Mike Ditka's Tailgate Pork Sandwich

Elevate your game-day spread with Mike Ditka's Tailgate Pork Sandwich, a bold and flavorful recipe that’s sure to score big at any gathering. This crowd-pleasing dish features tender, slow-cooked pork shoulder seasoned with a mouthwatering spice rub of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and brown sugar. After hours of roasting or slow cooking, the pork is shredded to perfection and generously coated in tangy barbecue sauce with a splash of apple cider vinegar for extra zing. Serve the succulent meat on toasted hamburger buns, and top with crunchy coleslaw and crisp pickles for the ultimate tailgate sandwich experience. Perfect for feeding a hungry crowd, this recipe combines rich flavors, easy prep, and irresistible comfort food vibes—all in one bite!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:300 mins

Total Time:320 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 3 lbs Pork shoulder (boneless)
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp Brown sugar
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1.5 cups Barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• 8 pieces Hamburger buns
• 2 cups Coleslaw (optional, for serving)
• 1 cup Pickles (optional, for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) or set a slow cooker to low heat.

Step 2

Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then rub it all over with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar to form a spice rub.

Step 3

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Step 4

Transfer the pork shoulder to a roasting pan (if using the oven) or the slow cooker. Pour 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce and the apple cider vinegar over the meat.

Step 5

Cover with a lid (or aluminum foil if using the oven) and cook for 4-5 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender and easily shreds apart.

Step 6

Once cooked, remove the pork from the pan or slow cooker and shred it with two forks, discarding any excess fat or gristle.

Step 7

Return the shredded pork to the pan or slow cooker and stir in the remaining barbecue sauce. Let it warm through for 10-15 minutes.

Step 8

Toast the hamburger buns lightly if desired. Pile the shredded pork onto the buns and top with coleslaw and pickles if using. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3035.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5939.2

Total Fat 383.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 123.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.1g
Cholesterol 976.6mg	0%
Sodium 14142.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 376.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 129.0g	0%
Total Sugars 208.9g
Protein 367.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 699.7mg	0%
Iron 33.1mg	0%
Potassium 5805.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 53.7%

Protein: 22.9%

Carbs: 23.4%