Apple adds sweetness to this slow cooker bourbon pulled pork. This dish makes for great appetizer sliders or an easy main meal! Double (or triple) the recipe to serve a crowd!
Elegant enough for a Holiday party, but easy enough for Game Day, these sliders are sure to be a conversation starter.
What is Bourbon vs Whiskey?
All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
Whiskey (or whisky, if you’re in Scotland) is distilled from the fermented grain mash of wheat, rye, barley or corn and aged in oak barrels.
Bourbon law dictates that bourbon needs to be produced in America and made from 51% corn. Corn is a ‘sweet’ grain, meaning the more corn, the sweeter the whiskey. It also needs to be stored in new, charred, white oak barrels, and it must not contain any added flavoring, coloring or additives.
Why so strict?
In the 1800’s distillers spent a lot of time tampering with their whiskies.
By the end of the century, people must have been fed up, because the standards were set, and now there are laws to keep bourbon consistent.
Our Slow Cooker Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork Recipe
So, we thought, why not slow cook pork in bourbon?
The slightly sweet, charcoal-y flavor from the charred barrel aging is perfect for pork. And, apple cider was a natural second. (You can’t go wrong with apples and pork.)
We’ve added just a bit of molasses and brown sugar to the sauce to bring out the sweetness of the bourbon, but not so much that its classic flavor is lost. If you like a sweeter pulled pork, this recipe is easy to adapt by adding a bit more brown sugar, to your taste, at the end.
Slow roasting the pork for at least 7 hours is key. Once the meat hits 200F, magical things start to happen and the meat will literally fall apart around your fork.
That is pulled pork beauty!
Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork Sliders
Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- 2 lb pork butt or shoulder roast (USDA Prime), trimmed of any large sections of fat
- ½ c bourbon
- ½ c pure apple cider
- 2 Tbsp molasses
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 6 sourdough slider buns
Instructions
- Mix garlic with salt and mustard.
- Make a few slits halfway through the pork roast. Pat the garlic mixture into the cuts. Place the roast in the bottom of your crock pot.
- Mix bourbon, cider, molasses and brown sugar. Heat slightly to dissolve the molasses and brown sugar in the liquid. Pour the bourbon mixture into the crock pot with the meat.
- Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
- Remove the pork from the crock pot and shred with two forks. (If you would like, you can skim the fat off of the top of the juice left in the crock pot. Discard the fat.)
- Return the pulled pork to the juices in the crock pot and cook on low for 1-2 hours, uncovered (to thicken the sauce and continue to flavor the meat). *
- Serve pork on a sourdough slider bun.
Notes
Nutrition
This is one of the recipes from the early days of Curious Cuisiniere. We’ve updated our pictures since we first made it, but we’ve left the original images here as a fun throwback and shout out to how far we’ve come. Enjoy!
This week the Sunday Supper crew is breaking out the libations! Check out the alcohol-infused recipes below. Thanks to Foodie Stuntman from Crazy Foodie Stunts and Alice of Alice of A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen for hosting this week’s event.
Libations
- Big Easy Milk Punch by The Weekend Gourmet
- Blue Sparkling Star Cocktail by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Boozy Iced Spanish Coffee by Nosh My Way
- Campari Mint Spritzer by eating in instead
- Cranberry Moscow Mule by Ruffles & Truffles
- Creamy, Loaded Eggnog by La Bella Vita Cucina
- Malibu Breeze by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Merry Berry Spritz by Amee’s Savory Dish
- Minty Lime Rum by A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
- Pomegranate Panache by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Rhubarb Fool Cocktail by Food Lust People Love
- Southern Pomegranate Sparkler by Noshing With The Nolands
- Sparkling Pomegranate Berry Punch by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- Vanilla Bailey’s With A Twist by Momma’s Meals
Savory and Sweet Libational Dishes
- Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork Sliders by Curious Cuisiniere
- Beerberry Pancakes by Brunch with Joy
- Beet Relish by What Smells So Good?
- Belgian Beef Stew with Belgian Ale by Cooking On The Ranch
- Brandied Triple Cheese Ball by Magnolia Days
- Champagne Chicken by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Cornish Game Hens with Sausage Red Wine Sauce over Polenta by The Texan New Yorker
- Craft Beer Jelly by Nik Snacks
- Eggnog Dutch Baby Pancakes with Cranberries by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Hot Buttered Rum Balls by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Lentil Soup with Wine Braised Shallots by Pancake Warriors
- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs by Cooking Chat
Libational Desserts
- Amaretto Coconut Biscotti with Amaretto Salted Caramel Drizzle by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
- Amaretto Cranberry Swirled Cheesecake by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Baked Pears with a Warm Tequila-Citrus Espuma by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Bourbon Cranberry Compote by Pies and Plots
- Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl
- Chocolate Stout Beer Brownies by The Perfect Brownie
- Dumante Frozen Espresso Creams by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Honey Chamomile Hot Toddy Tea Cake by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Kahlua Bundt Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Red Wine Poached Pears with Ricotta and Balsamic Glaze by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Rum Glazed Cookie Cream Buns by NinjaBaker
- Tiramisu Biscotti by The Redhead Baker
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
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These sound so yummy!
These look fabulous and I love that they are made in a Crock Pot!
Looks tasty! Always like a good pork dish.
These sliders sound amazing and I love the convenience of the crock pot!!
I had already researched the bourbon/whiskey difference out of curiosity several years ago, but I loved reading it again, thanks! And your recipe made me drool. I’m such a fiend for slow cooker pulled pork, and your flavors take it way over the top!
This is some AWESOME looking pork!
pulled pork beauty indeed!! : ) thanks for giving some background on bourbon – I dont think that I could pinpoint that as the difference between bourbon and whiskey until I read that!
Whooo—I feel like I’ve actually learned something new today. Who knew? Bourbon me up for these sliders!
This looks so good!! Really enjoyed reading about bourbon and whiskey too! Really interesting!!
Apple, bourbon and pork are headed for my slow-cooker!
Great recipe, I am drooling thinking about it!!
I adore pulled pork, so your sliders sound magnificent! I love the aroma while it cooks all day long…will add to our menu soon 🙂
If you like the smell of whiskey, you’ll LOVE the way these make the house smell!
I appreciate the bourbon/whisky info. Had no idea. And, these sliders sound fab. Pinning this one.
YUM!!! I love to have some right now!! Mmmm
Why not slow cook pork in bourbon is RIGHT! Yummy!
Your recipe sounds all sorts of yummy! I’m always confused about bourbon and whisky so thanks for the clarification. This dish is seriously making my mouth water. Thanks for sharing this today because I’ll be making it soon!
I am so adding this to my pork slow-cooker to-cook recipes. Sounds incredibly yummy.