Planning the Perfect Pulled Pork Slider Party for 50 People

Pulled pork sliders are the ultimate crowd-pleasing party snack These miniature sandwiches are packed with juicy, smoky shredded pork shoulder piled high on petite buns. When hosting for a group, pulled pork sliders are a go-to option. But determining how much meat you need can be tricky when serving 50 guests

In this detailed guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to get the pork portions just right for serving 50 perfect pulled pork sliders.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Slider?

The first step is deciding how big you want your sliders Standard slider buns are around 2-3 inches wide

For mini 1-2 inch buns, plan for 1 ounce of finished pulled pork per slider. For a regular 2-3 inch bun, have 2 ounces of pork per slider.

Key Takeaway: Estimate 1-2 ounces of finished, cooked pulled pork per slider depending on bun size.

How Many Sliders Per Person?

With appetizer-sized sliders, people will usually eat 2-4 sliders each over the course of a party. For a meal, plan for 4-6 sliders per adult.

For a happy medium, figure 4 sliders per person at your party. This allows seconds while ensuring enough for everyone.

With 50 guests and 4 sliders each, you’ll need to make 200 total sliders.

Calculating How Much Pork You Need

Using our estimates above:

• 200 sliders total
• 2 oz pork per slider
• 200 sliders x 2 oz = 400 oz pork
• 400 oz = 25 lbs cooked pork

Because pork shoulder loses 30% weight when cooking, increase the amount by 30% to determine the raw weight:

• 25 lbs cooked pork
• Add 30% = 7.5 lbs
• 32.5 lbs raw pork shoulder

So for 50 guests eating 4 sliders each with 2 oz pork/slider, you need around 32-33 lbs of raw pork shoulder.

Pork Shoulder Servings Per Pound

As a general rule, expect 1 lb of uncooked pork shoulder to yield:

• 0.66 lbs cooked pork
• 16-20 sliders (at 1 oz pork/slider)
• 8-10 sliders (at 2 oz pork/slider)

These are rough estimates, but help give portions. 32 lbs of raw pork will make 20+ lbs cooked, good for 200+ sliders.

Choosing the Right Pork Cut

Choose a boneless pork shoulder, ideally in a 8-10 lb cryovac package. Look for good marbling.

Pork butt or Boston butt comes from the upper shoulder and is the traditional cut for pulled pork. Picnic or picnic shoulder comes from the lower shoulder and also works well. Both make wonderfully tender, flavorful pulled pork.

Prepping the Pork

Trim large fat deposits from the pork shoulder for better smoke absorption. Apply a dry rub at least 2 hours before smoking – longer is even better.

Use any combo of spices like smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic, onion, cayenne, cumin, and salt & pepper.

Smoking the Pork Shoulder

Smoke the seasoned pork shoulder at 225-250°F until it hits 205°F internal temperature. This takes 1-1.5 hours per pound, so allow at least 12 hours for a 10 lb shoulder.

Use wood chips, chunks or logs for flavor. Apple, cherry, pecan and hickory are all excellent options. Spritz with apple juice or cider vinegar every hour for extra moisture and flavor.

Rest the finished pork for 30-60 minutes before shredding. This allows the juices to redistribute.

Pulling the Pork

Pull the pork into shreds once rested, removing any excess fat chunks. Season the pulled pork with reserved juices, apple cider vinegar, barbecue sauce, etc.

For a party, keep the meat moist but not overly sauced. Guests can add sauce themselves on the buns.

Slicing the Buns

Slice buns horizontally into tops and bottoms. Mini brioche buns are perfect slider size.

Pre-toast the opened buns in the oven or toaster oven before loading up with pork. This prevents soggy buns.

Building the Sliders

Keep it simple – pork and buns are the stars! Have pickle chips, coleslaw, sautéed onions or barbecue sauce on the side for customizing.

Layer 2-3 oz of shredded pork on each bun bottom. Add any desired toppings then cap it with the bun tops. Insert toothpicks diagonally to keep the mini sandwiches together.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the trays of sliders right away, or hold them in a 200°F oven to keep warm. Provide plenty of napkins!

You can also let guests build their own custom sliders from a pulled pork station. Set out the pork, buns and toppings so they can DIY.

No matter how you serve them, your guests will devour these party-perfect pork sliders!

Leftover Pulled Pork

Leftover pulled pork keeps well refrigerated for up to 5 days. Reheat gently with a bit of broth or sauce to prevent drying out.

Pulled pork also freezes beautifully for 3-6 months. Portion into freezer bags or containers. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.

Ideas for Using Leftovers

Beyond sliders, leftover pulled pork is amazing in:

• Tacos
• Nachos
• Omelets
• Hash
• Chili
• Soup
• Pizza
• Casserole bakes
• Stir fries
• Sandwiches
• Salads
• Pasta dishes
• Burritos
• Breakfast burritos
• Quesadillas

With the versatility of pulled pork, you can get creative with the leftovers!

Planning the Perfect Pulled Pork Slider Party

When hosting a crowd, pulled pork sliders always satisfy. Use our guidelines to ensure you have plenty of tender shredded pork for serving 50 guests 4 sliders each.

Around 32-33 pounds of raw pork shoulder will yield 200 juicy pork sliders. Serve them up with sides and fixings and your party will be a smashing success!