Savory Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Pulled Pork Sliders
Sweet, smoky bourbon-glazed pulled pork served on soft slider buns, perfect for game day snacks or casual gatherings. The rich brown sugar caramelizes beautifully with a subtle whiskey warmth for unforgettable flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (slow cooker) or 1 hour (Instant Pot)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker) or 1 hour 15 minutes (Instant Pot)
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds slow-cooked pork shoulder, shredded
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed (dark brown sugar preferred)
- ¼ cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 soft mini slider buns (brioche or potato rolls preferred)
- Optional toppings: pickles, coleslaw, sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- If starting with raw pork shoulder, season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Place in slow cooker with ½ cup water or broth and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours until fork-tender. Skip if using pre-cooked pork.
- Remove pork from cooker and let rest a few minutes. Shred meat with two forks into bite-sized pieces, discarding large fat chunks.
- In a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir continuously until mixture gently boils.
- Simmer glaze for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thick and syrupy. Avoid burning; color should deepen without bitterness.
- Add shredded pork to skillet with glaze. Stir well to coat evenly and cook for 5 more minutes to heat through and absorb glaze.
- Slice slider buns and toast lightly in a dry pan or under broiler for 1-2 minutes until golden and crisp on edges.
- Assemble sliders by spooning glazed pulled pork onto bun bottoms. Add optional toppings like pickles or coleslaw, then cover with top bun.
- Serve sliders warm immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
If glaze becomes too thick, stir in a splash of water or broth to loosen. Avoid over-glazing to keep pork sticky but not swimming in sauce. Toast buns just before serving to prevent sogginess. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. Non-alcoholic glaze can be made by substituting bourbon with apple juice or water with vanilla extract.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 sliders
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: pulled pork sliders, bourbon glaze, brown sugar glaze, game day snacks, easy pulled pork, slider recipe, bourbon pulled pork