Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe (1)

Total Time
3½ to 4½ hours, plus at least 1½ hours’ marinating and resting
Rating
5(2,524)
Notes
Read community notes

This recipe takes a good deal of time, but it yields a lot of sandwiches, more than enough for a sloppy, spicy dinner party feast. You’ll roast a dry-rubbed pork shoulder in the oven until it’s pull-apart tender, 3 or 4 hours that you can spend doing other things while your kitchen fills with the aroma of the cooking meat. Then you’ll assemble a quick slaw and simmer a tangy barbecue sauce for about 10 minutes before putting it all out on the table with soft rolls. Serve the combination warm, at any time of the year, for a weekend project well worth an afternoon’s work.

Featured in: Smaller Forkfuls of Pulled Pork

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 10 servings

    For the Pork

    • teaspoons whole coriander seed
    • teaspoons whole cumin seed
    • teaspoons black peppercorns
    • teaspoons coarse kosher salt
    • teaspoons dry mustard powder
    • teaspoons chile powder
    • 3tablespoons dark brown sugar
    • pounds boneless pork shoulder
    • Hamburger or brioche buns, for serving

    For the Barbecue Sauce

    • cups ketchup
    • ¼cup packed dark brown sugar
    • 2tablespoons molasses
    • 2garlic cloves, minced or grated
    • ¼cup cider vinegar
    • 2tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 2teaspoons sweet or hot paprika
    • 1teaspoon black pepper
    • 1teaspoon dry mustard powder
    • Pinch of cayenne
    • Dash of hot sauce, more to taste

    For the Slaw

    • 1small head green cabbage, outer leaves removed, shredded (about 1½ pounds)
    • ½small red onion, thinly sliced
    • 1large jalapeño, seeded if desired, thinly sliced
    • ¾cup mayonnaise
    • 2tablespoons cider vinegar
    • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1teaspoon coarse kosher salt
    • Black pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Assemble the spice rub for the pork: In a dry, small skillet over medium-low heat, toast coriander, cumin and peppercorns until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind toasted spices into a fine powder. Transfer to a bowl and mix with salt, mustard powder, chile powder and sugar.

  2. Step

    2

    If your roast is tied up, untie it. Massage meat generously with spice rub. If you have time, let meat rest for an hour or two at room temperature, or refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

  3. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place pork in a baking pan and roast for 3 to 4 hours or until meat is pull-apart tender and internal temperature reads 200 degrees on a meat thermometer. Let meat cool for at least 30 minutes before pulling it apart and shredding with your hands or two forks. (This works best when the meat is warm but not hot.)

  4. Step

    4

    Prepare the barbecue sauce: Combine ingredients in a medium pot. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce has deepened in color. Season with more hot sauce if you like. Add two-thirds of the sauce to meat and toss to coat, adding more sauce as needed. (Any leftover sauce will keep for at least 2 weeks in the refrigerator.)

  5. Step

    5

    Make the slaw: Combine cabbage, onion and jalapeño in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add dressing to cabbage and toss well.

  6. Step

    6

    Serve pulled pork with slaw, buns and hot sauce on the side, letting people assemble their own sandwiches.

Ratings

5

out of 5

2,524

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Rory

Hi, being Australian I'm new to cooking pulled pork and I was wondering if I should cook this with a lid on? My meat is a 3kg (don't know what that is in pounds) pork shoulder with the bone in. I'm also thinking I may have to cook it longer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you.

TC outwest

Being a westerner - tried this and needed some tweeking. Better to cook the pork at a lower temp for longer - 250 to a temp of 190. Low and slow is better in tenderness and breakdown of collagen which helps it "pull". DON'T cover the meat. The outside becomes the "bark" and is awesome. . Covering it or cooking in a bag steams the meat - not the same. Slaw recipe is good. Sauce is run-of-the-mill. Too sweet, needs vinegar and heat to stand out.

Kim

What is the best way to double this recipe for a party? 2 3.5-pound pork shoulders, or 1 7-pound one? Could the meat be cooked in a slow cooker?

Susan O.

I cooked this in the slow cooker overnight - low setting; doubled the recipe. Only other change: put in some liquid smoke. Delish - everyone loved it, with requests for recipe with my modifications doing it in the slow cooker.

Kelly

This also works well in a slow cooker on low for 9 hours or so. Lay it on a bed of onions with a bit of water and apple side of vinegar to keep it moist. A generous dash of smoked paprika, sweet, mild or hot added to the initial spice rub doesn't hurt either.

kat

If I do this in the pressure cooker/ how long should it cook for? Thanks!

iris

Try pressure-cooking the pork instead! That will keep clean up to a minimum and the results are terrific.

jennifer bea

slow cooked in crock pot because that is how we roll here on mondays. Did the roasting and rubbing on Sunday. I did not think it too time consuming (and i am not the cook in the house). made a nice crust others have mentioned. Bbq sauce tart - which i liked but served it with other choices of sauce from fridge too. cole slaw could be our new house go-to. I added carrots and other hard vegetables and a tsp and a half of allspice (which is a cole slaw thing in our family). thank you. great.

Nadja

It was great! Made it twice. The sauce was excellent, full of flavor. Thank you! The pork shoulder (2.5 pounds) took 6 hours in my ofen (gas) to reach 200 degrees thoug. (While a whole duck of an other nytimes recipe (orange-sherry sauce) reached the temperature at 300 degrees F g after 3 hours instead of 4.5 hours as indicated in the recipe). Maybe a thing with gas vs. electric ofen.

Ashley G

Updated review- I tried this again with hot paprika instead of sweet - fantastic! Really made an enormous difference. This time, I also doubled the recipe for a party. Just over 5 hours marinating with the spice rub and 10 hours on low in the slow cooker and this was ready. Super easy and delicious.

Susan O

This is now my go to recipe for pulled pork. Just the right amount of sweet and spicy for me. My only deviation was eliminating the mayo and adding another tablespoon of olive oil. After initially serving with slider rolls, I began to eat it like stew with the slaw on top. Delicious.

Cathy

Prepared double recipe for party. Rub and sauce garnered great review. Put meat in cooking bags like ones used for turkeys and cooked in an electric roaster saved oven space for party and did not heat up kitchen in the summer will be doing this again. Using whole spices toasted and then fresh ground upped the flavor

Marilyn

I see some confusion about covering the pork vs. not. I put it in my dutch oven and covered it. It worked great. Just be sure to oil the pan first (I didn't and the rub welded itself to the bottom). Love this recipe - the 3 of us who had it last night loved it. It's a definite keeper.

Maudie

Made it for a big party. Plenty left over for the freezer, and it was excellent a couple of weeks later. Froze the sauce too.

Will definitely make it again.

Mary

I put it in a tight fitting roaster with 1/4 cup cider vinegar, covered it,and put it in 200 degree oven overnight (10 hours). I uncovered it and let it cool slightly in the juices.
Fabulous

Son of Baker

Any tips for cooking it at a lower temp for linger? I have 8-9 hrs and a ready oven. Thanks!

jcore

Made this in the slow cooker (7 hrs on low) and it was great. The sauce was too thick for my taste so I thinned it out with 1/3 cup of apple cider. Added shaved carrots to the slaw. Delicious! This made plenty for the 2 of us with extra for sammies tomorrow.

Eve Parnell

Try doing it covered, maybe at lower heat. Doing this way burned the bottom to crunchy and it was dry and not easily shredded.

craig

how long ahead of time can this be made?

kzhop

I love this recipe and I have used it for a long time. I use approximately 5#s of pork butt. I put the rub on the pork and refrigerate overnight. The next day, I cook this in the crockpot on low for 10 hrs. Don't skip making the BBQ sauce recipe......it is so tasty. I get many compliments when I serve this.

notes

Cooked as written with minimal changes, uncovered in the over. The night before I made the rub, doubling the amount and placing the coated meat in the refrigerator uncovered. The resultant crust after cooking was dubbed “meat candy” by my partner. Did not mix sauce in with meat wanting to preserve crusty elements. In light of comments about sauce being sweet, reduced brown sugar by half and upped the apple cider vinegar. Hot paprika was essential. Five stars. Will make again.

Marjorie

Oiled dutch oven and seared all sides of pork before roasting. Roasted covered at 250 F for 2 hours then uncovered for 1.5.

Melissa

Just as good without the bun and topped over plain coleslaw salad mix (no dressing necessary!)

Kirst

So delicious!! Followed the directions, but it took me almost 5 1/2 hours in my gas stove to reach an internal temperature of 200 degrees.

Dan W

Have made this recipe several times, always a hit. Only had light brown sugar for the rub, so added a splash (sploosh?) of molasses, which had the added benefit of helping the rub stick to the pork.

Baltisraul

This may seem way to simple to be good. Trust me, it will remain in your recipe box. 1 4 lbs boneless pork shoulder2 tbl liquid smoke-any flavor1 tea pink saltTop roast with liquid smoke then pink salt.Place in crock-pot 12 hours on low. Do not remove lid while cooking.Remove roast from pot and shred. Do not shred roast in pot. It will be to salty.Add your favorite bbq sauce.For ever lbs over 4 add 30 min. to cooking time.

NancyD

I’m not a great cook and maybe this is obvious to others but the cooking of the pork was not successful tho I believe I followed directions. The meat turned out tough tho the rub was delicious. I would reduce the salt in the slaw.

chrishpl

Made for a dinner party for friends in NC (who KNOW pulled pork!) and they loved both the pork and the coleslaw both. I used two 2.5 lb. roasts, but it took a LOT longer than what I expected. It made enough for four of us (incl. my 18yo son) with lots left over. I added a little bit of shredded carrot to the coleslaw for color and a little bit of thinly sliced daikon radish I had hanging around--it really added a nice flavor. Is a keeper!

jennandtea

First go and it was a success! I had a 4 lbs boneless roast, which I dry-rubbed the spice mix into, then refrigerated overnight. Next morning, 8am, I took the roast out of the fridge, heated the fan-assisted electric oven to 300, put the roast in a cast-iron Dutch oven with one cup stock and thickly sliced onions at the bottom. Roast went in, covered, from 9am-12noon. Basting twice. Continued roasting, uncovered, from 12noon-2pm, basting twice. Let it rest 30 mins, covered, before shredding.

Heather

The taste of this was delicious. The pork, sauce, and slaw were all very good. However, the pork was nowhere near shreddable after four hours, so it was more slices and chunks than shreds. I would definitely cook it longer next time, but I didn’t have time to keep cooking it tonight.

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Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with pulled pork? ›

29 Delicious Sides for Pulled Pork
  • Coleslaw. ...
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Photo credit: A Couple Cooks. ...
  • Photo credit: The Forked Spoon. ...
  • Skillet Cornbread. ...
  • Grilled Corn Salad. ...
  • Photo credit: Stay Snatched. ...
  • Grilled Potatoes.
Apr 25, 2024

What is the best liquid to keep pulled pork moist? ›

Storing pulled pork

If it is expected to be served within a few hours after smoking, it is better to store it in a crockpot set at the lowest possible temperature. Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot.

How many sandwiches will 2 pounds of pulled pork make? ›

How Many Sandwiches Per Pound of Pulled Pork? If you're serving pulled pork sandwiches, expect to get about 2 to 3 sandwiches per pound of pulled pork. This estimation works with standard-sized buns and a generous amount of filling.

What condiments do you put on pulled pork? ›

Barbecue sauce is almost always welcome on a pulled pork sandwich. Choose between any barbecue sauce you enjoy, such as Carolina style, Kansas City style, or Texas style. You can also create your own sauce and add more sweetness or heat to fit your preferences.

Do you put mayo on a pulled pork sandwich? ›

Pour sauce over meat and toss well. Spread buns with Hellmann's® Real Mayonnaise and fill with pulled pork.

What is traditionally served with pulled pork? ›

20 Sides for Pulled Pork Sandwiches That Go Way Beyond Coleslaw
  • 01 of 21. Homemade Crispy Seasoned French Fries. ...
  • 02 of 21. Easy Coleslaw Dressing. ...
  • 03 of 21. Baked Beans. ...
  • 04 of 21. Basic Corn Muffins. ...
  • 05 of 21. Old-Fashioned Potato Salad. ...
  • 06 of 21. Simple Macaroni and Cheese. ...
  • 07 of 21. Awesome Pasta Salad. ...
  • 08 of 21.
Feb 2, 2024

What do Americans eat with pulled pork? ›

Side dishes for pulled pork (or any grilled protein) can include everything from the classic mac and cheese or potato salad to creative takes on slaws, such as a carrot and apple slaw. The key is to pick and prepare side dishes that go with your meat of choice.

What liquid is good for pulled pork? ›

Pull the pork from the fridge to take the chill off while you chop a few onions and smash garlic cloves. Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy.

Why do you put vinegar in pulled pork? ›

This thin, vinegar-based finishing sauce, which differs from a BBQ sauce, is the secret ingredient to kick up my smoked pulled pork. After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat.

How do I get more flavor in my pulled pork? ›

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

How do BBQ restaurants keep pulled pork moist? ›

The gelatin also thickens a bit as the meat cools during the rest, so more of it stays in the meat when sliced or pulled. Many competition barbecue teams will wrap briskets and pork butts in aluminum foil during the final stages of cooking and add broth, juice, or other flavorful concoctions to the foil package.

What cheese goes with pulled pork sandwiches? ›

Cheddar: Sharp, tangy, and full-flavoured, cheddar complements the smoky, sweet taste of barbecue sauce. Monterey Jack: Mild and melty, Monterey Jack adds creaminess without overpowering the other flavours. Pepper Jack: A spicy variation of Monterey Jack, this cheese adds a kick of heat to the sandwich.

What do you put on a pulled pork sandwich? ›

Remove the bone from the pork butt and then give it a good shredding with your hands in some kitchen gloves. Pile that glorious shredded pork onto a burger bun with cheese, sliced sausage, BBQ sauce, onion rings, and coleslaw. Serve it up and brace yourself for pure satisfaction!

How many sliders will a pound of pulled pork make? ›

One pound of pulled pork will make 24 sliders with this recipe. How do I know what size pork shoulder to buy? The amount of pulled pork you'll get from a pork shoulder depends on how much fat is on the cut of pork you chose, and if it's on the bone or boneless.

What kind of pickles go on a pulled pork sandwich? ›

Both bread and butter and dill pickles work well. Keep it simple and offer pickles on the side. Bread and butter is more traditional for pulled pork, but you can go with dill or even sweet gherkins.

What can you eat with pulled pork instead of bread? ›

We've gathered our favorite pulled pork pairings—salads, roasted veggies, biscuits, and plenty of potatoes—so you can have a full and complete BBQ spread. You can make a lot of sides work deliciously with pulled pork, but we've gathered our absolute favorite recipes to make narrowing down your side dishes a bit easier.

What do you wrap pulled pork with? ›

Remove it from the smoker once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Wrap the pork shoulder in foil or butcher's paper and return it to the smoker and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of between 200° and 205°. Rest in the foil at room temperature before serving.

What do you shred pulled pork in? ›

How to Shred Pork
  1. Place the cooked meat on a large cutting board. Use a large knife to cut the meat into large pieces.
  2. Insert two forks into a piece of meat and pull in opposite directions to get long, thin shreds. Repeat with remaining meat.
Aug 20, 2022

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