Pulled Pork Sliders On Hawaiian Rolls
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It took plenty of trial and error, but I’m finally bringing you the best pulled pork sliders recipe. They’re super tender, packed with flavor, and made with real life in mind. The ingredients are easy to find, the shortcuts are smart, and the tips are no-fail—so the only thing you have to worry about is how many you’ll sneak before serving.
Why You’ll Love This Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
- Tons of flavor packed into little sandwiches (saucy pork, sweet Hawaiian rolls, and a BUTTERY topping).
- Perfect for a party, potluck, or BBQ, and can be scaled up or down for crowds.
- Sliders make great use of leftovers, and you can decide how from scratch or simplified you want it!
- Totally customizable and messy in all the best ways (pile on the toppings!)
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe Ingredients
The lists below include making my slow cooker pulled pork from scratch, but feel free to skip that part if you don’t want to make it or already have pulled pork to use!
Ingredients for the Pulled Pork (Crockpot Recipe)
- Pork roast – Boston butt or shoulder
- Large onion – cut into slices
- Fresh garlic cloves – smashed
- Salt and black pepper
- Spices– Chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin
- BBQ sauce – You’ll use this at the beginning of cooking the pork and at the end. Choose your favorite BBQ sauce. If you want homemade, make my Blueberry BBQ Sauce, or my favorite store bought brand is Sweet Baby Rays Honey Barbecue.
- Apple cider vinegar – the pork is super fatty and the BBQ sauce is sweet, the vinegar cuts through that richness and adds extra flavor.
Ingredients for the Slider Sandwiches
- Soft Hawaiian rolls – King’s Hawaiian is the classic choice and perfect for sliders.
- Salted butter – melted
- Everything bagel seasoning– this is super flavorful and has yummy little seeds that make the top of the buns extra special.
Tip: I use salted butter and an everything seasoning mix with salt in it. I personally do not find it too salty, but if you’re concerned about sodium, use unsalted butter.
How to Make Pulled Pork Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
This recipe includes instructions on how to make barbecue pulled pork in a slow cooker and how to make the actual sliders. Skip the pork part if you already have leftovers in the fridge, or want to grab premade pulled pork at the store. Full recipe instructions can be found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Cook the Pork
Step 1
Spray the cooking surface of your Crockpot with nonstick spray.
Add the sliced onions and smashed garlic in an even layer.
Place the pork roast on top of the onions and garlic and sprinkle with the spices.
Pour 1 cup of BBQ Sauce and apple cider vinegar over the pork.
Cook pork on low 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the temperature reaches 205ºF on an instant read thermometer.
Step 2
When the roast is done, transfer it to a cutting board and cover with foil to rest.
Step 3
When the pork is cool enough to handle, shred it and return it to the slow cooker. Add the remaining BBQ sauce and mix into the shredded pork.
Make the Sliders
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F, and grab a quarter sheet pan or a 13×9″ baking dish.
Step 2
Melt the butter and brush half the melted butter mixture on the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 3
Cut the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, so you have a top half and a bottom half.
Place the bottom half of the rolls in the buttered dish. Cut side facing up.
Distribute the pulled pork over the rolls.
Top with the top buns, and brush with the remaining butter. Sprinkle on the everything bagel seasoning
Tip: You can pull apart or slice the rolls at this point to make easy separating later.
Step 4
Bake for 10-15 minutes until the pork is warmed and the buns are browned. Pull apart and lift the top bun to add creamy coleslaw, pickles, and BBQ sauce or serve as is.
Best Toppings for BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
- Top the pork or the bottom slider bun with a slice of cheddar cheese (or provolone, Swiss, or Pepper Jack) before baking
- I love pulled pork topped with coleslaw, so try my favorite easy coleslaw recipe to top the sliders.
- Add extra barbecue sauce (like my Blueberry BBQ sauce) or a schmear of Maple Cranberry Mustard Sauce
- Pickles or pickled vegetables
- Add some Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Jam, diced pineapple pieces, or a piece of grilled pineapple ring to make it extra Hawaiian.
Tips & Tricks
- Use pork butt roast or pork shoulder roast. They’re both super flavorful cuts and give you tender, fall apart delicious pulled pork.
- If you’re using leftover pulled pork, warm it slightly so that it’s not ice cold before baking. That will keep the baking time short and keep the buns from burning.
- Pulled pork can be saucy, so use a slotted spoon to drain off some juice before piling it on the Hawaiian rolls. Too much sauce makes the buns soggy and hard to hold.
- I break the slider rolls apart before baking to make them easier to grab at serving time. But you can use a strong spatula to serve and separate the sliders if needed!
What to Serve with Pulled Pork Sliders
- The Best Coleslaw
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Homemade Baked Beans
- Air Fried French Fries or Kettle Cooked Potato Chips
How to Store Leftover Sliders
Store leftover sandwiches in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Extra leftover pork can also be refrigerated separately or frozen for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat
To reheat leftover sliders, microwave until heated through. Reheat in the oven by placing sliders in a baking dish covered with aluminum foil. Bake at 375°F for 15- 25 minutes until heated through.
FAQs
This recipe makes 12 sliders, so you need 3 cups of cooked pulled pork. This is roughly ¼ cup per slider and a little over 1.5 ounces of meat. I also plan on two sliders per person.
Yes! If you’re making the pulled pork yourself for these sliders, you’ll definitely have some leftover pork. Keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months. Thaw before reheating and refresh with a little extra BBQ sauce.
Absolutely! If you’re making the pulled pork yourself, a 4lb boston butt pork roast will give you enough meat for 24 sliders. If you’re buying premade pulled pork, make sure you have 6 cups worth.
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BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
Ingredients
Pulled Pork Ingredients
- 4 lbs Boston Butt or Pork Shoulder roast
- 1/2 large yellow onion cut into slices
- 3 cloves of garlic smashed
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce divided
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
For The Sliders
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
- 3 cups (20 oz) prepared pulled pork
- Assorted Toppings like coleslaw, pickles, extra BBQ sauce, and sliced cheddar cheese.
Butter Topping For The Sliders
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
To Make the BBQ Pulled Pork
- Spray the crock of a slow cooker with cooking spray and distribute the onions in an even layer. Add the smashed garlic as well.
- Place the pork roast on top of the onions and garlic and sprinkle with the spices, salt and pepper.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce. Cook the pork on "LOW" for 6-8 hours or "HIGH" for 4-5 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 205℉ on an instant read meat thermometer.
- When the cooking is done, transfer the pork to a cutting board and cover it with foil to rest for 25 minutes. While the meat is resting, use a spoon to skim off any fat that has risen to the top of the cooking liquid in the slow cooker.
- Once the pork has rested and is cool enough to handle, shred it with two forks. Return the shredded pork to the Crockpot and add the remaining 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce and mix it into pork.
Make The Sliders
- Preheat the oven to 350℉, and grab a quarter sheet pan or 13×9" baking dish.
- In the microwave or a small skillet, melt the butter. Once melted, brush half the butter on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Next, cut the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, creating a top half and a bottom half.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls on the buttered dish. Cut side facing up.
- Distribute the pulled pork over the bottom of the rolls, I like to make piles on each roll for easy separation.
- Place the top half of the rolls over the pork, then brush with the remaining melted butter and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning. Tip: Pull the rolls apart now for easier serving later.
- Bake the sliders at 350℉ for 15-20 minutes until pork is heated through and buns are toasted. Watch closely, the buns can burn quickly.
- If desired, remove the top bun and spoon on coleslaw, pickles, or extra BBQ sauce. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a slotted spoon to spoon the pork on the Hawaiian rolls. Too much sauce can make the buns soggy.
- To add cheese, add a slice to the bottom bun before adding the pork and baking.
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If the pork is cold, warm it up first or bake the sliders without the top bun for 10 minutes. Then add the top bun and finish baking for 5-10 more minutes. The buns brown really quickly, so avoid overbaking!
