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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich

    Published: May 16, 2017 · Modified: Aug 14, 2018 by Melissa Stadler · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

    1589 shares
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    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich. Slow cooked pork simmered with Dr. Pepper, spices, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw and fresh jalapenos, all on a soft bun. The perfect BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. www.modernhoney.com

    Summer is coming! I am so ready for it -- not the heat, but the break from the crazy schedule. I am officially sending my kids to school with shoes that should be duct taped (our dog has chewed through about 13 pairs of shoes in our home thus far)! I just threw another pair of shoes in the garbage yesterday. Our crazy puppy sniffs out and find shoes everywhere and then destroys them in minutes.  I feel there should be puppy therapy offered to help survive the madness. But for the record, we are SO in love with our new addition and couldn't imagine life without him. He is without a doubt my fifth child!

    Since our May is nuts, I am looking for simple meals that I can put together in my sleep. These Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwiches are so easy and everyone loves them.

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich. Slow cooked pork simmered with Dr. Pepper, spices, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw and fresh jalapenos, all on a soft bun. The perfect BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. www.modernhoney.com

    The pork is slow cooked in a crockpot or instant pot with a can of your favorite dark soda -- Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke, Root Beer, or Coke. I have tried them all and can attest that they are all amazing.

    Why cook soda with the meat? 

    That may sound a little crazy! The soda helps tenderize the meat making it melt in your mouth. It also locks in some flavor.

    The pork is slowly simmered with the soda, salt, pepper and an onion for the extra flavor boost. Once it is tender and can be easily shredded with two forks, the simmering liquid is mostly discarded and BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and hot sauce are added. My personal favorite BBQ sauce is Sweet Baby's Ray's Sweet and Spicy. The original sauce is fabulous as well. You can make your own BBQ sauce from scratch, but we are taking the easy route.

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich. Slow cooked pork simmered with Dr. Pepper, spices, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw and fresh jalapenos, all on a soft bun. The perfect BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. www.modernhoney.com

    My husband is ridiculously picky about his coleslaw. He has been known to ask the restaurant ahead of time if he could taste their coleslaw to know if he should order it or not. He is a coleslaw connoisseur!  When I was creating this recipe, I couldn't wait to get his reaction. Thankfully, it passed his test with flying colors and he even asked if I would make more so he could take it to work. We have a winner!

    The creamy coleslaw is made with a combination of green cabbage, shredded carrots, and purple cabbage. I love the purple cabbage for color.  I buy the small bag of coleslaw mix but you can also buy a small head of green cabbage instead. The coleslaw is made with finely diced cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar and salt. Super simple creamy coleslaw recipe!

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich. Slow cooked pork simmered with Dr. Pepper, spices, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw and fresh jalapenos, all on a soft bun. The perfect BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. www.modernhoney.com

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich. Slow cooked pork simmered with Dr. Pepper, spices, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw and fresh jalapenos, all on a soft bun. The perfect BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. www.modernhoney.com

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich

    Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey
    Slow cooked pulled pork simmered in spices, Dr. Pepper, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 8 hrs
    Total Time 23 mins
    Course Sandwiches
    Cuisine BBQ
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    • 3-4 lb. Boneless Pork Loin
    • 2 teaspoons Salt
    • 2 teaspoons Pepper
    • 1 Large Onion chopped
    • 1 - 12 ounce can Dr. Pepper Cherry Coke, Coke or Root Beer
    • ½ cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 - 18 ounce bottle BBQ Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet and Spicy. May want extra sauce.
    • 1 Tablespoon Hot Sauce optional
    • Coleslaw:
    • 6 cups Purple and Green Cabbage finely shredded
    • ½ cup Mayonnaise
    • 2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
    • 3 Tablespoons Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Salt

    • 6-10 Soft Sandwich Buns
    • 1 Jalapeno sliced (optional)
    • Pickles optional

    Instructions
     

    • In slow cooker, add pork loin, onion, salt, and pepper. Pour soda over meat.
    • Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 5 hours, or until tender and fully cooked.
    • When the meat is tender, remove from crockpot and shred with two forks. Discard most of cooking fluid, leaving about ¼ cup remaining in slow cooker.
    • Put pulled pork back into slow cooker and add brown sugar, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce. Stir together.
    • Heat for 30 minutes longer.
    • To make coleslaw:
    • Shred cabbage. Place in bowl and toss with mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Taste and add more salt and sugar to taste.
    • Top buns with BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, and optional jalapeno.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    PIN the Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwiches:

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwich. Slow cooked pork simmered with Dr. Pepper, spices, and BBQ sauce. Topped with homemade coleslaw and fresh jalapenos, all on a soft bun. The perfect BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. www.modernhoney.com

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Steve

      April 13, 2020 at 8:05 pm

      Just curious why use a pork loin instead of a pork shoulder?

      Reply
    2. Kelly

      November 10, 2019 at 8:46 pm

      4 stars
      Hi Tara! I made your recipe again today. We love it before but like every other cook I needed to experiment. This time I added approximately a 1/4 cup of liquid smoke with the BBQ sauce, it was great before but this seemed to give it that little bit more that made us all go back for seconds/thirds!

      Reply
    3. Roxy Gonzalez

      July 06, 2019 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this for my family and lemme tell you, the most juiciest, most moist pulled pork I've ever had in my life! It is absolutely delicious! I'm not big on spicy so I was afraid of the barbecue sauce but I'm glad I stuck with your recipe because it was perfection. The only thing I'd do differently next time is double the recipe as it went fast! I should have known it would be fantastic as I made your brussel sprouts and we loved them! I literally craved them afterwards for weeks! You freakin' rock, sis!

      Reply
    4. charlene nye

      November 13, 2017 at 7:29 am

      Could I use ginger ale in this?

      Reply
      • randie

        February 03, 2019 at 9:40 am

        5 stars
        I use ginger ale when I slow cook corned beef so I see no reason why not- it is so yummy

        Reply
    5. Modern Honey

      June 12, 2017 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Tara! Absolutely! I tend to prefer chicken in most things so I have tried it and you can interchange it with no problem. Let me know how it turns out! 🙂 - Melissa

      Reply
    6. Tara Horsley

      June 12, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      Do you think chicken would work with this recipe?

      Reply

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    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

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