| |

Easy Pulled Pork Sliders with Garlic Aioli

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.

These pulled pork sliders with garlic aioli are bite-sized sandwiches packed with tender, slow cooked pork, smothered in barbecue sauce. Served on hot toasted buns with garlic aioli, they offer the perfect balance of savory, tangy and slightly sweet flavors. 

pulled pork slider with garlic aioli

Why you’re going to love these pork sliders:

I have so much to say about these pulled pork sliders, so let’s dive in! 

Let’s be honest, pulled pork anything is delicious. Simply eating pulled pork right out of the slow cooker is life changing. Don’t kid yourself. I know you’ve snuck several bites of juicy pork right out of your slow cooker. You should!

  • Limited ingredients  – this recipe requires minimal ingredients. All you need is a pork shoulder, barbecue sauce, buns, mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, chives, salt, pepper & garlic powder. 
  • Versatile – Pulled pork can be used in a variety of dishes. In this case, on a bun! Some other options include, pulled pork tacos, in a burrito bowl, or in a wrap/burrito, or on a grilled cheese. 
  • Feeds a crowd – This recipe feeds a lot of people. It’s great for Sunday family dinners, parties, game days, or holiday gatherings. 
  • Easy to follow recipe – This recipe is straight forward. The process is simple and the results are guaranteed!

The Ingredients:

  • Pork shoulder – You will need at least a 3 pound pork shoulder for this recipe. They’re cheap and a wonderful cut of meat to slow cook with. A boneless or bone-in pork shoulder will work. Reminder that bone-in will weigh more and produce less meat. 
  • Barbecue Sauce – Any type of barbecue sauce will do! Sweet, spicy, smoky – totally up to you! It’s slathered on before slow cooking to help infuse it into the meat. 
  • Salt, pepper & garlic powder – The pork does need to be seasoned well. I keep it simple with salt, pepper and garlic powder. 
  • Slider buns – Any type bun will work. Hawaiian roles, hamburger buns, brioche buns and even Texas Toast would be wonderful. 
  • Mayonnaise – Mayo is the base of the garlic aioli. 
  • Minced garlic – A little minced garlic is added to the aioli to give it a zesty garlic bite. It pairs well the sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. 
  • Lemon juice or white vinegar – A little acid brightens up the aioli. 
  • Chives – Chives add a touch of mild onion flavor and wonderful color to the aioli. 
pork slider and garlic aioli ingredients

How to make pork sliders with garlic aioli:

The process to make pulled pork sliders is simple. I don’t use any cooking liquid as I find that the natural juices are enough for the pork to slow cook in. Other than waiting for the pork to slow cook, these sliders come together in just 20 minutes!

Serving Suggestions:

Pulled pork sliders are super flavorful, so pairing them with the right sides can make a perfect meal! Here are some great options:

Baked Beans – Smoky, sweet and packed with flavor, baked beans are sure to be a hit with these sliders. 

Green BeansSautéed or boiled green beans offer a crunchy, fresh bite with the sliders. 

Potato Salad – My recipe for sweet relish potato salad would be bomb with these sliders.

Corn on the Cob – A classic side dish for a barbecue meal. Can’t go wrong!

Mac and Cheese – I love a side of cheesy indulgent Mac and Cheese. It pairs well with any type of barbecue pulled meat!

Green Salad – A simple salad would lighten the meal while offering a fresh edge. 

Cucumber Salad – A crunchy, light and tangy cucumber salad would be wonderful with the sweet and smoky pork slider. 

Pickled Red Onions – Pickled red onions are a wonderful garnish and would complement the pork sliders very well!

Storing & Final Thoughts

To keep them fresh, store the pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Only reheat what you need to prevent drying out the meat. Pulled pork can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours prior to reheating.

Pork Sliders with Garlic Aioli are an excellent choice for meal prep, feeding a crowd and for special occasions. They’re easy to make, reheat well, and stay flavorful over time. I love the versatility of pulled pork. You can enjoy it in different ways throughout the week – as sliders, tacos, in a wrap or over rice. Pair with a variety of sides, and you’ll have a convenient and delicious choice whenever hunger strikes!

Yield: 12-14 sliders

Pulled Pork Sliders With Garlic Aioli

pulled pork slider with garlic aioli

These pulled pork sliders are bite-sized sandwiches packed with tender, slow cooked pork, smothered in barbecue sauce. Served on hot toasted buns with garlic aioli, they offer the perfect balance of savory, tangy and slightly sweet flavors.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1, 3-5 pounds pork shoulder (bone or no bone is fine)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Barbecue sauce (any kind will do)
  • Slider buns
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter

Garlic Aioli

  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 pinches black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives

Instructions

    1. Generously season the pork shoulder with salt, pepper and garlic powder, rubbing it in with your hands. Next, rub the pork shoulder with your favorite barbecue sauce (I used a pastry brush to help me do this).
    2. Place pork shoulder in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours (or high for 4-5 hours). Once cooked, remove pork shoulder and slightly shred – discard any fatty parts. Careful not to shred the pork too much – you want nice chunks of pork on your sandwich.
    3. Add about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce and gently mix.
    4. To make the aioli, add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix.
    5. Toast the slider buns by brushing them with a little butter and either grilling them, placing them on a baking sheet and broiling them for a few minutes or in a skillet.
    6. Slather buns with aioli, add pulled pork and enjoy!

Notes

Everything can be made 1-2 days in advance and then put in the refrigerator. Simply heat the pork up in the microwave, oven or even place on warm or low in your slow cooker until you’re ready to serve.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Craving More?

77 Comments

  1. What brand slider buns did you use?

    1. I’m sorry, I don’t remember. Any brand will do. Or the Hawaiian rolls would be good, too!

  2. Kim Martinez says:

    How many sliders would this make?

    1. How much bbq sauce do you use?

  3. I made these for this today for the first time ( 4hrs on high ) it turned out perfect ! I had never had Aoili sauce before but I love anything garlic, so gave it a try. It was so good, definitely a keeper recipe ! You were right about the 15- 20 minutes to put the whole dinner together, the crockpot is a lifesaver ! Thanks !

  4. Wow was this good! My family loved it – especially the aoili with the bbq combo.

  5. Have you ever made these in the Instantpot? If so, do you know how long it should take to cook?

    1. I haven’t. I’m sure you could though. I would look up a similar recipe and see what it says!

  6. These would perfect for a game day get together. As soon as I saw the picture of the pulled pork, my mouth was watering. Topped with aioli and it sounds like perfection.

  7. Could you use Beef instead of Pork?

  8. I am new to cooking and really want to make this recipe. I feel naive lol. But how much salt pepper and garlic powder?

    1. no worries! I would do 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper and 2 teaspoons garlic powder!

  9. Why have I never put garlic aioli on pulled pork sandwiches before? It’s so unbelievably delicious! I had leftover pork so I made these, omg! Can’t wait to make again! Great dinner!

    1. Jessica Erin says:

      It’s pretty yummy right?! Glad you liked them!

  10. So I just brush the pork with barbecue sauce and don’t need additional liquid in the crock pot?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *