Copycat Disneyland Pulled Pork Sandwich with Pineapple Slaw

On my most recent trip to Disneyland with my husband, we decided to go on a food journey and eat our way through Disneyland. We’d heard some tips before going, but we also wanted to seek out some new items.

Prior to this trip, our in-park food selections were mostly centered around finding things our kids would eat. This meant burgers, pizza, chicken fingers, and such. You know the drill. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of those things, it’s tough to stomach dropping a hefty chunk of change on a burger. If you’re going to spend, why not find something amazing that is worth the theme park pricing?

Of all the things we tried at Disneyland, one item stood out as the clear favorite for both me and my husband: the pulled pork sandwich. Seriously.

This sandwich is available for lunch and dinner at the French Market Restaurant which is located in New Orleans Square inside Disneyland. It’s the restaurant next to the Disneyland Railroad stop near Haunted Mansion. The location is perfect for a late lunch or dinner because sometimes you just need a break from the walking and standing in line. The restaurant has outdoor seating that’s semi-covered and provides a welcome relief from the heat. Good food and a live jazz band make for a fun atmosphere.

While the French Market Restaurant has many solid menu options as well, the pulled pork is definitely worth the visit.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Pulled pork is pulled pork. I mean, what’s the big deal?” The thing that sets this pulled pork apart is something most people don’t even think about: the slaw.

Some pulled pork sandwiches don’t even bother with slaw, and those that do usually stick with a traditional cole slaw, which is fine as far as it goes. But the pulled pork sandwich at Disneyland features a pineapple slaw. And it is AMAZING!

They officially call it a Caribbean-style pineapple slaw which is a fun, though somewhat vague, name for a slaw that’s sweet with a spicy kick. Where traditional slaw is mostly bitter with hints of sweetness, this pineapple slaw is decidedly sweet (which pairs well with the barbecue sauce it’s served with) and then comes in at the end with a hint of spice. It’s just what’s needed to elevate a pulled pork sandwich.

While you should definitely snag this sandwich the next time you’re at Disneyland, you can get a taste of it yourself today with this Disneyland copycat pulled pork sandwich with pineapple slaw recipe.

Copycat Disneyland Pulled Pork Sandwich

INGREDIENTS

Pulled Pork
3-5 lbs pork loin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 bottle barbecue sauce
3/4 cup water

Pineapple Slaw
1/2 pineapple, small chunks
1 cucumber, diced
1/4 onion, finely diced
small handful cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 lime (juice from it)
chipotle chili pepper seasoning

1 package Italian sandwich rolls
1/2 bottle barbecue sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes together in a small bowl. Sprinkle this spice mixture on all sides of the pork loin.
2. Place the pork loin in a crock pot, then add in the bottle of barbecue sauce and 3/4 cup of water. Cook on low for 8 hours.
3. When the pork is done, carefully remove it from the crock pot and shred with two forks. It should fall right apart. Return the pork to the crock pot.
4. Prepare the pineapple slaw by combining the pineapple chunks, diced cucumber, diced onion, and chopped cilantro in a bowl. Squeeze the juice from half a lime onto the slaw, then lightly sprinkle chipotle chili pepper seasoning on top (be careful as this can get hot fast). Stir to combine.
5. Cut the Italian sandwich rolls in half, lengthwise, and fill the sandwich with pulled pork. Pour extra barbecue sauce on top, as desired.
6. Top the sandwich with the pineapple slaw.

As a crock pot meal, this comes together rather quickly and works great for a summer meal or for parties. It’s super easy to make, tastes amazing, and will remind you of good times at Disneyland.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!