Applesauce Pulled Pork Sandwiches (Printer Version)

Slow-cooked pork shoulder with applesauce and apple cider, served on soft buns for sweet-savory satisfaction.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pork

01 - 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder or pork butt, trimmed
02 - 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
03 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Sauce

06 - 1½ cups unsweetened applesauce
07 - 1 cup apple cider
08 - ¼ cup brown sugar
09 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
10 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
12 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ To Serve

13 - 6 sandwich buns
14 - 1 cup coleslaw, optional
15 - Extra applesauce or barbecue sauce, optional

# How to Prepare:

01 - Pat the pork shoulder dry and season all sides evenly with kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and ground cinnamon.
02 - Place the thinly sliced onion and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker to create an aromatic base.
03 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together unsweetened applesauce, apple cider, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
04 - Place the seasoned pork on top of the onions in the slow cooker. Pour the applesauce mixture evenly over the pork to ensure even flavoring.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours, or until the pork is very tender and easily shreds with a fork.
06 - Remove the cooked pork from the slow cooker and shred using two forks, discarding any large pieces of excess fat.
07 - Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid, then return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and mix thoroughly with the sauce until well combined.
08 - Serve the pulled pork warm on sandwich buns. Top with coleslaw and additional applesauce or barbecue sauce if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The applesauce keeps the pork unbelievably moist and adds a quiet sweetness that doesn't scream dessert.
  • You can start it in the morning and forget about it until dinner, no babysitting required.
  • It's gentle enough for picky eaters but interesting enough to impress anyone who thinks they've tried every pulled pork recipe.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and taste even better the next day when the flavors have melded together.
02 -
  • Do not skip patting the pork dry, wet meat won't hold the seasoning and you'll lose all that flavor before it even starts cooking.
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, check the pork at 7 hours because overcooking can make it stringy instead of tender.
  • Always skim the fat before mixing the pork back in, or your sandwiches will be greasy and unpleasant.
  • Use unsweetened applesauce or the dish will taste more like dessert than dinner.
03 -
  • Sear the pork in a hot skillet before adding it to the slow cooker for a deeper, caramelized crust that adds another layer of flavor.
  • Double the sauce and freeze half for next time, it makes throwing together a weeknight dinner almost effortless.
  • Toast the buns lightly before assembling so they hold up better under all that juicy pork.
  • If you have any sauce left over, toss it with roasted vegetables or use it as a glaze for chicken.
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