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Pulled Pork Sandwiches are the ultimate easy crowd feeder, piling tender slow cooker pork and tangy BBQ sauce onto soft buns with a crunchy slaw on top. I keep a batch of slow cooker pulled pork in the freezer so these come together in about 15 minutes on busy nights, and the girls cheer every single time I pull them out. They are messy, saucy, and exactly the kind of dinner everyone fights over the last one of.
With juicy BBQ pork, creamy coleslaw, and a pillowy bun, these pulled pork sandwiches taste like a backyard cookout any day of the week.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 277kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Smoky, tangy, and saucy (BBQ pork, creamy slaw, soft buns)
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, a 15 minute assembly like topping our slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches
Quick Answer
Start with cooked pulled pork, then warm it in a skillet with BBQ sauce and a splash of stock until hot and saucy. Pile the pork high on soft buns or Texas toast, add a scoop of creamy coleslaw, and drizzle with more BBQ sauce. Add the top bun and serve right away while everything is warm and juicy.
Jump to:
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy BBQ Recipes
- Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- It starts with pork you already made. Using a batch of cooked slow cooker pulled pork means dinner is mostly assembly, ready in about 15 minutes.
- A splash of stock keeps it juicy. Warming the pork with a little stock loosens it back up so it never tastes dry or stringy.
- BBQ sauce ties it all together. Stirring sauce right into the pork as it heats coats every bite, and a final drizzle adds even more tang.
- Coleslaw adds crunch and cool. A scoop of creamy slaw balances the warm, saucy pork with crisp texture and a refreshing bite.
- A sturdy bun holds up. Soft but sturdy buns or thick Texas toast soak up the sauce without falling apart in your hands.
- It scales for a crowd. Double or triple the pork and let everyone build their own, which makes it perfect for game day and potlucks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 15 minutes. With pork made ahead, this is one of the fastest crowd pleasing dinners around.
- The best way to use leftovers. Turn a batch of slow cooker pulled pork into a whole new meal.
- A guaranteed crowd pleaser. Saucy, messy, and built to share at any cookout or game day.
Key Ingredients
Pulled pork sandwiches come together from just a few simple components, and you can dress them up however you like.
- Pulled Pork: Tender, cooked pulled pork is the star. A batch of homemade slow cooker pulled pork is perfect, but store bought works in a pinch.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite, sweet, smoky, or tangy. A homemade BBQ sauce takes these over the top.
- Stock: A splash of chicken or pork stock loosens the pork as it reheats so it stays moist and saucy.
- Coleslaw: A scoop of creamy store bought or homemade slaw adds the cool crunch that makes these sandwiches sing.
- Buns or Texas Toast: Soft hamburger buns or thick slices of Texas toast hold up to all that saucy pork.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These pulled pork sandwiches are easy to customize. Here are a few favorite ways.
- Switch up the BBQ sauce, from sweet and smoky to a spicy or mustard based Carolina style.
- Spice up the slaw with a little hot sauce or swap in a vinegar based slaw for extra tang.
- Add sliced dill pickles or pickled red onions for a briny pop.
- Melt a slice of cheddar or pepper jack over the warm pork.
- Make them into sliders on Hawaiian rolls for parties and game day.
- Swap the pork for shredded chicken or our BBQ beef for a fun change.
How to Make Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Add the cooked pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and stock to a large skillet and stir to combine.
- Place the skillet over medium heat and stir constantly until the pork is heated through and saucy, about 15 minutes.
- Pile the warm pulled pork high onto your buns or Texas toast.
- Add a scoop of creamy coleslaw on top, if using.
- Drizzle with more BBQ sauce, add the top bun or another slice of bread, and dig in.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use pork you made ahead. A batch of slow cooker pulled pork in the fridge or freezer makes these come together fast.
- Add stock a little at a time until the pork is juicy but not soupy.
- Warm the buns for a minute in the oven so they are soft and sturdy.
- Toast the cut sides of the buns with a little butter to keep them from getting soggy.
- Pile the pork high and let the sauce soak in for the best messy, craveable bite.
- Make a slaw bar with extra toppings so everyone can build their own.
- Keep the pork warm in a slow cooker on low if you are feeding a crowd.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Pulled pork sandwiches are a cookout classic, so serve them with all the picnic sides. Baked beans, potato salad, corn on the cob, and chips are all natural partners, and a big batch of homemade BBQ sauce on the side never hurts.
For a heartier spread, set them next to our slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches or Italian beef sandwiches and let everyone mix and match. A drizzle of copycat Chick-fil-A honey roasted BBQ sauce is amazing on top too.
Hosting game day? Make these into sliders, add a platter of BBQ crockpot chicken wings, and you have a spread the whole crowd will devour. Do not forget plenty of napkins, because these sandwiches are gloriously messy.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches FAQs
Pork shoulder, also called pork butt, is the best cut for pulled pork sandwiches. It is well marbled and gets fall apart tender when slow cooked. A batch of homemade slow cooker pulled pork is ideal for these sandwiches.
Soft but sturdy buns work best for pulled pork sandwiches. Brioche buns, potato rolls, or thick slices of Texas toast all hold up to the saucy pork without falling apart. Toasting them helps prevent sogginess.
Yes. The pulled pork can be made up to 4 days ahead and stored in the fridge, or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat it with a splash of stock and BBQ sauce, then assemble the sandwiches just before serving so the buns stay fresh.
Coleslaw is optional but classic. The creamy crunch balances the warm, saucy pork beautifully. If you are not a slaw fan, pickles, pickled onions, or just extra BBQ sauce are great alternatives on pulled pork sandwiches.
Toast the cut sides of the buns and avoid making the pork too saucy. Add stock and BBQ sauce a little at a time so the pork is juicy but not wet, and assemble the sandwiches right before serving.
Store the pork separately from the buns in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the pork on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of stock, then build fresh sandwiches on toasted buns.
Looking for what to make next? Whip up a batch of our perfect slow cooker pulled pork so you always have the base for these sandwiches ready to go.
In a sandwich mood? Our slow cooker Nashville hot chicken sandwich is tender, saucy, and seriously craveable.
Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 pound slow cooker pulled pork
- ½ cup bbq sauce plus more serving
- ¼ cup chicken or pork stock
- Texas Toast or Hamburger Buns for serving
- Premade coleslaw for serving optional
Instructions
- n a large skillet, add the pork, bbq sauce, and the stock, stir to combine.1 pound slow cooker pulled pork
- Place it over medium heat, stirring constantly until heated through, about 15 minutes.1 pound slow cooker pulled pork
- Pile your bread or bun with the heated pulled pork.1 pound slow cooker pulled pork
- Add coleslaw on top, optional.1 pound slow cooker pulled pork
- Drizzle with more bbq sauce if desired, add another slice of bread and dig in!1 pound slow cooker pulled pork
Notes
- Nutritional value is only for the pulled pork.
- We like to top our sandwiches with coleslaw, this is completely optional!
- Use your favorite bbq sauce or make your own homemade sauce.
- These can be served on buns or Texas toast.
- Serve with your favorite side dishes, see some of my favorites above.
Nutrition
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Thanks for coming!
Yum! I love pulled pork sandwiches and yours look delish! Thanks for joining us this week at Transformed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs