Published: August 29, 2024
By: Susan Rosser
Sliders are universally loved, and this recipe will surely be a hit at any gathering. I’ve included a homemade barbecue sauce recipe, but you can easily use your favorite store-bought brand. This will make enough sliders to feed a crowd of 8 to 10 adults, and the sauce yield is generous enough that you’ll probably have some left over.
As an added bonus, the pork freezes beautifully for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Recipe and Photo by Susan Rosser
Pulled Pork Sliders
For the Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 cup neutral oil, such as
vegetable or avocado
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves, grated
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1/2 – 3/4 cup cider vinegar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons molasses
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
Preparation:
1. Heat the oil in a medium pan over low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 15 minutes until they are translucent,
being careful not to brown them.
2. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Stir in the tomato paste, cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, molasses, ketchup, smoked paprika, chili powder and red pepper flakes.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. You can add more salt, sugar, or vinegar to suit your taste.
5. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
Suit your tastebuds by adjusting the sauce ingredients to your liking. For a less sweet sauce, use less sugar. For more spice, add extra red pepper flakes. Adjust the vinegar for desired acidity. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
For the pulled pork
Ingredients:
1 pork butt (about 4 pounds)
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as
vegetable or avocado
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 12-ounce bottle of good quality beer
Barbecue sauce (see recipe above)
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 300°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, garlic powder, chipotle powder, brown sugar, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
3. If the pork is tied, untie it. Score any fat layer with a knife. Season the pork all over with the spice mixture. For best results, season the pork and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the pork and brown on all sides.
5. Add the beer and 1 1/2 cups of barbecue sauce, making sure the meat is just barely covered.
6. Cover and cook in the oven for about 4 hours until the meat is fork-tender.
7. Remove the meat from the pot and shred it using two forks. Mix in as much of the sauce as you like. For crispy bits, place the shredded pork on a rimmed baking sheet and broil for 1 or 2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
For the Sliders
Ingredients:
Slider Buns
Suggested Condiments:
Bread and Butter Pickles
Pickled Red Onions
Coleslaw
Preparation:
Pile the shredded pork onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with pickles, pickled red onions or coleslaw. Place the top half of the bun on each slider and enjoy.
