop as many sliced jalapenos as you would enjoy and then mix the chopped jalapenos in with the meat you have pulled out (note: if one person prefers no jalapenos or you wan to allow everyone to add as many or as little as they like, don't add the jalapenos to the meat).
Assembling the Sandwich
- Open the slider buns (or regular sized buns) and split in half; butter the inside of each bun with butter (or a butter substitute).
- Heat a skillet or electric griddle and then place the buns, butter side down, on it to "toast" them; I flip them and let the other side get warmed before pulling them out of the pan or off the griddle. NOTE: you don't have to toast the buns, but the sandwich is tastier if you do.
- Put the bun(s) on your plate; add as much meat as you’d like; drizzle a little honey on top; add as much of your favorite BBQ sauce as you’d like … and ENJOY!
Notes
- Do not add water to the crock pot/slow cooker with your pork roast, and keep the lid closed. Don’t worry, the butt/shoulder roast will produce enough liquid on its own.
- Ideally, you’ll let the rub sit for an hour on the pork before putting it in the crock pot to cook, but if you’re pressed for time, it’s ok to skip this step.
