Memphis Pulled Pork Sandwich
Tangy, smoky pulled pork with a Memphis-style wet rub, finished with a bold vinegar-and-spice sauce. Served on soft buns with crispy fried onions for texture and punch.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 720
- Protein
- 52g
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork shoulder, boneless
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce (cayenne-based)
- 2 count soft hamburger buns
- ¼ cup fried onions (crispy)
Instructions
- 1
Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels, pressing gently all over until no moisture remains on the surface.
- 2
Mix brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a small bowl until combined.
- 3
Rub the spice mixture all over the pork shoulder, pressing it firmly into the meat on all sides so it adheres.
- 4
Place the pork in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, pour the apple cider vinegar around it, and add 0.5 cup water.
- 5
Cover the pot with a lid, set heat to medium-low, and cook for 3.5 hours — the pork should be extremely tender and falling apart when prodded with a fork.
- 6
Remove the pot from heat and carefully transfer the pork to a large cutting board, reserving the liquid in the pot.
- 7
Let the pork rest for 5 minutes, then use two forks — one in each hand — to shred the pork into bite-sized pieces by pulling the forks in opposite directions.
- 8
Pour 0.75 cup of the reserved cooking liquid into a bowl and stir in the hot sauce until blended.
- 9
Return the shredded pork to the pot and stir in the vinegar-hot sauce mixture until the meat is evenly coated and moist.
- 10
Toast the hamburger buns in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side until lightly golden and warm.
- 11
Divide the pulled pork evenly between the two toasted buns, spooning any sauce left in the pot over the meat.
- 12
Top each sandwich with 2 tablespoons of crispy fried onions, pressing gently so they adhere to the sauce.
Tools you’ll need
- large heavy pot or Dutch oven with lid
- paper towels
- small bowl
- cutting board
- two forks
- large spoon or tongs
- medium skillet
- instant-read meat thermometer (optional)
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
CookSnap is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.
