Julie Clark
Updated:
Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders (Soft, Cheesy, and Never Soggy)
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If you have leftover pulled pork and need an easy way to turn it into a meal, these pulled pork sliders are the answer. They come together quickly on soft Hawaiian rolls, bake up warm and melty, and are perfect for feeding a crowd.
This version leans into bold flavor with barbecue sauce, pineapple, melty cheese, and a buttery topping brushed over the rolls before baking. The result is sliders that are soft, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor in every bite.
Whether you’re planning a party, game day menu, or just trying to use up leftover pork, this is one of the easiest ways to make it feel like a completely new meal.
What are pulled pork sliders?
Pulled pork sliders are small baked sandwiches made with shredded pork, soft rolls, and a flavorful sauce. Most versions use Hawaiian rolls for their soft texture and slight sweetness, which pairs well with barbecue pork.
The slider rolls are assembled all at once, brushed with a seasoned butter topping, then baked until warm, melty, and easy to pull apart. They’re popular for parties because you can make a full tray at once instead of assembling individual sandwiches.
I’m 100% in love with Hawaiian roll sliders.
If I’m bringing food to a party or meeting, my mind immediately starts thinking of what version I want to make. Pull apart baked sandwiches are great for parties and potlucks, and even breakfasts! Just check our our Hawaiian roll cinnamon roll recipe.
BBQ chicken sliders, reuben sliders, pizza sliders, breakfast sliders, ham and cheese sliders…and now I’ve added Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders to the mix. They remind of my favorite Hawaiian bbq chicken thighs that I love serving with pineapple coleslaw.
This bbq pork sliders recipe has such a great combination of flavors: barbecue sauce, pineapple, pepper jack cheese and a buttery sauce with a hint of soy sauce, garlic and ginger, all topping soft Hawaiian rolls. Serve with a side of potato chips, french fries or creamy coleslaw!
This recipe is featured in our cookbook At the Family Table.
My favorite leftover shredded pork recipe
This baked slider recipe is great for leftover shredded pork, just like our pulled pork baked potatoes and pulled pork mac and cheese. If you already have bbq pulled pork, that’s ok. Just don’t add any extra sauce. Or maybe you have Kalua pork, which would be delicious on these sandwiches.
If you need to cook pulled pork, use our recipe for a sweet & tangy slow cooker Hawaiian pulled pork recipe. You can use a bone-in or boneless pork shoulder or pork roast.
Need more pork leftover recipes? Try our pulled pork enchiladas recipe and pulled pork pizza!
How to make pulled pork sliders
These sliders come together in just a few simple steps:
Mix the butter topping. Whisk together melted butter, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and sesame seeds.
Toss the pork with sauce. Combine pulled pork with barbecue sauce so it’s evenly coated but not overly wet.
Layer the sliders. Place the bottom half of the rolls in a baking dish. Brush lightly with butter, then layer pork, pineapple, and cheese evenly across the rolls.
Add tops and brush. Place the top buns on and brush the remaining butter mixture over the tops.
Bake until warm and melty. Cover with foil and bake at 350ºF for about 20 minutes, then uncover for a few minutes to lightly brown the tops.
How to keep sliders from getting soggy
Pulled pork sliders can get soggy if the pork or sauce is too wet. Here’s how to avoid that:
- Use just enough barbecue sauce to coat the pork, not soak it
- Brush butter lightly on the bottom buns instead of saturating them
- Bake covered first, then uncover to crisp the tops slightly
- Let sliders rest a few minutes before slicing so everything sets
This keeps the rolls soft but not falling apart.
How can you keep sliders warm?
These baked sliders are best served warm and fresh from the oven. So how do you keep them warm if you’re preparing them for a party?
The easiest way is to keep the sandwiches covered with foil in a warm oven (170 degrees Fahrenheit) until serving. Pull them out right before guests go through the buffet line. Keep the sandwiches covered with foil even when they are sitting on the countertop.
Another option is to cut the sandwiches, wrap them individually in foil and place them in a slow cooker on the warm setting. This will keep them perfectly warm and you can travel easily with them this way as well.
Can you freeze sliders?
You can easily make the pulled pork sliders in advance as a freezer meal.
- Make them to the point of baking, then wrap them well in foil and place them in a freezer bag.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. I like to allow the sandwiches to at least partially defrost so they don’t have to be in the oven as long. Removing them from the freezer and placing them in the fridge the day before baking works great.
- You can bake the sandwiches straight from the freezer…just add extra time to the baking time to make sure they are cooked all the way through.
What to Serve with Pulled Pork Sliders
Bring the family together with these Hawaiian pulled pork sliders as the main dish. They are great served with:
- Potato Salad
- Pasta Salad
- Corn on the Cob
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Dill Pickles
Have pork leftovers? Learn how to freeze pulled pork. And also try our Dr Pepper pulled pork. You’ll also love our loaded nachos supreme. It’s a great game day appetizer.
And try our easy Hawaiian roll french toast casserole and hawaiian roll garlic bread.
Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders
Hawaiian pulled pork sliders are a delicious sweet & spicy twist on classic pulled pork. It's a great way to use up leftover pulled pork.
Servings 12
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 45 minutes
Ingredients
For the butter sauce:
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
For the sandwiches:
- 3 cups pulled pork
- ⅔ cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup pineapple tidbits drained
- 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
Optional toppings:
- shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
- french fried onions or red onion
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, seeds, garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger. Whisk well. ½ cup salted butter, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon ginger
- In a medium bowl, combine the pulled pork and barbecue sauce. Mix well. You can skip this step if it already has bbq sauce on it. 3 cups pulled pork, ⅔ cup barbecue sauce
- Use a large serrated knife to slice the rolls in half, separating the tops from the bottoms. Place the bottom of the rolls onto the prepared baking pan. Brush a few tablespoons of the butter mixture onto the bottom of the rolls.
- Layer the pulled pork over the rolls. Sprinkle the pineapple tidbits over the pork. Top with sliced pepper jack cheese. Place the tops of the rolls onto the sandwiches. Brush the remaining butter mixture evenly over the rolls. Cover the rolls loosely with foil. ½ cup pineapple tidbits, 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls, 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- Bake in the preheated oven until the rolls are lightly browned and the cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Then uncover and bake another 3-5 minutes to brown.
- Slice into individual slider sandwiches through the pork and cheese layers to serve. Top with prepared coleslaw, cabbage or french fried onions, if desired.
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 12 sandwiches, with 1 serving being 1 sandwich. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 731mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg
I’m trying to use up a pound of ground pork, is there a way to substitute it for the pulled pork?
Do drain the sauce in the crockpot before shredding the pork?
This is more of a casserole than actual sliders. Impossible to keep the bottom buns from getting soggy
If I have a 7.21 pound bone-in pork shoulder butt (this is what I got delivered to me!) how long would I have to cook in a slow cooker? Would it be better to slow cook it on high instead of low? SO excited to make this and use for two dinners!
for brushing the butter mixture on the bottom part of the roll, which bottom- the side you will then layer with the pork, or the actual bottom of the roll? Sorry, my coffee has not hit this morning 😂
Do they get soggy if you leave them out?
Love this recipe and so easy to make. It was a huge hit for the Super Bowl party!
You keep mentioning BBQ sauce, but don’t say what kind to use and bbq sauce differs widly.