These Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches are perfect for serving a hungry family or a large crowd.
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches
You’ll want to utilize a pork roast for this recipe. Find one that is hand-trimmed already and has a thin, nice layer of fat on one side of the roast (which you totally need when you’re using the easy method of slow cooking for a pork roast). We sometimes make these for weeknight dinners, but you’ll also want to make these pulled pork sandwiches for all of your gatherings with friends and family. They’d be perfect for a Super Bowl or graduation party.
🛒Ingredients needed:
- boneless pork shoulder roast
- apricot jam
- chili sauce
- sandwich buns
- cheese slices
- coleslaw
- sriracha sauce
✏️How to make Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches:
*The complete, printable recipe with all ingredients and instructions is at the end of this post.
PORK
-
Place the roast in the insert of your slow cooker (fat-side-up). In a medium bowl, whisk together the preserves and the chili sauce. Pour over the roast in the slow cooker. Put on the lid and set to cook on low for 10 to 12 hours.
-
When the pork is done cooking, remove it from the pan and set it on a cutting board. Pour the sauce into a bowl and set it in the refrigerator. Shred the pork (remove any pieces of fat and discard) and put the pork into a bowl. (At this point, you can cover the pork and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.) Otherwise, pull out the sauce, skim off any fat and add several generous spoonfuls of the sauce back onto the pork. Stir to coat, reheat as you wish and you’re ready to assemble.
SANDWICHES
-
Preheat your broiler. Place the bottom buns on a large baking sheet. Top each bun with warmed pork and a slice of cheese. Broil 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
-
Top each with coleslaw and a good drizzle of sriracha sauce. Put tops on each sandwich and serve.
➡️Recipe Tips:
- The number of sandwiches will vary based on the size of the roast.
- Don’t be afraid of the sriracha sauce! It’s a little spicy if you just taste it on its own, but drizzled over the coleslaw in the manner shown makes for a perfect combination of sweet and spicy in these sandwiches.
- After topping with cheese, try putting the sandwiches under the broiler for a minute or two to get it all nice and melted!
- If you want to make your own coleslaw, I have a great recipe here.
✔️What to serve with Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches:
- If you’re serving these sandwiches on a cold winter day, you might like to serve some Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans alongside.
- On a warmer day, I’d go with a fresh green salad or even a delicious fruit salad.
- For beer drinkers, an IPA pairs well with the bold flavors of this pork. Its slightly bitter and fuller flavor will stand up to all the sweet and spicy flavors.
★How to Store:
If you’re not making this for a crowd, you will have leftovers! Store the pulled pork in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and enjoy over the next 3 to 4 days. You can also store leftover pulled pork in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
❤️Why I love this recipe:
- My little family of three enjoyed these as sandwiches for dinner… and lunch the next day. On the third day, we re-purposed the pulled pork for tacos and added our favorite fixings. To be able to get three days worth of meals from one pork roast was awesome.
- I love that this recipe is super easy to make. That’s a big win for a weeknight meal for busy families!
- The combination of flavors in these sandwiches is truly are incredible. The sweet sauce, the tangy coleslaw and the spicy sriracha, what more could you want?
Pulled Pork Recipes:
- Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps
- Pulled Pork Sliders with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce
- Cheesy Pulled Pork Dip
- Slow Cooker Pork Barbecue
- Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce
![Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches](https://www.recipegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Slow-Cooker-Sweet-and-Spicy-Pulled-Pork-Sandwiches-300x300.jpg)
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
PORK
- One 4 to 5 pound boneless pork shoulder roast
- One 12-ounce jar apricot preserves
- One 12-ounce jar chili sauce
SANDWICH FIXINGS
- 12 hamburger/sandwich buns (we love onion buns)
- 12 slices cheese (any kind, but we use cheddar)
- 2 cups coleslaw (already prepared from the deli, or homemade)
- sriracha sauce
Instructions
PORK
- Place the roast in the insert of your slow cooker (fat-side-up). In a medium bowl, whisk together the preserves and the chili sauce. Pour over the roast in the slow cooker. Put on the lid and set to cook on low for 10 to 12 hours.
- When the pork is done cooking, remove it from the pan and set it on a cutting board. Pour the sauce into a bowl and set it in the refrigerator. Shred the pork (remove any pieces of fat and discard) and put the pork into a bowl. (At this point, you can cover the pork and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.) Otherwise, pull out the sauce, skim off any fat and add several generous spoonfuls of the sauce back onto the pork. Stir to coat, reheat as you wish and you're ready to assemble.
SANDWICHES
- Preheat your broiler. Place the bottom buns on a large baking sheet. Top each bun with warmed pork and a slice of cheese. Broil 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Top each with coleslaw and a good drizzle of sriracha sauce. Put tops on each sandwich and serve.
Notes
- The number of sandwiches will vary based on the size of the roast.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I liked the idea for the sauce. You basically made a pepper jelly, like you’d use for a loin and and made a sauce out if it for a pulled pork. Now I want to try it. Very clever!
This is good on baked potatoes. Push in ends of baked potatoes to open fluff up potato pulp inside, then top with the cooked pork and (shredded) cheese. Place under broiler to melt cheese. Don’t top with Cole slaw until ready to eat. Very good. Even with the coleslaw my family still likes a green salad with this and hot corn bread muffins.
we are always looking for new ways to serve pork! I cant wait to try this Lori!
Such an easy way to flavor a pork roast! Love this!
I love the apricot preserves and chili sauce combo, so good! My family will certainly enjoy this, it’s a keeper!
Pulled pork is my husband’s love language, so this will be happening in our house soon. I love that the pork shoulder is pre-trimmed—that is such a time saver!
OMG, my mouth is watering. Perfect for weeknight dinner or GAME DAY food!
Sweet and spicy pork sounds crazy good! I can’t wait to try the apricot preserves and chili sauce combo!