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Easy Tender Labor Day Pulled Pork Sliders with Apple Slaw

Labor Day Pulled Pork Sliders - featured image
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A slow-cooked pulled pork recipe featuring tender, fall-apart meat infused with apple cider and served on sweet Hawaiian rolls with a crisp, tangy apple slaw.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 pounds Pork Shoulder (Boston Butt)
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 large Yellow Onion, diced
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Apple Cider
  • 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
  • 2 medium Green Apples, thinly sliced or shredded
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 stalk Celery, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
  • 1 pack (24 rolls) King’s Hawaiian Rolls
  • 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
  • White Sesame Seeds, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder to about 1/4 inch and pat dry. Season generously with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin.
  2. Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork on all sides for 2-3 minutes per side (optional). Remove pork.
  3. In the same pan, sauté diced onion until softened (5 mins), then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Scrape up browned bits.
  4. Place pork in a slow cooker. Pour sautéed onions/garlic over the top. Add apple cider, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Liquid should come halfway up the pork.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 5-6 hours until fork-tender.
  6. Remove pork and shred using two forks, discarding fat/bone. Reserve cooking liquid to moisten pork if needed.
  7. While pork cooks, whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
  8. Add sliced green apples, red onion, celery, and parsley to the dressing. Toss to coat evenly.
  9. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice rolls in half horizontally. Brush cut sides with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  10. Place buns on a baking sheet. Pile shredded pork onto bottom halves, top with apple slaw, and close sliders.
  11. Warm sliders in oven for 5-7 minutes until buns are crisp. Serve immediately.

Notes

For deeper smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of liquid smoke. The recipe can be made in an Instant Pot on HIGH pressure for 60 minutes with a 15-minute natural release. Store pork and slaw separately; pork keeps for 4 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen. Slaw is best fresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, sliders, labor day recipe, slow cooker, apple slaw, easy dinner, crowd pleaser, comfort food

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