Season 12 - Lunch / S12L25
Pulled Pork Sliders with Guava BBQ
Story
One breezy Sunday afternoon, Don Luis opened the slow cooker, and a cloud of savory steam danced out like a magician’s trick. “¡Mira eso!” he whispered to himself, pulling apart the most tender pork he’d ever made. But something was missing… a spark. He reached into his pantry and pulled out a jar of guava paste—his childhood favorite. The sweet, tropical aroma reminded him of his abuela spreading guava on toast every morning. “Let’s take this pork on a Caribbean vacation,” he said with a grin. As the guava melted into the bubbling BBQ sauce, Luna barked twice—her approval always came early. Toby wagged his tail in anticipation, his nose in the air. Don Luis assembled the mini sliders with pride, stacked with pork, pickled onions, and a soft buttery bun. “Sometimes,” he said, wiping his hands on his jean-and-leather apron, “home is a flavor you carry with you.” 🌴🐷🍞 Time & Nutrition
Ingredients
- 5 lbs pork shoulder (boneless) 🐖
- 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- 1 tsp garlic powder 🧄
- 1 tsp onion powder 🧅
- 1 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
- Salt & pepper to taste 🧂
- 0.5 cup guava paste (cut into chunks) 🍬
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite brand or homemade) 🍯
- 8 slider buns 🍔
- 0.5 cup pickled red onions (optional but 🔥) 🧅
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro (chopped) 🌿
Instructions
- 1Prep the pork: Rub the pork shoulder with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- 2Slow cook it: Place the pork in your slow cooker. Add 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours until fork-tender.
- 3Shred it up: Remove the pork and shred it using two forks. Set aside.
- 4Make the guava BBQ sauce: In a saucepan, combine BBQ sauce and guava paste. Simmer over medium heat until the guava melts and blends in (5–8 minutes), stirring constantly.
- 5Mix and toss: Pour the guava BBQ sauce over the pulled pork. Mix until well-coated.
- 6Assemble the sliders: Toast the buns lightly. Add a generous scoop of guava pork, top with pickled onions and cilantro. Add the top bun and secure with a toothpick if needed.
- 7Serve warm and enjoy with a side of plantain chips or sweet potato fries! 🍌🍟
About the narrator
Don Luis · A character for three generations
Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.
Read our mission →