Savory Bourbon BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
Tender, juicy pulled pork slow-cooked with a rich bourbon BBQ sauce, served on soft slider buns. Perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal hands-on time and maximum flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours (slow cooker low) or 4-6 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes to 10 hours 10 minutes (slow cooker low) or 4 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 24 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), bone-in or boneless
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey (e.g., Maker’s Mark or Buffalo Trace)
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce (smoky, slightly sweet)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt to taste (start with 1 teaspoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- About 24 slider buns (soft and slightly sweet, Hawaiian rolls recommended)
- Optional toppings: coleslaw, pickles, sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some for flavor and moisture. Pat dry with paper towels. Slice the onion and mince the garlic. (Prep time: 10 minutes)
- Rub the pork shoulder generously with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Place sliced onions and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker. Set the pork shoulder on top. Pour bourbon whiskey evenly over the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours until pork is fork-tender and shreds easily. Avoid peeking often.
- While pork cooks, combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a saucepan. Simmer on medium-low for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until thick and glossy.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Discard large pieces of fat. Return shredded pork to slow cooker liquid to keep moist.
- Pour bourbon BBQ sauce over shredded pork and stir well to coat. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Slice slider buns if not pre-sliced. Toast buns lightly on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes.
- Assemble sliders by piling bourbon BBQ pulled pork onto buns. Add optional toppings like coleslaw or pickles.
- Serve warm. Sliders hold well if kept warm in a covered dish.
Notes
Patience is key: cook pork low and slow for tender, juicy meat. Simmer BBQ sauce to thicken and concentrate flavors. Toast buns to prevent sogginess. Shred pork when hot but rested about 10 minutes. Adjust bourbon amount to taste. For gluten-free, use almond flour buns and gluten-free BBQ sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 0.2503
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: pulled pork, bourbon BBQ, sliders, slow cooker, party food, crowd-pleaser, BBQ sauce, easy recipe