Name: Easy Pulled Pork Sliders
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked pulled pork; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving; 12 slider buns, such as King’s Hawaiian Rolls; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 2 tablespoons melted butter; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon poppy seeds (optional); 1 cup coleslaw

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Pulled pork sliders on Hawaiian rolls are the ultimate party food!

They pack all the flavor of full-sized BBQ sandwiches into a few delicious mouthfuls.

The slight sweetness of the rolls perfectly complements the savory, smoky flavor of the pork. It’s a match made in heaven.

I made these for a family gathering last weekend, and they were an instant hit! Plus, they’re so easy to make in the oven.

a stack of bbq pulled pork sliders on a marble platter

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Why You’ll Love These Pulled Pork Sliders

Flavor Explosion: It doesn’t matter what type of BBQ sauce you use. The sweet Hawaiian rolls pair beautifully with the savoriness of the meat.

Easy to Make: These little guys come together in less than 30 minutes. They use already-cooked ingredients, so the hands-on work is minimal.

True Crowd-Pleasers: Everyone loves these sliders! Make them for lunches, dinners, or special occasions. People will devour them!

Ingredients

Pulled Pork – I’ve included a recipe for slow-cooker pulled pork below. It’s typically the one I use. For something different, try Dr. Pepper or Coca-Cola pulled pork instead. Store-bought also works.

BBQ Sauce – Select your favorite store-bought brand.

Buns – I always use Hawaiian rolls. Their sweetness is the perfect complement to the savory pork. You can also use pretzel buns, potato rolls, or slider buns.

Coleslaw – Coleslaw provides some much-needed crunch to these sliders. You can pick up some from the store, but homemade coleslaw works best.

Shredded Cheddar – Though you don’t have to stick strictly to cheddar, it’s my favorite. It pairs well with the pulled pork. Shred it yourself instead of buying the bagged kind.

Melted Butter – For brushing over the tops to give them that golden-brown hue.

Brown Sugar & Garlic – This sweet-n-savory mix of ingredients really sets off the sliders. You add both to the melted butter for extra flavor.

Poppy Seeds – These are optional, but they make the sliders look nice. And like the coleslaw, they also add a bit of crunch.

Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce in bowls on a white marble table

Coleslaw in a bowl on a white marble table

How to Make Pulled Pork Sliders

Here’s a brief overview of the steps for making pulled pork sliders:

1. PREPARE. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a baking dish big enough to hold all of the buns. Line a separate baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. HEAT. Combine the pulled pork and BBQ sauce in a saucepan and cook over medium-low until hot.

3. ASSEMBLE. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom halves into the baking dish. Add the saucy pork to the rolls, then sprinkle cheese over the top, and cover the dish with foil.

4. BAKE. Bake the dish for about 10 minutes.

5. MELT. While the bottom buns bake, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, garlic, and poppy seeds in a bowl. Place the top buns on the baking sheet and brush with the butter.

6. TOAST. When the bottom buns have had about 8 minutes in the oven, place the baking sheet on a separate rack to toast.

7. SERVE. Remove the baking dish and tray from the oven. Carefully remove the foil and top the bottom sliders with slaw. Then, place the toasted top buns over the slaw.

Serve the sliders while they’re still warm, and enjoy!

Delicious homemade pulled pork sliders in a wooden board

Tips for Success

Follow these tips for the very best pork sliders:

Do NOT separate the Hawaiian rolls. Cut them in half to make top and bottom buns. But do NOT separate the rolls from one another. Keeping them intact makes them easier to work with.

Give ’em some homemade love. This recipe works just fine with store-bought pork and coleslaw. But these sliders taste best with homemade stuff.

Bust out the serrated knife. When cutting the sliders apart, a serrated knife works best. Keep it clean between cuttings by wiping it with a napkin.

Keep them toasty. These sliders are best served warm. If possible, keep them that way by covering the bottom half in foil and leaving them in the oven at a low 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make enough for everyone! Remember, sliders are smaller than regular sandwiches. Most people will eat two or even three. You may need to double or triple the recipe for a large gathering.

Close-up shot of bbq pulled pork sliders with coleslaw and cheese

Recipe Variations

Try some of these tasty variations for a fun twist:

Tweak the sauce. Add honey for sweetness or hot sauce or cayenne for heat. Or simply start with your favorite BBQ sauce flavor.

Experiment with cheeses. Try different varieties of cheese to see which you like best. You can also use slices instead of shredded.

Bring on the bacon. You can cook bacon and crumble it yourself or use bacon bits. Sprinkle them over the top of the cheese before adding the top bun.

Have fun with toppings. Pickles, sliced onions, crushed pineapple tidbits, jalapeños, etc., all work well. Add them immediately after the cheese.

Swap out the pork. The recipe works just as well with BBQ chicken instead.

How to Store & Reheat

Need tips for storing leftover sliders? No problem!

To Store: Let the sliders cool, then transfer them to an air-tight container. Refrigerate them for up to 3 days.

To Freeze: Pop the cooled sliders into an air-tight, freezer-safe container. Freeze them for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: Let frozen sliders thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat them in the oven or air fryer. Set both appliances to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheating in the oven will take about 15 minutes. Using the air fryer will take about 5 to 7 minutes.

Note: The slider buns may be soggy after storing or freezing them. If possible, it’s better to store or freeze just the pulled pork filling mixture (separate from the buns).

What to Serve with BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

Wondering what to serve with your BBQ sliders? Try any of these options: