Pulled Pork Sliders
Published Aug 05, 2026
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These juicy pulled pork sliders are an easy and delicious way to use leftover pulled pork! Make them with smoky BBQ pork, pineapple, and melted Pepper Jack cheese baked between sweet Hawaiian rolls brushed with a teriyaki-style glaze.
If you love the sweet-savory flavors in these Hawaiian pork sliders, try my Hawaiian sheet pan chicken, too.
Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
If I looked up “flavor explosion” in the dictionary, I wouldn’t be surprised if this picture of pulled pork sliders appeared. I had leftover slow cooker pork shoulder the other day, so I decided to perfect my Hawaiian roll sliders. These pulled pork sliders are extra juicy and loaded with shredded pork soaked in barbecue sauce, topped with pineapple and Pepper Jack cheese.
All that gets stuffed and baked between sweet Hawaiian rolls brushed with a mouthwatering teriyaki-inspired glaze. It’s the most deliciously sweet, smoky, savory combination of Hawaiian BBQ-meets-Asian-style flavor! These make a great tailgating recipe, party appetizer, or weeknight dinner. If you have leftover pulled pork in the fridge, I definitely think you should make sliders!
What Makes These Pulled Pork Sliders So Good?
- Teriyaki-inspired glaze. Instead of your usual garlic butter for brushing over the sliders, I flavored mine with brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and sesame seeds. It adds SO much flavor!
- Only one pan. These baked sliders use a single sheet pan, so they’re easy to transport and clean up is quick.
- Stretch leftovers into a new meal. The beauty here is that you can make this pulled pork sliders recipe with slow cooker pulled pork, Kalua pork, or any leftover, shreddable pork, including a pork loin roast.
If you’re still sitting with leftover pork afterward, pulled pork mac and cheese is another great way to use it. If you aren’t a fan of pork, try my pulled chicken or pulled chicken tacos instead.
What You’ll Need
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make the pulled pork sliders and butter sauce. See the printable recipe card below for the full recipe with amounts.
- Pulled Pork – I used leftovers from my slow cooker pork shoulder recipe (I also have an Instant Pot version). This Instant Pot pork loin is a leaner option. Any pulled pork, homemade or store-bought, works well in these sliders.
- BBQ sauce – I mix the pork with barbecue sauce. You could skip this step if you’re already using pre-cooked barbecue pulled pork.
- Canned Chopped Pineapple – Make sure it’s canned in juice and not heavy syrup. Drain the pineapple chunks well so they won’t make the sliders soggy. You can also use pineapple rings and chop them yourself.
- Hawaiian Rolls – I love to use homemade Hawaiian rolls when I have time to bake them. They’re so fresh and fluffy and easy to make. Highly recommend. You could also assemble your sliders on store-bought rolls. Texas Roadhouse rolls or classic dinner rolls are a good option if traditional Hawaiian rolls aren’t available.
- Pepper Jack Cheese – Pepper Jack contains chili peppers for a spicy kick. Monterey Jack, cheddar, or provolone cheese are milder options.
- Pickled Onions – Optional, for serving. Pickles add freshness that balances the richness of the smoky pork and cheese. My favorite!
Teriyaki Butter Sauce
- Butter – I use salted butter, but unsalted will also work.
- Sesame Seeds – These can be plain or toasted, white or black sesame seeds.
- Garlic – Freshly minced, or you can use garlic powder. Since powder is more concentrated, substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder for every 1 teaspoon of minced.
- Soy Sauce – I like to use light soy sauce so I can control the sodium levels. Substitute tamari or coconut aminos as needed.
- Brown Sugar – You can also use regular granulated sugar or another sweetener, like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
- Ginger – Freshly grated. Like the garlic, you can substitute fresh ginger with ground ginger. Start with half the amount and add more as needed.
Tips for Perfect Sliders
- Drain the pineapple. Drain off the juice from your canned pineapple so it doesn’t make the sliders soggy. Alternatively, you could use fresh pineapple instead, in which case draining isn’t needed.
- Trap the heat. Cover the sliders with foil while they bake so the cheese melts evenly, and the tops of the rolls won’t dry out.
- If you’d like crispy tops, remove the foil at the end and brown the sliders under the broiler for 1-2 minutes.
- Rest, then serve. Allow these pulled pork sliders to rest for a few minutes after baking. It helps the filling stay in place when you slice them.
What to Serve With Pork Sliders
Whether I serve them to family or friends, everyone devours these pulled pork sliders and begs for seconds. Pickled onions are a fan-favorite side in my house. Classic coleslaw is a great option, or this Asian-inspired red cabbage slaw also complements the teriyaki butter. These are more serving suggestions for you:
- Comfort food: Enjoy BBQ pulled pork sliders with a casserole dish of homemade mac and cheese and corn on the cob on game day.
- Appetizers: Sliders make delicious finger food alongside air fryer spring rolls and Buffalo chicken dip.
- Fries: I love crispy potato skins for a fun twist or parmesan truffle fries.
- Salads: Spice it up with a fresh pineapple cucumber salad, ramen salad, or a loaded baked potato salad.
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Pulled Pork Sliders
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1½ teaspoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
For the sliders:
- 3 cups pulled pork, I use the leftovers from my slow cooker pork shoulder recipe
- ½ cup smoky BBQ sauce
- ½ cup canned pineapple chunks in juice, drained
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
- 6 slices pepper jack cheese
- ¾ cup pickled onions, for serving
Instructions
- Make the sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the sesame seeds, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside.
- Get ready to bake. Preheat your oven to 350˚F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Prep the pork. Combine the pulled pork with BBQ sauce and set aside.
- Prep the rolls. Using a large, serrated knife, slice the whole sheet of rolls in half, horizontally through the center, without breaking the individual rolls apart. Separate the bottom and top parts. Place the bottom part of the Hawaiian rolls inside the lined baking pan.
- Assemble. Brush the bottom half of the Hawaiian rolls with half the butter sauce. Arrange the pulled pork over the bottom half of the rolls, sprinkle the pineapple pieces over the top in an even layer, and then add the cheese slices. Close with the top part of the rolls and brush them with the remaining butter sauce.
- Bake the rolls. Loosely cover the Hawaiian rolls with aluminum foil and bake the sliders for 20 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for 5 more minutes, or until browned on top.
- Rest the sliders, then serve. Remove the sliders from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve them warm with pickled onions on the side or tucked inside the sliders.
Notes
- Drain the pineapple well to prevent the sliders from getting soggy. Do not use a pineapple that was soaked in heavy syrup.
- Covering the sliders with foil helps the cheese melt evenly while keeping the tops soft.
- For crispier tops, broil the sliders for 1–2 minutes at the end.
- Let the sliders rest for a few minutes before slicing to help the filling stay in place.
- Pickled onions balance the rich pulled pork and cheese.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make This Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
Just like my cheeseburger sliders and turkey, ham, and cheese sliders, these sandwiches take minutes to prep. Slice the whole sheet of Hawaiian rolls in half, layer on the ingredients, then bake. You can even assemble the sandwiches in advance and bake them when it’s time to serve.
- Make the butter sauce. Start by melting butter in a saucepan and adding the sesame seeds, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. Set this aside to infuse and cool off while you prep your sliders.
- Prepare the pork. In a bowl, toss the pulled pork with barbecue sauce.
- Cut the rolls in half. Meanwhile, use a serrated knife to slice the sheet of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, so you have the tops and bottoms. Place the bottoms of the rolls in a parchment-lined baking pan. Using a basting brush, brush the bottom half of the rolls with the teriyaki butter sauce.
- Assemble the sliders. Add the BBQ pulled pork, topped with pineapple pieces, then slices of cheese. Place the top half of the rolls over the filling. Lastly, brush the tops with more butter sauce.
- Bake the sliders. Cover the pan loosely with foil, and place the sliders in a 350ºF oven for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes to brown the tops. If you’d like, you can switch the broiler on in the last 1-2 minutes.
- Serve. I love serving my pulled pork sliders with pickled onions, but a drizzle of zhoug sauce or your favorite coleslaw on the side would also be delicious. See above for more serving ideas.
Make-Ahead and Storage
- Assemble ahead of time. You can assemble the pulled pork sliders up to 24 hours ahead of baking. Don’t butter the tops; instead, wait until it’s time to bake. You can save the teriyaki butter in an airtight container in the fridge and melt it again for brushing.
- Refrigerate leftovers. Store any leftover sliders covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating pulled pork sliders. You can warm up leftovers in a 350ºF oven until hot throughout.
