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Juicy Carolina Gold Pulled Pork Sliders

Carolina Gold Pulled Pork Sliders - featured image
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A flavorful and tender pulled pork slider recipe featuring a tangy Carolina Gold mustard sauce and bright pickled onions, perfect for gatherings and easy weekend cooking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–5 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup yellow mustard (e.g., Gulden’s)
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • Optional: a few peppercorns or a bay leaf
  • Slider buns (preferably soft and slightly sweet, e.g., King’s Hawaiian)
  • Optional: fresh parsley or coleslaw for garnish

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder dry and rub with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Let rest 15-20 minutes at room temperature.
  2. Place seasoned pork in slow cooker. Pour apple cider vinegar and water around the pork. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours until fork-tender.
  3. While pork cooks, combine yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Whisk until smooth and set aside.
  4. In a small saucepan, bring apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and optional peppercorns or bay leaf to a simmer until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour hot liquid over sliced onions in a jar. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
  5. Transfer cooked pork to a dish and shred with forks or claws, discarding large fat chunks. Add some cooking liquid to keep pork juicy.
  6. Mix shredded pork with Carolina Gold sauce until well coated. Warm gently if desired.
  7. Slice slider buns and assemble sliders with pulled pork and pickled onions. Garnish with parsley or coleslaw if desired.
  8. Serve warm and enjoy.

Notes

Use a meat thermometer to check pork reaches 195°F (90°C) for perfect shredding. Toast slider buns lightly to prevent sogginess. Pickled onions can be made ahead and improve with time. Add extra apple cider vinegar or cooking liquid if pork seems dry. For oven cooking, bake covered at 275°F (135°C) for 4-5 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, Carolina Gold sauce, sliders, pickled onions, slow cooker, barbecue, Southern recipe, easy snack

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/juicy-carolina-gold-pulled-pork-sliders-recipe-easy-homemade-perfect-snack/