Classic Pulled Pork Sandwich

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Classic Pulled Pork SandwichClassic Pulled Pork Sandwich

The classic pulled pork sandwich is an old favorite in barbecue circles everywhere.

And no wonder; it’s delicious, smoky, spicy and oh so satisfying.

I remember the first time I had one; it was love at first bite. In fact, it’s why I started barbecuing in the first place. The moist, tender pork, tangy barbecue sauce, cool, crisp coleslaw, all brought together in a symphony of flavors on a white, squishy bun.

Now that’s barbecue heaven and I just had to know how to make it for myself, my friends and family! I'm glad I did, and you'll be glad when you master this old time classic.

The Secret to a Great Pulled Pork Sandwich

What is it about this dish that makes it so delicious? The pork barbecue is the most obvious element of importance, but there’s more to it than that.

Sure, you could put some pork barbecue on some bread, and it would probably be pretty good. But we don’t want “pretty good”, we want fantastic! That’s why you’ve come to this page, right?

You want to be able to make the best pork barbecue sandwich you’ve ever tasted, right?

O.k. Here we go!

What is it that makes this dish so great? It's the intricate balancing act of flavors and textures. This balance comes from the right combination of smoke and spice, sweet and sour, crisp and tender. Let me explain…

Pork is delicious and has a very rich flavor. This flavor comes from several factors;

  • The inherent flavor of the animal.
  • Environmental factors; diet, where and how it was raised and the age of the animal when harvested.
  • The amount of fat in the cut of meat you are cooking.
  • You’re cooking method, which is directly reliant on the cut of meat that you’re preparing.

The pork is tender, because you’ve barbecued it to perfection, and, it contains a good amount of fat. It is also smoky and spicy.

The cool, crisp coleslaw adds crunch and texture to the tender meat.

The tangy North Carolina barbecue sauce adds flavor and helps cut through the fat on your palate as you eat it.

The white squishy bun helps hold everything together, absorbs the juices and adds another element of texture and flavor.

When you take all these factors into account, you’ll see why pork barbecue was made to be put in between two slices of bread and devoured!

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Pulled Pork Sandwich

Before you start making your sandwiches, make sure your pork and sauce is hot, and the coleslaw is chilled. The pork barbecue, coleslaw and sauce can all be prepared the day before.

Note: Even if you “don’t like coleslaw” it’s an entirely different experience when served in this sandwich. Try it; your next great culinary discovery may be right around the corner!


  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Wrap buns in heavy duty aluminum foil and heat in 400°F oven until warm, about ten minutes.
  3. Pile some of the pork barbecue on the warmed bottom buns, drizzle with a tablespoon or two of barbecue sauce, depending on your tastes.
  4. Top with coleslaw if desired.
  5. Place top bun on sandwich. Squish together slightly, to hold everything in place.
  6. Enjoy!!!

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