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These easy pulled pork sliders are the perfect, low-maintenance party appetizer. Made with juicy pork slow-cooked in Coca-Cola, shredded, tossed in tangy BBQ sauce, and thrown between toasted slider buns, they are sure to satisfy.
There’s nothing quite like sweet, savory, tangy BBQ pulled pork. Load it into 2-bite sliders for a funny party app and you’ve got my attention. This recipe is so low maintenance (you basically just have to throw a bunch of ingredients into a slow cooker and let the machine work its magic) and turns out some of the best BBQ pulled pork sliders you can imagine. The meat is so tender, juicy, and flavorful. Plus, it only requires 4 simple ingredients. Imagine that?
Why You’ll Love These Pulled Pork Sliders
Looking for reasons to make something special tonight? Here’s why this pulled pork slider recipe is the only reason you need.
- Sweet and savory. I love the way the savory of the slow-cooked pork plays with the sweetness of the Coca-Cola and the tanginess of the BBQ sauce. It’s the perfect marriage of flavors.
- Just a few ingredients. Aside from the buns, you’ll only need 3 ingredients to make these crowd-pleasing BBQ pork sliders. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
- Set it and forget it. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll be closing the lid of your slow cooker, pressing a few buttons, and walking away while it works its magic. It’s the perfect, hassle-free recipe for busy days.
What You’ll Need
You won’t need much to make BBQ pulled pork sliders. Here’s a shopping list for you. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Pork – You can use pork shoulder or pork butt. Pork tenderloin will also work but it has a lower fat content so the meat won’t turn out quite as moist.
- Soda – I like using Coca-Cola here. Any cola soda will do, though. Feeling adventurous? Try using beer instead.
- BBQ sauce – Any brand will do the trick.
- Buns – I used brioche slider buns to make cute 2-3 bite appetizers but you could make full-sized sandwiches by using larger buns if you’d like.
How to Make Pulled Pork Sliders in the Slow Cooker
Here’s a quick overview of how to make these delicious party favorites. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more thorough instructions.
- Load the crock pot. Place the pork in the crockpot and pour the soda over it.
- Cook. Seal the crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Shred. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and let it rest for 5 minutes before shredding it. Discard the cooking liquid.
- Make it saucy. Return the shredded pork to the crockpot, pour the BBQ sauce over it, and mix until the pork is nicely coated.
- Serve. Serve warm on toasted buns with slaw if you’d like.
Tips for Success
Want to know how to ensure that your pulled pork BBQ sliders turn out perfect every time? Here are some pro tips.
- Choose the right cut of meat. You want to choose a cut of pork that has enough fat on it to keep the meat moist while it cooks. I am partial to pork shoulder or pork butt. Although a cut with a lower fat content will work, your meat won’t be as moist.
- Sear the pork. If you have time, sear the pork before loading the crockpot. It will give the finished product a deeper, more savory flavor. Just heat some olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet and brown the pork on all sides.
- Low and slow. Do not be tempted to crank the heat up to high and cook it for a shorter period of time. You won’t get the same melt-in-your-mouth results.
- Let it rest. When the pork is done spending time in the crockpot, do not shred it right away. Transfer it to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes or so. This will allow the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat so that every bite is juicy and flavorful.
What Goes with Pulled Pork BBQ Sliders?
I love adding a fun topping or two to my sliders before I put the top buns on. Pickles, caramelized onions, and/or a tasty slaw are some of my favorites. Pair the little sandwiches with a yummy 4-Ingredient Tangy Potato Salad or this BLT Pasta Salad and call it a day.
These sliders also go beautifully with a beer or a cocktail (try my easy Gin and Tonic Recipe) and other party finger foods such as these Crispy Grilled Chicken Wings and/or my famous Jalapeño Popper Dip.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- To store. Once the pulled pork has cooled completely, seal it in an airtight container (separate from the buns) and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To reheat. Allow the leftover pork to thaw in the fridge (if applicable) before transferring it to a baking dish, covering it with aluminum foil, and baking at 350°F for 15 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, microwave smaller portions in 30-second intervals until heated through. In either case, you can add a splash of broth to keep the meat from drying out.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow cookers are one of the world’s greatest inventions. They make getting dinner on the table so easy. Here are some of my other favorite crockpot recipes for you to try.
- Mississippi Chicken
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Mini BBQ Pork Sliders
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (907 g) pork tenderloin or pork shoulder or pork butt
- 12 ounce (369 ml) can of soda, (or any beer if you'd like)
- 1 cup (286 g) BBQ sauce, or more, depending on how saucy you like your pulled pork, any brand
- 10 brioche slider buns
Instructions
- In a crockpot, place your pork in the insert and pour the soda or beer over top of the pork.2 pounds (907 g) pork tenderloin or pork shoulder or pork butt, 12 ounce (369 ml) can of soda
- Set your crockpot on low and cook for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, place pork on large cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. You can discard any liquid inside the crockpot insert.
- Using a fork or tongs, shred the pork and place back into the crockpot insert.
- Pour BBQ sauce on top of shredded pork and toss to coat completely.1 cup (286 g) BBQ sauce
- Serve on toasted slider buns.10 brioche slider buns
So simple it’s genius! Great for a family of three. Especially great to come home to after work, school and sports practice.
I used a 4 lb. pork butt, and discovered that 6 hours on the low setting isn’t long enough. Google suggests 8 – 10 hours on LOW or 5 – 6 hours on HIGH. I used a thermometer to ensure it cooked to a safe temperature, but it was tough. There was no shredding; I had to cut it into thin slices before being able to pull it apart. It’s a simple recipe, but time and temperature are crucial. My gut told me that 6 hours on low wasn’t enough. Next time, I’ll listen to it and get a “second opinion.”
the recipe calls for 2 pounds. you doubled the recipe to use 4 pounds…you have to adjust for cooking time if you modify the recipe.
Loved these pork slider so much. The cola added so much depth to the sauce.
Made this with coca-cola and a pork butt. It was super simple to make and the results were the best we’ve ever made. We enjoyed then bbq pork sliders for a couple of meals and it was a huge hit with our kids.
I used root beer and it turned out so good! The pork was just sweet enough.
I had some friends over and made this recipe. Everyone gobbled it up fast! I didn’t have any left. We used beer in the recipe and the pork was so tender.
Hi Julie and making this recipe for my Super Bowl party. The pork shoulder is 7.25lbs. Should I start cooking it when I go to bed for tomorrow? Thank you and all ears.
hi Mike, sorry – I don’t monitor comments around the clock. i hope you were able to figure this out. i would think if you woke up around 8am and put the pork in the slow cooker, it would be done by super bowl. that would be about 10 hours.