• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bless this Mess
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Sides
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbooks!
  • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbooks!
    • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Bless This Mess > Recipes

    The Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich

    Published: Dec 1, 2016 · Modified: Feb 26, 2020 by Melissa · 2 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches + Homemade BBQ Sauce

    These Pulled Pork Sandwiches are so delicious! Made with slow cooker cooked pork that's topped with an easy homemade barbecue sauce. These sandwiches are perfect for parties, potlucks and picnics.

    There are few things more tasty than a perfect pulled pork sandwich. We make these all of the time because they are just so good. If you ask me, this is the ultimate party food because everyone loves it, you can make 90% of the elements for the sandwich ahead of time, and it's an easy dish to feed a crowd. I know that turkey and ham might be all the rage this time of year, but I'm on Team SIMPLE when it comes to party food. This would be awesome to serve to friends and family before a holiday party, after caroling, or in the middle of your Hallmark Movie Marathon. It's warm, comforting, and always a hit.

    If you are having a party, you can plan on making these and then you can assign everyone else sides. With a little potato salad, some kind of sparkly drink, and some baked beans on the side, you are going to have a meal fit for a king (and a crowd!).

    I'm a big fan of making the meat kind of plain (delicious, but plain) so that people can add the condiments that they like. I also love homemade refrigerator pickles on this sandwich; they just have a different taste then normal store-bought pickles. The acidic vinegar and a little bit of crunch goes perfectly with a sweet homemade barbecue sauce. You are going to love these sandwiches!

    Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwiches are perfect for anyone who is on Team Simple for their party food.

     

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    The Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich


    • Author: Melissa Griffiths
    • Total Time: 9 hours
    • Yield: 12 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    These Pulled Pork Sandwiches are so delicious! Made with slow cooker cooked pork that's topped with an easy homemade barbecue sauce. SO GOOD!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the slow cooker pulled pork

    • 4-5 pounds of bone-in meat (see post for more details on cuts) or 3-4 pounds boneless
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon paprika

    For the barbecue sauce

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ of a small onion, finely chopped (about ⅓ cup)
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup honey
    • 4 tablespoons white vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
    • 1 teaspoon chili paste (optional if your BBQ sauce a little spicy)
    • One recipe refrigerator pickles
    • Whole wheat buns
    • Thinly sliced red onion
    • Pepperjack or Swiss cheese slices, optional

    Instructions

    For the Pulled Pork

    1. In a small bowl, combine all of the spices. Rub the spices all over the meat. Add the meat to the slow cooker. Slow cook on LOW until the meat is very tender and falling apart, 8-12 hours.
    2. Before you are ready to serve, remove the meat from the slow cooker and set it in a bowl or a rimmed baking sheet (it's juicy, so using just a plate sometimes makes a mess). Then pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a clear container (like a big mason jar or a large glass measuring cup).
    3. Shred the meat using two forks. Remove anything you don't want to eat (bones, fat, gristle), and return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.
    4. Use a spoon to remove most of the fat from the liquid you have in the glass container (the fat will be floating on the top by the time you have shredded the meat). Add enough liquid back to the slow cooker so that the meat looks moist and there's a little on the bottom of the slow cooker (this might be all of the liquid and it might just be part - you aren't going to ruin it, just play it by ear). Taste the meat and add enough salt so that it tastes a little salty. You don't want it to be too salty, but you want to taste the salt, if that makes sense. Salt is going to heighten the flavor in the meat that already exists, so don't under salt. Stir well and add a little more liquid if needed. Serve hot.
    5. I like to keep the reserved liquid if I have any left to use when reheating the meat later.
    6. Extra meat can be used in all kinds of recipe or stored in the freezer for later use.

    For the Barbecue Sauce

    1. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Take care not to burn the onions and garlic and stir often. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
    2. The onion and garlic will still be about the size you cut them into. If you don't mind a chunky BBQ sauce, then you are ready to use your homemade sauce. If you like it smoother (which I prefer), let the BBQ sauce cool for 10-15 minutes, carefully place it in a blender jar and process until smooth.
    3. The barbecue sauce can be used right away or refrigerated until you need it. This will last about 2 weeks in the fridge.

    To make the Sandwiches

    1. Toast or grill your buns if you like. Add barbecue sauce to the inside of both buns. Add warm pulled pork and top with sliced red onion, optional cheese, and pickles. Serve right away.

    Notes

    You can make all of this ahead of time! Just prepare and shred the meat and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, just heat in on the stove or in your slow cooker until it is heated through.

    • Prep Time: 1 hour
    • Cook Time: 8 hours
    • Category: Lunch, Dinner
    • Method: Slow Cooker
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork sandwich recipe, slow cooker pulled pork, pulled pork sandwiches slow cooker, how to make pulled pork sandwiches

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

     

     

    Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich

    Long live make ahead party food! If I'm heading to or hosting a party this time of year, I also make a lot of soups, chicken legs, meatballs, and cheeseballs. All are great additions to any party!

    The Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich
    « 2016 Holiday Gift Guide: Food, Farm, Family
    Healthy Meal Plan and Printable Shopping List, Week 6 »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Craving More

    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

    Subscribe Now
    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Rachel

      December 01, 2016 at 10:09 am

      This is a stupid question but would park loin work for this? Or what specific type of meat works best? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        December 01, 2016 at 1:03 pm

        I tend to buy shoulder roasts, butts, and picnic roast but I have a lot of luck with just about all of it (long live the slow cooker!). We butcher our own pigs so I use all kinds of cuts for this because I have a variety in the freezer. Bone-in, boneless... it all cooks up well!

    Primary Sidebar

    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Mexican Hot Chocolate
    • Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
    • Rugelach
    • The Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
    Dinner Made Easy

    Get Recipes & More for Free!

    Get my FREE Dinner Made Easy meal plan, exclusive recipes, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates! Get my newsletter or a new recipe every day! Unsubscribe if you aren’t into it.

    Subscribe Now

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Tools.
    • Terms Of Service.
    • Accessibility.
    • Bylaws.

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Cookbook FAQ
    • Find A Recipe!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 blessthismessplease.com. All rights reserved.

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter