Pulled Pork Sliders

These delicious Pulled Pork Sliders are made with saucy BBQ pulled pork, melty smoked Gouda cheese, and a tangy coleslaw on toasted sweet Hawaiian rolls. These sliders are so easy to make and perfect for everything from game days to a fun weeknight meals! 

this recipe

Why You’ll Love This Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe 

• It’s great for a crowd – One batch of this recipes makes 12 sliders but it can easily be doubled to feed a hungry crowd or for parties!
• A great way to repurpose leftovers – If you have leftover pulled pork or coleslaw from a cookout, this is a great way to repurpose it! That means nothing goes to waste and you get an entirely new meal out of it.
• It’s SO dang good! – I love a good slider recipe and these truly do have it all. The combination of saucy pulled pork, tangy slaw, and melty cheese is just too good!

More Reader Favorite Sandwiches and Sliders Recipes 

• Chipotle Cheddar BBQ Chicken Sliders
• Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Ham and Cheese Sliders with Hot Honey Mustard
• Turkey and Cheese Sliders with Delicious Cranberry Aioli
• Chipotle Chicken Sandwich
• Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches 

Recipe Ingredients

Olive Oil: this combines the toppings, helping them cling to the sliders and creating a golden toasted exterior. Choose a high-quality olive oil that you love the taste of. 

Poppy Seeds: These add a bit of texture and flavor to the slider topping.

Dried Minced Onion: you’ll need a bit of dried minced onion for the slider topping as well.

Pulled Pork: I love to use my recipe for slow cooker pulled pork, but you could keep things extra easy and use store-bought pulled pork as well.

BBQ Sauce: you can use your favorite bbq sauce for this recipe! You can go with one on the sweeter side or the tangier side, whichever you prefer.

Apple Cider Vinegar: you’ll need a bit of this plus olive oil to make the coleslaw dressing.

Maple Syrup: this adds a bit of sweetness to offset some of the tang in the coleslaw. Feel free to use honey instead!

Celery Seed: this is a must-have in any coleslaw recipe! It gives the slaw that classic coleslaw flavor.

Dijon Mustard: a must have to give the slaw dressing a little tang.

Coleslaw Mix: I like to use bags of shredded coleslaw mix to keep this recipe easy. However, you can also shred your own blend of green cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots using a box grater.

Green Onion: this adds extra crunch and a mild, peppery, onion flavor. 

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: my personal favorite option for sliders are Hawaiian sweet rolls. They’re soft, fluffy, and sweet, and make the perfect base for all of the slider toppings.  

Cheese: we’re using smoked Gouda cheese slices for these sliders! It has the best subtle smoky flavor and becomes extra gooey when melted for the perfect cheese pull.

Ways to Customize

1. Switch up the cheese – not a fan of Gouda? Use your favorite cheese instead! Pepper Jack or cheddar would both work really well in this recipe.
2. Double the recipe – need to make extra sliders for a larger crowd? Swap the 12 standard-sized rolls for 24 smaller rolls instead. Or, if you know you’ll be feeding a hungry crowd, you can double the batch, using two baking sheets to make a total of 24 sliders! 
3. Swap the protein – don’t love pulled pork? You can easily make these sliders with chicken instead! Toss the shredded chicken in barbecue sauce, and follow the recipe as normal. 
4. Use gluten free rolls – need to keep this recipe gluten free? Free to substitute the Hawaiian rolls with your favorite gluten free sandwich rolls instead! 
5. Leave off the coleslaw – not a fan of coleslaw? You can easily leave it off, and just go with the pulled pork and cheese! 

How to Make BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

Step 1: Set your oven on a low broil before you begin. 

Step 2: Stir the olive oil, poppy seeds, and minced onion together in a small bowl. 

Step 3: Use a serrated knife to slice the rolls in half lengthwise, leaving the individual rolls intact. Then, transfer them to a sheet pan, and place them until the broiler. Broil just until the tops are lightly toasted and golden. Be sure to keep a close eye on them! 

Step 4: Remove the rolls from the oven, and set the bottoms aside. Flip the top side of the rolls over, and brush them with the poppyseed topping. Next, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Return the tops of the rolls to the oven, and bake for 5-10 minutes or until they’re toasted and golden. Remove them from the oven, and set them aside. 

Step 5: Add the pulled pork and BBQ sauce to a mixing bowl, and stir to combine and coat the meat. 

Step 6: Add the olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, celery seed, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined. Then, add the coleslaw mix and green onions to the dressing, and toss until well combined. 

Step 7: Place 6 slices of Gouda cheese on the bottom half of the Hawaiian rolls. Then, add the pulled pork mixture followed by the remaining 6 slices of cheese. Place the sliders in the oven, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted. 

Step 8: Remove the soldiers from the oven, and top them with the coleslaw. Place the toasted top half on the rolls on top, and enjoy your pulled pork sliders warm! 

Tips and Tricks 

• Watch the rolls carefully while toasting – Sweet rolls can burn quickly in the oven. So, keep a very watchful eye on them, and only use low broil instead of high.
• Up the protein and cheese – The amount of protein called for in this recipe is really just a suggestion. If you prefer a bit meatier sandwich feel free to increase the amount of pork you’re using. The same goes for the cheese if you want an extra cheesy slider.
• Line your sheet pan with parchment paper – This helps to make cleanup easy and catch any melty cheese that happens to fall.

Serving Suggestions

These sliders are a great option for complete meals or to add to an appetizer table! If you’re looking for a few sides to pair them with, some of my favorite party pairings include: 

• Crispy Homemade Air Fryer French Fries
• Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
• Slow Cooker Baked Beans

How to Store and Reheat

These BBQ pulled pork sliders are best served right away on the day they’re made. However, if you have leftovers, they’ll still be tasty. If possible, leave off the coleslaw until just before serving. 

Store: Transfer the sliders to an airtight container or sealable bag, and store them in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. 

Reheat: If you want to warm the sandwiches up a bit, I recommend doing so in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, wrapped in aluminum foil. Or, if you’re in a pinch, you can reheat in the microwave at low power for 15 seconds at a time. 

More Delicious Pork Recipes 

• Crispy Pork Carnitas
• Sweet and Sticky Pork Meatballs
• Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
• Easy Sausage and Veggie Breakfast Quiche
• Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce
• Egg Roll in a Bowl 

I hope you give this BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe a try! It’s so easy to make and perfect for every occasion! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.

Print

Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: Jess Gaertner