Pulled Pork Bowl BBQ Coleslaw (Print page)

Tender slow-cooked pork over fluffy rice with tangy coleslaw and smoky BBQ drizzle.

# What You Need:

→ Pork

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless pork shoulder or pork butt
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 cup chicken broth
09 - 0.5 cup BBQ sauce, plus extra for serving

→ Rice or Grain

10 - 2 cups cooked white rice, brown rice, or quinoa

→ Coleslaw

11 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
12 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
13 - 1 medium carrot, grated
14 - 0.25 cup mayonnaise
15 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
16 - 1 teaspoon honey
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnishes

18 - Sliced green onions (optional)
19 - Fresh cilantro (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin. Rub the spice mixture evenly over all surfaces of the pork shoulder.
02 - Place the seasoned pork in a slow cooker and add chicken broth. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours until the pork is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
03 - Remove the cooked pork from the slow cooker and shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks. Return shredded pork to the slow cooker, stir in 0.5 cup BBQ sauce, and keep warm on low setting.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded green cabbage, shredded red cabbage, and grated carrot. Mix thoroughly to distribute vegetables evenly.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined and smooth.
06 - Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
07 - Divide cooked rice or grain equally among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with generous portions of pulled pork and coleslaw. Drizzle with additional BBQ sauce and garnish with green onions or cilantro if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pork practically falls apart on its own, which means less effort and more time enjoying the meal with people you care about.
  • It's genuinely hard to mess up in a slow cooker, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or lazy weekends when you want something impressive without the stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of adding BBQ sauce at the end rather than at the beginning, because it will scorch and become bitter during the long cook, losing all that bright, tangy character you're after.
  • The coleslaw actually gets better if you make it an hour or two ahead, as the dressing softens the cabbage just slightly while keeping it crunchy enough to contrast with the soft pork.
03 -
  • If you're in a hurry, use a shredded coleslaw mix from the store and just whisk together your own dressing, which tastes just as good and cuts prep time in half.
  • Try a squeeze of lime juice over the finished bowl if you want an extra brightness that plays beautifully with the smoke and sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
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