Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches are made by cooking a delicious pork shoulder smothered in brown sugar and BBQ sauce low and slow in the crockpot until fall-apart tender. Then, we use the meat to pile high on Hawaiian rolls topped with a slice of pineapple, Swiss cheese, and crunchy fried onions to make the BEST pulled pork sammies!
Whether you’re serving a large gathering on game day, for a potluck or a backyard BBQ, or just a simple weeknight dinner at home, this recipe for Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches is a must-try!
It’s the perfect recipe if you love something hands-off because once the meat is in the slow cooker, it does all the work for you. (That is, until it’s time to assemble the sliders!)
They’re a pulled pork version of my amazing Hawaiian ham sandwiches and just as easy as my crockpot roast beef sandwiches, so they’re great for easy entertaining.
This recipe makes a lot of pulled pork for a crowd and if you keep it warm in the crock pot, you can have everyone make up their own.
Why This Recipe Works
- Stress-free. Season the meat and cook on low for up to 10 hours, depending on what you’ve got going on throughout the day. Leave it and walk away!
- Slow cooked pork. There’s nothing better than sweet pulled pork tossed in a flavorful BBQ sauce with a hint of smoke.
- Simple ingredients. Your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce is a convenient shortcut that cuts down on plenty of ingredients.
Ingredients Needed
- Pork: You’ll need a 3 lb pork shoulder or butt roast. If your slow cooker can fit a larger cut, go for it.
- Brown sugar: Used to season the pork before cooking it and you’ll add a couple of Tablespoons to sweeten the sauce.
- Pineapple rings: Keep the juice from the can! You’re going to use it in the sauce.
- Liquid smoke: A little goes a long way. This adds that signature smoky flavor found in traditional BBQ.
- BBQ sauce: I love Jack Daniels honey BBQ sauce, but you’re welcome to use your favorite store-bought bottle.
- Hawaiian rolls: These typically come in connected sheets of about 16 rolls.
- Swiss cheese: Cut 4 slices into quarters, to make 16 pieces of Swiss.
- French fried onions: Adds a fun crunchy element!
How to Make Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Step 1: Coat the entire roast with brown sugar, using your hands to rub it all over, then place it into the basin of the slow cooker.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, mix the remaining brown sugar, pineapple juice, liquid smoke, and BBQ sauce. Pour it over the roast.
Step 3: Cover with the lid and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours.
Step 4: Once the roast is fall-apart tender, you can either transfer it to a cutting board or shred it right in the pot. Use two forks to pull it apart and add it back to the slow cooker to absorb more of the juices.
Step 5: Assemble the sandwiches. Cut each roll in half, and add a slice of cheese to the bottom bun. Pile a heaping spoonful of shredded pork on top, followed by a pineapple ring, and a sprinkle of fried onions.
Place the top bun over everything, and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Toast the Hawaiian rolls if you prefer crispy bread.
- Swap the fried onions for caramelized onions, red onions, or pickled onions.
- Use a different kind of cheese. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Havarti would be great.
- Keep it dairy-free and omit the cheese, if preferred.
- Like a little sweet and spicy combination? Add some red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Add roasted red peppers or red cabbage slaw on top!
- Pork sliders are just one way to use up this pulled pork. Use any leftover meat for things like tacos, nachos, burritos, enchiladas, or a grilled cheese sandwich! You can also eat it as a main dish with a side of rice and veggies.
What to Serve with Pull Pork Sliders
Slow cooker Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches pair well with all the classic BBQ side dishes. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Homemade coleslaw with a homemade dressing
- Chicken Caesar pasta salad
- Loaded potato salad
- Simple potato salad
- Oven roasted veggies
- Scalloped potatoes
FAQs
Certainly! Use whatever type of dinner roll, sandwich bun, hoagie roll, brioche bun, or burger bun, you have on hand. Plain, whole wheat, with or without sesame seeds, any way you slice it, you’ll love them.
If you want to assemble them ahead of time and keep them warm until you’re ready to eat, wrap them individually with foil and place them in the slow cooker on the warm function. You can also keep them on a baking sheet in the oven on low.
Keep leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the microwave or the slow cooker and use it as you like.
More Sandwich Recipes You’ll Love
- Ham Jam Sandwich
- Cucumber Sandwiches
- Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
- Reuben Sandwich
- Monte Cristo Sandwich
Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork shoulder or butt roast
- ½ cup brown sugar plus 2 Tablespoons for rub
- 1 20 oz can pineapple rings
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce
- 16 Hawaiian rolls
- 4 slices of Swiss cheese, quartered
- 1-2 cups French Fried Onions
Instructions
- Rub 2 tablespoons of brown sugar on all sides of the roast, then set the roast in a slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, mix together remaining brown sugar, juice from the can of pineapple, liquid smoke, and BBQ sauce. Pour on top of the roast. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours.
- Pull the roast from the slow cooker and shred it using 2 forks. Place it back into the slow cooker to absorb more juices.
- Build your sandwich by cutting each roll in half, the adding a slice of cheese, a heaping spoonful of pork, a pineapple ring (cut to size, if needed) and a sprinkle of fried onions.
