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Tender Slow Cooker Maple Bourbon Pulled Pork Sandwich

slow cooker maple bourbon pulled pork sandwich - featured image
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A quick and easy slow cooker pulled pork recipe with a sweet and smoky maple bourbon sauce, perfect for sandwiches and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (bone-in or boneless)
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup (120 ml)
  • ¼ cup bourbon whiskey (60 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
  • ½ cup ketchup (120 ml)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (50 g)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard (optional)
  • Soft sandwich buns or brioche buns for serving

Instructions

  1. Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder if desired. Pat dry with paper towels. Season generously on all sides with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. (Approx. 10 minutes)
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together maple syrup, bourbon whiskey, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard until smooth and well blended. (5 minutes)
  3. Place the seasoned pork shoulder into the slow cooker, fat side up if applicable. Pour the maple bourbon sauce evenly over the pork. (5 minutes)
  4. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until pork is fork-tender and pulls apart easily.
  5. Remove the pork shoulder onto a large platter or bowl. Use two forks or meat claws to shred the pork into bite-sized pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat. (10 minutes)
  6. Spoon some of the cooking juices from the slow cooker back into the shredded pork to keep it moist and flavorful. Adjust seasoning with salt or pepper if needed. (5 minutes)
  7. Toast buns lightly if desired. Pile the pulled pork high on the bottom bun, add coleslaw if desired, then top with the bun. Serve immediately. (5 minutes)

Notes

For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. Substitute bourbon with apple juice or whiskey extract if desired. Save some sauce to drizzle on top for extra stickiness. If sauce is too thin, simmer on stovetop to thicken before mixing with pork. Let pork rest a few minutes before shredding to keep it juicy. Toast buns before serving for texture contrast.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, slow cooker, maple bourbon, sandwich, easy recipe, barbecue, pork shoulder

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/tender-slow-cooker-maple-bourbon-pulled-pork-sandwich-recipe-easy-perfect-pulled-pork-for-sandwiches/