Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich

Our slow cooker pulled pork sandwich is tender and juicy. It combines both sweet and savory flavors using a homemade dry rub and BBQ sauce.

This recipe has been on our blog for quite some time. Kim and I felt it needed to get reboot, so to speak.

So, we decided to remake it, both new pictures and updated post data. As you will soon see, it has a lot of steps, but is easier than it appears at first glance.

The slow cooker pulled pork sandwich recipe comes from a time when Kim and I were experimenting with more ambitious recipes. Mainly, because we wanted to find out what people truly wanted from us.

It turns out, it wasn’t recipes like this one. After a few different meal offerings, we discovered, most people want easy and delicious.

With that being said, there are still some cooks out there with a little more time to devote to cooking.

This pulled pork sandwich rewrite is dedicated to you. Furthermore, Kim and I hope you enjoy the updated version.

Now, enough with the chit chat already, let’s make some slow cooker BBQ! If you’d prefer shredded beef, then checkout our slow cooker BBQ beef recipe.

Pulled Pork Sandwich Instructions:

Start by prepping all your ingredients. Since the ingredient list is pretty long on this one, it’s not a bad idea to go ahead and get everything out of the cabinets and fridge before you get rolling.

Once that’s done, in a clean sink, cut open the pork and drain the solution. I usually wash the raw pork at this point and pat it dry with some paper towels.

In regards to the netting, you can cut it off or leave it on. We typically leave it on because it makes the cut of meat easier to season while it’s wrapped in twine.

Make the Dry Rub:

First, in a medium sized bowl, mix the brown sugar, salt, seasoned salt, chipotle, dry mustard, cinnamon, garlic powder, ground ginger, chili powder, cayenne, cumin, onion powder, and paprika.

Next, gently massage the sugar and spice mixture over the pork, pressing into the meat with your fingers. For some reason, I enjoy this step the most.

Not sure what that says about me…

Last, after the rub is applied, place meat in a large pan or dish and cover with foil. Put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to overnight.

Applying a dry rub will infuse flavor into the pork before it’s cooked. It’s important to let the meat rest for at least 30 minutes after applying the spices.

While the pulled pork sandwich meat rests, you can work on the homemade BBQ sauce.

Make the Barbecue Sauce:

Begin by using a medium saucepan and then heat the tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, salt, molasses, water, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke over medium heat.

Afterwards, allow the mixture to simmer and cook down to your desired thickness. With that being said, I caution against cooking down too much because it’s supposed to be a flavored cooking liquid for your meat.

Also, keep in mind, it cooks down even more during the slow cooker stage of the recipe. Now that you have everything prepped, let’s cook that pork.

Cook the Pork:

Go ahead and remove the pork from the refrigerator and place it in the slow cooker. Some recipes will call for you to let it come to room temperature first, but I don’t usually do that for this pulled pork sandwich.

Based on the amount of time it will be slow cooking, I can’t imagine dropping it in cold would have any effect, but I could be wrong.

After that, add the barbecue sauce and turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 6 to 8 hours or cook on high for 4 to 5 hours. Just like a smoker, low and slow for tender, juicy meat.

Lastly, you’ll know the meat is done when it shreds easily and begins to fall apart using tongs or a fork. Once it is cooked, shred it inside the cooker and discard the kitchen twine.

Pulled Pork Sandwich Tips:

• For a quicker version of this dish, use store bought versions of your favorite rub and sauce. Just remember to ad at least 1 1/2-cups of water, to the slow cooker and give it a quick stir. Also, you can checkout our Instant Pot recipe here.
• When storing the pulled pork, make sure to cover it in the BBQ sauce and drippings from the slow cooker. It will keep the pork moist and juicy while in the fridge.
• In order to reduce some of the carbs, you could serve this by itself or in a lettuce wrap.