Slow Cooker Peanut BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Thai Ginger Slaw

Juicy pulled pork sandwiches with a sweet and tangy peanut butter BBQ sauce piled high with a refreshing Thai ginger slaw. A total flash mob of flavor that is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser and a new family favorite!

So tell me! What are you thinking of making for the super bowl? Or for the final playoff games this weekend? You know it’s an excellent excuse to throw a big ol' slab of meat in the slow cooker and give your teeth something big and juicy to sink into. And while I might not be watching a game for any other purpose than to socialize, having some delicious game-day delights on hand is a must.If you like sweet heat, this has your name allllll over it. The pork roast is smothered in a homemade sweet and smoky spice rub and seared to crispy perfection. Then it's slow roasted allll day long until it's falls apart to shreds. THEN it is bathed in the most delicious BBQ sauce made of peanut butter(!!), ginger, red chili sauce and spices.

Seriously, this BBQ sauce is making me consider terminating my relationship with bottled barbecue sauce. I've experimented with a few homemade BBQ sauces in the past, but it was not until I added peanut butter to it that my life was officially changed. #blessed.The pork and sauce alone is fantastic, but top it with a generous portion of thai ginger slaw and you will be in sandwich heaven. I love love love a good slaw and this one just makes me giddy. It's tangy, crunchy, sweet and refreshing with a teeny bit of heat from the jalapeño. I'm already thinking of a million other possible uses for it. Tacos?! Tostadas?! Burgers?! Tuna salads?!

And just look at all of that beautiful color! I wish I were half as photogenic as this bowl of slaw.I kid you not, I was up at 6AM this morning searing this 3.5 lb honkin' slab of meat. What kind of lunatic is up at 6AM on a Saturday massaging spices onto a pork butt? I had one of those moments when I had to ask myself "what is my life?!".

My restless, rambunctious puppy is to blame. It's safe to say I will be retiring to my bed by 9PM tonight. Probably only to be up at 6AM again tomorrow making a cobbler, roasting a turkey or pouring orange juice into my cereal because I'm so deliriously tired. Again, what IS my life?! I served these on some toasty whole wheat buns, but you could also serve the pork and slaw over tortilla chips and make a big tray of game day nachos!

Though since the recipe makes plentyyy, you'll have enough to chow down over the next few days and explore your options.

It's basically the only answer to the weekend. And to life.

Slow Cooker Peanut BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Thai Ginger Slaw

Juicy pulled pork sandwiches with a sweet and tangy peanut butter BBQ sauce piled high with a refreshing Thai ginger slaw. A total flash mob of flavor that is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser and a new family favorite!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Entree, Slow Cooker

Cuisine: American, Thai

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes

Servings: 8 sandwiches

Author: Jamie Vespa MS, RD

Ingredients

• ▢ 3-4 lb pork shoulder Boston butt roast
• ▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ▢ 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• ▢ Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
• ▢ 2 teaspoon canola or vegetable oil
• ▢ ⅓ cup vegetable or chicken stock
• ▢ 8 buns
• ▢ ***Peanut Butter BBQ Sauce***
• ▢ ¼ cup smooth peanut butter warmed/melted
• ▢ ⅓ cup ketchup
• ▢ 1 teaspoon molasses
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ▢ 2 ½ tablespoon thai sweet red chili sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ▢ Juice of 1 lime
• ▢ ***Thai Ginger Slaw***
• ▢ 4 cups chopped cabbage I used a mix of green and purple
• ▢ 2 bell peppers chopped (I used one red, one yellow)
• ▢ ½ jalapeno seeded and diced
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
• ▢ 2 limes juiced
• ▢ 2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• ▢ 1 tablespoon thai sweet red chili sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice I used Truvia
• ▢ ¼ cup honey-roasted peanuts chopped

Instructions

• For the pork: Pat pork dry with a paper towel. Mix all spices in a bowl and rub onto all sides of meat.
• Optional but yields the best result: heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Sear the pork on each side (2-3 minutes per side) until golden brown before adding to the crockpot.
• Add pork and stock to crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.
• About 30 minutes before the pork is done, prepare the BBQ sauce by whisking all ingredients in a large bowl. It should be thick and creamy in consistency. Set aside.
• After the pork is done, transfer to a cutting board and shred into pieces, discarding any layers of fat and/or bone. Strain remaining liquid from crockpot and set aside. Add pork back to crockpot along with ~1 cup of strained liquid and most of BBQ sauce (I reserved a little for a final drizzle on the sandwiches). Let pork sit for 20-30 minutes to absorb juices and sauce.
• In the meantime, prepare slaw by combining all ingredients (except peanuts) in a large bowl and let sit at room temperature for ~30 minutes to allow flavors to marry. Once ready to serve, toss in chopped peanuts.
• To assemble: toast buns in a toaster oven or over a hot skillet. Layer with pulled pork, slaw and a drizzle of BBQ sauce. Serve!

Notes

The slaw can be made the night before and refrigerated up until serving.

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