Harvest Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of a delicious meal cooking slowly all day, especially when it culminates in tender, flavorful pulled pork. Perfect for gatherings, game days, or simply an easy weeknight dinner, slow cooker pulled pork is a culinary triumph that consistently delivers on taste and convenience. When transformed into sliders, especially with the unique blend of Fall Spices and bright, tangy quick-pickled red onions nestled in soft Hawaiian sweet buns, it becomes an irresistible dish that will have everyone coming back for more. This recipe elevates the classic pulled pork sandwich into a gourmet experience, making it our absolute go-to for tailgating events and festive occasions throughout the autumn season.

Choosing the Perfect Pork Cut for Tender Pulled Pork

The foundation of exceptional pulled pork lies in selecting the right cut of meat. While various roast cuts can be used, the hands-down champion for slow-cooked pulled pork is the pork shoulder, often referred to as pork butt or Boston butt. This cut comes from the shoulder of the pig and is rich in connective tissue and marbling, which, when subjected to low and slow cooking, breaks down into gelatin, resulting in incredibly moist, tender, and easily shreddable meat.

You can opt for either a boneless or bone-in pork shoulder. Many home cooks prefer a boneless pork shoulder for ultimate convenience, as it simplifies the process of shredding the meat directly from the slow cooker without the hassle of navigating around a bone. However, a bone-in cut can sometimes impart additional flavor and moisture to the finished product. Regardless of your choice, look for a cut with good marbling – small flecks of fat distributed throughout the muscle – as this contributes significantly to the succulence and richness of your pulled pork. When purchasing, aim for a cut that weighs between 4 to 6 pounds to yield a generous batch of sliders for your guests.

Embracing the Flavors of Autumn: Fall Spices and Seasoning Blends

This recipe distinguishes itself with a unique “fall spiced” seasoning blend, moving beyond traditional barbecue flavors to offer a warm, aromatic, and deeply satisfying profile. The beauty of slow cooking is that it allows the flavors to meld and deepen over hours, resulting in a complex and harmonious taste. This particular method, combined with the resilient pork shoulder, allows you to be more adventurous and aggressive with your seasoning, building layers of flavor that permeate the meat.

While the recipe ensures a robust pork flavor, the additional seasonings prevent it from being one-dimensional. The blend is carefully balanced – neither overly spicy nor excessively sweet – providing a versatile base that you and your guests can customize to individual preference. The stars of our fall spice blend are allspice and cinnamon. These aren’t just for desserts; in savory applications, they lend a wonderful warming quality and an inviting aroma that evokes cozy autumn evenings and the excitement of football season. Complementing these are ancho chile powder and smoked paprika, which provide a mild, smoky depth without overwhelming heat. Garlic powder adds a foundational savory note, while a touch of brown sugar balances the acidity and spices, contributing to a rich, caramelized crust on the pork if seared. Remember to stick to the recommended salt amounts initially, as you can always adjust to taste at the very end.

Beyond the dry rub, incorporating liquids like a dark beer (such as a Bock or Brown Ale) and beef, vegetable, or chicken stock adds moisture and further complexity. The beer introduces malty undertones, while the stock ensures the pork remains submerged and cooks evenly. Stone ground mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine vinegar contribute tang and umami, rounding out the flavor profile and helping to tenderize the meat.

The Tangy Counterpoint: Quick Pickled Red Onions

One of the essential elements that elevate these pulled pork sliders is the inclusion of quick-pickled red onions. Pickled foods have a natural affinity for rich, savory meats like pulled pork, offering a bright, acidic contrast that cuts through the richness and cleanses the palate. The process of quick pickling transforms raw red onions, removing their harsh, pungent “bite” and mellowing them into a sweet, tangy, and subtly crisp topping.

The simplicity of quick pickling is astounding. Thinly sliced red onions are steeped in a brine of ice water, white wine vinegar, a touch of sugar, and kosher salt. The vinegar works its magic by breaking down the cell walls of the onion, softening its texture and infusing it with a delightful tang. The sugar balances the acidity, while the cold water keeps the onions crisp. This is a light pickle, designed not to dominate the complex flavors of the pork but rather to provide a refreshing counterpoint. We highly recommend adding these quick-pickled onions, along with traditional dill pickles, to your sliders. For sauce, while a classic barbecue sauce is always a good choice, we find that a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce beautifully highlights the fall spices and other nuanced flavors within the pork itself.

The Foundation of Flavor: Choosing the Right Buns

A pulled pork sandwich, particularly a slider, is incomplete without the perfect bun. While often overlooked, the choice of bun plays a crucial role in the overall flavor and textural experience of the slider. For this particular recipe, we emphatically recommend Sweet Hawaiian slider buns. Their distinctive sweetness is not just a pleasant addition; it acts as a perfect complement to the tangy pickled onions and the savory-sweet profile of the fall-spiced pork.

Hawaiian rolls are renowned for their soft, pillowy texture and slight sweetness, which creates a harmonious balance with the rich, robust flavors of the pulled pork. They hold up well to the juicy meat without becoming soggy, yet they are tender enough to melt in your mouth. Other bun options, such as brioche or potato rolls, can also work, but the unique sweetness of Hawaiian rolls truly makes these sliders sing. For an extra touch of indulgence, you can lightly butter and toast the buns before assembly, adding a subtle crunch and enhancing their inherent deliciousness.

Effortless Perfection: Mastering Your Slow Cooker

The slow cooker is an indispensable kitchen appliance for achieving perfectly tender pulled pork with minimal effort. This recipe embraces the “set it and forget it” philosophy, making it ideal for busy schedules or when you want to enjoy delicious food without being tied to the kitchen. For ultimate convenience, we love to prepare the pork the night before and let it cook on the low setting overnight. This method allows the pork shoulder to slowly braise in its flavorful liquid, breaking down all the tough connective tissues and transforming into incredibly tender, juicy meat while you sleep. Imagine waking up to the comforting aroma of fall-spiced pulled pork, ready to be shredded and enjoyed for game day, a weekend brunch, or a simple, satisfying weeknight dinner.

While overnight cooking on low for 8-10 hours is our preferred method, you can also cook the pork on high for 4-6 hours if time is a factor. Keep in mind that cooking times can vary depending on your slow cooker model and the size of your pork shoulder, so it’s always wise to check for doneness around the 4-hour mark. The pork is ready when it is fork-tender, meaning you can easily pull it apart with two forks without resistance. If it’s still firm, continue cooking until it reaches that desired shreddable consistency.

Once the pork is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker to a large cutting board. Using two forks, shred the meat against the grain into succulent strands. Return the pulled pork to the flavorful juices in the slow cooker, setting it to the “warm” setting. This keeps the pork moist and hot, allowing your guests to easily assemble their sliders throughout the duration of your gathering. The slow cooker truly makes serving a crowd-pleasing meal an absolute breeze.

Creative Ways to Serve and Enjoy Leftovers

While these Fall Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders are a complete meal in themselves, don’t be afraid to get creative with your toppings and side dishes. Beyond the essential quick-pickled red onions and honey mustard, consider offering a variety of condiments like your favorite BBQ sauce, a drizzle of hot sauce for those who like a kick, or even a creamy coleslaw for added crunch and freshness. The versatility of pulled pork is one of its greatest assets, and you’ll find that any leftovers are a treasure trove for future meals.

If you find yourself with extra pulled pork – a rare but wonderful occurrence – the possibilities are endless! We particularly love using the leftovers for loaded nachos, layering the pork over tortilla chips with melted cheese, jalapeños, and a dollop of sour cream. Other fantastic ideas include filling tacos, quesadillas, or burritos, topping baked potatoes, or even incorporating it into a hearty mac and cheese. These spiced pork leftovers freeze beautifully, allowing you to enjoy a taste of autumn comfort whenever a craving strikes.

Savor Every Bite!

We genuinely hope you find immense enjoyment in creating and savoring this recipe for Fall Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders. It’s a dish crafted with passion, designed to bring people together over incredibly delicious food. If you decide to give this recipe a try, we’d be thrilled to hear about your experience! Please consider clicking the heart button, leaving us a comment, and sharing a 5-star rating below. Your feedback means the world to us! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @cooking_with_wine so we can see your fantastic creations!

Planning for more game day festivities or simply looking for delicious appetizer inspiration? Explore some of our other crowd-pleasing recipes:

• Cranberry Serrano Glazed Meatballs
• Sweet and Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
• Smoked Texas Beef Brisket
• Marinated Skirt Steak Street Tacos
• Baked Whiskey Glazed Hot Wings

📖 Recipe: Fall Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders

Fall Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders

Perfect for game day, these easy Fall Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders with pickled onions on Hawaiian Sweet Buns are made in a slow cooker crock pot!

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 10 hrs (low) or 4-6 hrs (high)

Total Time 10 hrs 20 mins (low) or 4 hrs 20 mins (high)

Course Appetizers

Cuisine American, Southern

Servings 16 servings

Calories 277 kcal

Ingredients

For the Pork

• 6 lb pork shoulder
• 2 tablespoon kosher salt – Divided
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup dark beer, such as a Bock or Brown Ale
• ½ cup beef, vegetable, or chicken stock
• 2 tablespoon stone ground mustard
• 2 tablespoon ancho chile powder
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 small onion, diced small

Quick Pickled Red Onion

• 1 medium red onion
• 1 ¾ cups ice water
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar

For Assembly

• Sweet Hawaiian slider buns
• Pickles
• Honey Mustard or other sauce of choice

Instructions

Prepare the Pork

1. Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder. Rub the pork generously with half of the kosher salt and the black pepper, ensuring it is evenly coated. In the slow cooker crock pot, add the vegetable oil, then carefully place the seasoned pork shoulder inside.
2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the remaining kosher salt, dark beer, beef/vegetable/chicken stock, stone ground mustard, ancho chile powder, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, allspice, cinnamon, and the diced small onion. Pour this flavorful mixture evenly over the pork in the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 10 hours, or on HIGH for 4-6 hours, until the pork is incredibly tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
3. Once cooked, carefully remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a large cutting board. Add the remaining salt to the juices in the slow cooker and stir well to combine. Using two forks, shred the pork against the grain until it’s completely pulled apart. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, stirring it into the flavorful juices. Set the slow cooker to the “warm” setting while you prepare the buns and other toppings.

Prepare the Onions

1. At least 30 minutes before you plan to serve the pork, thinly slice the red onion. In a large bowl, whisk together the ice water, white wine vinegar, kosher salt, and sugar until the salt and sugar have completely dissolved. Add the thinly sliced red onions to this mixture and allow them to sit for at least 30 minutes, or up to three hours. If preparing in advance, add ice to the bowl as needed to keep the liquid very cold, ensuring the onions remain crisp.

Serve

1. To assemble your sliders, place a generous portion of the fall-spiced pulled pork onto each Sweet Hawaiian slider bun. Top with the quick-pickled red onion slices, traditional pickles, and a drizzle of honey mustard or your preferred sauce. You can serve the buns as is for maximum softness, or for an added layer of flavor and texture, lightly butter and toast them before filling. Enjoy your delicious, crowd-pleasing Fall Spiced Pulled Pork Sliders!