Flavorful Cherry Cola Glazed Pulled Pork Sliders
These cherry cola glazed pulled pork sliders are quick, easy, and perfect for parties, featuring a tangy-sweet glaze that caramelizes beautifully over tender pulled pork.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes to 8 hours (depending on cooking method)
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 12-16 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lbs pork shoulder (1.4–1.8 kg)
- 12 oz cherry cola (355 ml)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (100 g)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 12–16 slider buns
- Coleslaw (optional)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some fat for juiciness. Pat dry with paper towels. (5 minutes)
- Rub the pork evenly with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. (5 minutes)
- Cook the pork: For slow cooker, cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. For Instant Pot, brown pork on all sides (3-4 minutes per side), then pressure cook on high for 60 minutes with natural release.
- While pork cooks, combine cherry cola, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a saucepan. Bring to boil, then simmer on medium-low until thick and syrupy, about 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally and watch to avoid burning.
- Remove pork from cooker and shred with two forks, discarding large fat chunks. (5-7 minutes)
- Pour half of the glaze over shredded pork and toss gently to coat. Reserve remaining glaze for buns or serving. (2 minutes)
- Slice slider buns in half. Optionally brush insides with glaze and toast lightly on skillet.
- Assemble sliders by piling glazed pork on bottom buns, topping with coleslaw if desired, and covering with bun tops. (10 minutes)
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Keep a close eye on the glaze while simmering to prevent burning. Browning the pork before cooking adds depth of flavor. If pork seems dry after shredding, add reserved glaze to keep moist. Toast slider buns with glaze to prevent sogginess. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: pulled pork sliders, cherry cola glaze, party bites, easy pulled pork, slow cooker pulled pork, Instant Pot pulled pork, barbecue sliders