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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich with Apple Slaw

Published / Updated / 14 Comments

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This slow cooker pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw has the most tender, flavorful pulled pork and minimal prep time. You'll want to make this recipe over and over.

a close-up of a slow cooker pulled pork sandwich with crunchy apple slaw in a bun

I've had pulled pork sandwiches before that didn't quite do it for me, so I really wanted to hit this one out of the park. The meat needed to be flavorful, not dry, and extremely tender. That was achieved by slow cooking the spice-rubbed pork shoulder for 10 hours.

I've had pulled pork sandwiches that didn't have enough crunch. I fixed that with the simple apple and carrot slaw and by toasting the inside of the bun.

a green apple and a red apple

A dollop of my favorite applewood hickory BBQ sauce, and this dreamy sandwich was devoured as soon as I was able to put down the camera. I then had another one for dinner.

I am very pleased with how this sandwich turned out!

two process photos of seasoned pork

There is nothing particularly complex about this Crockpot pulled pork sandwich recipe. Timing the 10 hours of slow cooking was the only sort of tricky part since I didn't want to wake up early on a weekend to start cooking this. 🙂 I don't usually cook stuff overnight, but it worked well in this instance.

I loaded up the Crockpot before bed, and the following morning I had fall-apart tender pulled pork. Lunch was fabulous.

This is one of those recipes where your slow cooker is really worth its weight in gold. I don't use my slow cooker very often. I find a lot of recipes that call for slow cookers are just as easy to make with a normal pot. You could make this pulled pork recipe in the oven, but I'd say the Crockpot is your best bet here since you are cooking it for such a long time.

Slow cooking this cut of meat makes it super tender, and all you need is two forks to quickly shred it. Depending on your piece of meat, you may need to discard a few of the larger fatty pieces as you go along. I kept some of the smaller fatty pieces as they add some extra taste and moisture to your sandwich.

two process shots of whole apples and apple slaw in a bowl

The liquid that's left over from cooking the meat is flavorful, but a bit fatty. I take the meat out of the slow cooker when it's done, shred it, and then I add a few spoonfuls of the reserved cooking liquid to add a bit more moisture and flavor. You can add as much or as little as you like. I suggest adding a bit more if you're skipping the BBQ sauce.

So good.

Crockpot pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw

So, does this Crockpot pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw sound delicious to you or what?! 🙂

Questions? Let me know!

Tender, flavorful pulled pork, crunchy apple slaw, and your favorite BBQ sauce make this awesome sandwich a reality!
5 from 1 vote
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich with Apple Slaw

This slow cooker pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw has the most tender, flavorful pulled pork and minimal prep time. You'll want to make this recipe over and over.

Course Sandwich
Cuisine American
Keyword Crockpot pulled pork, pulled pork sandwich recipe, slow cooker pulled pork
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 20 minutes
Servings 8
Author Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 1 (2-3 pound) pork shoulder
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 (10 fluid ounce) can chicken broth
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugarRub:
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Slaw:

  • 1 red apple julienned
  • 1 Granny Smith apple julienned
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons mayo
  • 1/2 large carrot julienned
  • Salt & pepper to taste

For serving:

  • Buns
  • Butter
  • BBQ sauce

Instructions

  1. Combine rub ingredients in a small bowl. Remove any twine from the pork. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork, using your hands. I suggest placing pork on a baking sheet to catch any fallout.
  2. In a slow cooker, add the Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, chicken broth, garlic, ground cumin, liquid smoke, and brown sugar. Stir until combined. Add the pork into the slow cooker and cover. Set on low and cook for 10 hours.
  3. When the pork is about ready, combine the slaw ingredients and refrigerate until needed.
  4. When the pork is done, take it out of the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred it. Depending on your piece of meat, you may need to remove larger fatty pieces. I like to keep some of the smaller fatty pieces as they make the sandwiches taste even better. Place the shredded pork on a plate, bowl, or in a storage container. Spoon some of the leftover cooking liquid onto the pork and toss. It's up to you how much/how little you use. If you're not going to top your sandwiches with BBQ sauce, I suggest adding more of the liquid.
  5. If desired, toast the insides of the buns. To do this, I add some butter into a skillet on medium-high heat and toast the inside of each bun half for a few minutes.
  6. Fill the buns with BBQ sauce, slaw, and the pulled pork. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • Recipe makes at least 6 sandwiches, depending on how much/how little you top them with. The pork shoulder I cooked was just over 2 pounds and I made four sandwiches with enough pork leftover for at least two more.
  • I cooked my ~2 pound piece of meat for 10 hours. I would suggest 8 hours on low as a minimum, especially if yours is larger. This recipe will also work with a larger piece of meat (up to 5 pounds). Mine was boneless, but bone-in works too.
  • This is the 7-quart slow cooker I use.

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  1. Doug Barton says

    5 stars
    Having made this a couple of weeks ago I can vouch for its deliciousness. I have never found the idea of Apple Slaw very appealing, yet stuck to the recipe and found it a perfect accompaniment and would definitely make it again. My only variation was to add some very chunky carrot sticks on a whim when halfway through the cooking, whilst up in the middle of the night in a semi-conscious state! These were then mashed and heated in a pan with a little butter and provided a very nice, unusual tasting, carrot mash. My oldest son, who is a bit of meat freak, is very keen for me to make this again. Thanks Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Doug! That's great that you decided to go with the apple slaw and liked it. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Joanne : No Plate Like Home says

    I need to make this. It sounds and looks wonderful. I like the apple slaw pairing. Perfect!
    I make a shredded fresh rosemary and garlic pork loin in the crock pot for 9 hrs with olive oil and sage and it is well liked by My guests. I've never used the pork shoulder but see it used often in pork sandwiches.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Thanks Joanne, let me know if you do make it! Your pork loin recipe sounds delicious. Dinner is cooking right now and you're making me hungry lol.

      Reply

  4. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says

    I do regularly use my slow cooker, especially for pork and I do love a good sandwich and this one looks delicious!! That slaw sounds like the perfect addition, too. Love the apples in there!

    Reply

  5. Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com says

    i am a pulled pork lover!! and this looks so good Natasha. That tangy slaw? And I'm with you in the slow cooker, i rarely use it. But this is just the time when it's worth it.

    Reply

  6. simonacallas says

    I am drooling at every single photo of yours, dear Natasha 🙂 As for this recipe, I am speechless. I love sandwiches and I can't wait to try it ❤❤

    Reply