Pulled Pork, whether you make it on the smoker or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, is arguably the hardest-working and cook-friendly of the BBQ meats. It’s forgiving and easy-going (perfect for beginning home cooks), even if you fudge the temperature or the trim. And because it can be prepared with a variety of seasonings and rubs, pork shoulder—the cut that’s used to make pulled pork—is versatile, too.
Want to feed a family a mix of fun dinners and their favorite comfort foods for an entire week? Cook a couple of 9-pound pork shoulders. Place the meat plus some sauce in family-sized or individual-sized storage containers, along with a little extra sauce, and you’ll be ready to pick from any of the recipes below any night of the week.
Can You Freeze Pulled Pork?
Pulled pork freezes beautifully. Especially if you’re smoking pulled pork, it squeezes efficiency out of the hours-long cook to throw an extra pork shoulder on the smoker. After the pork shoulder has finished cooking, allow it to cool to room temperature. Then the meat can be added to storage containers or freezer bags in family-sized or individual-sized portions. After that, simply pop them in the freezer. To dethaw, move the meat from the freezer to the refrigerator in the morning before you head out to work. Once you’re home, leave the rest to the microwave.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork?
Our favorite ways to reheat pulled pork are to 1) add the desired amount of meat to a large baking dish or pan, cover with aluminum foil, then heat in a 250-degree oven until warmed; or 2) add the desired amount of meat to a large, microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave until warmed. Easy, peasy.
What Goes With Pulled Pork?
Because pulled pork can be seasoned and/or sauced just about any which way, the leftovers are versatile. Serve it straight up with onions and pickles, like in classic Southern BBQ. Leftover pulled pork is delicious with potato salad, either creamy or vinegar-based. Grilled or roasted seasonal vegetables always partner well with pulled pork, particularly corn or squash. Of course, braised greens like collards are delicious with leftover pulled pork. Try it with cornbread and pickled jalapenos, too.
What do I do with leftover pulled pork?
Add a sweet BBQ sauce and you have the makings for an Asian-inspired lettuce wrap (see below) or homemade egg rolls. Throw a scoop on a toasted bun (try our homemade buns) and top with BBQ sauce and a creamy coleslaw. You’ll never go wrong adding leftover pulled pork to tacos, quesadillas, pizza, and baked potatoes. We have several recipes to help you plan night after night of delicious dinners made with pulled pork leftovers.
Comfort Food Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes
Classic BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
Gotta love the classics. If the BBQ Hall of Fame inducted sandwiches, this venerated combo of low-and-slow cooked pork and tangy slaw would be the first honoree. Switch it up by trying an onion bun, a combination of sauces, or with a spicy or Asian-inspired slaw.
Our Classic BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe
Pulled Pork Quesadilla
Smoky BBQ pulled pork, fresh and zesty toppings, the golden brown of a toasted tortilla. All the right flavors are here for a top-5 favorite dinner, and it’s all ready to hit the plate in minutes.
Our Pulled Pork Quesadilla Recipe
Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese
We don’t have to question why this recipe for Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese is one of our most-popular recipes ever. With creamy melted cheese, smoky pulled pork, buttered bread crumbs, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce, this dish speaks for itself. Whip it up as a side dish, or serve it as the main attraction—either way, don’t count on leftovers.
Our Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese Recipe
Pulled Pork Sliders
Around here, leftover BBQ pulled pork is a rarity. When it’s on hand, though, we love it on sliders. Simply split a sheet of sweet Hawaiian rolls, stack high with pulled pork, cheese, and crispy onions, and dinner is ready in 10 minutes.
Our Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
Pulled Pork Baked Potato
Consider this the baked potato of your dreams, with pulled pork, cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce to add interest, texture, and, if you use your talents, height. Barbecue the pork and cook the potatoes on the grill for extra flavor (and adventure). Serve with extra toppings on the side.
Our Pulled Pork Baked Potato Recipe
Smoked Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers
Southwest flavors combine with smoke and spice in this festive preparation of stuffed peppers—and they’re ready in about an hour. Use fresh ingredients and oak chips in your grill or smoker to take this dish to the next level.
Our Smoked Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Smoked Pulled Pork with Easy Marinade
If you choose any pulled pork recipe to be your go-to, let this one be it. Our Marinade sets off everything we love about pulled pork—the salty/sweet flavor, the tenderness, the delicious bark that forms on the outside. Our Championship Seasoning takes the flavor all the way to the bone. Make it for your next get-together, or make it a weekend cook that you parse out through the week as sandwiches, tacos, and stolen bites from the fridge.
Our Smoked Pulled Pork with Easy Marinade Recipe
Fun and Adventurous Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes
Pulled Pork Cornbread Shooters
Whether it’s game day, a graduation party, or a backyard get-together, these BBQ meat-packed shooters are bound to be the stars of the appetizer table. Get the kids in the kitchen for these—they’re fun to make for little hands, and all the pint-sized chefs can choose their favorite Head Country Bar-B-Q sauce.
Our Pulled Pork Cornbread Shooters Recipe
Pulled Pork Corndogs
No food says fun quite like the corn dog. Try our homemade version of this state fair classic, starring BBQ pulled pork in place of the usual frank. Serve with your favorite flavor of Head Country sauce.
Our Pulled Pork Corndogs Recipe
Pulled Pork Poutine
Our take on poutine proves our No. 1 rule: BBQ makes everything better. Our sauce takes the place of gravy in this holy trinity, rounded out by fries and cheese curds. Add BBQ pulled pork, either fresh off the smoker or leftover from the weekend, for even more stick-to-your-ribs goodness.
Our Pulled Pork Poutine Recipe
Pulled Pork Tacos with Mac & Cheese and Bacon Weave Shell
Know what’s gonna take your #TacoTuesday up a notch? Bacon. 72 slices, to be exact, woven into warm, crispy taco shells. Creamy mac & cheese and a tangy red-cabbage slaw top BBQ pulled pork in what might just be our most porktastic recipe ever.
Our Pulled Pork Tacos with Mac & Cheese and Bacon Weave Shell Recipe
Street Taco Style Loaded Totchos
Make the most out of weeknights—and leftovers—with this quick, piled-high sheet-pan dish inspired by tater tot casserole and your favorite roadside taco stand. The smoke of the chipotle, the twang of the pickled radish, and the bright cilantro add grown-up flavors to this family favorite.
Our Street Taco Style Loaded Totchos Recipe
Charcuterie Board with Smoked Brisket & BBQ Pulled Pork
Shake up your appetizer game—or plan a cold dinner for a hot night—with this how-to for the perfect charcuterie board featuring smoked brisket, BBQ pulled pork, and your favorite flavor of Head Country Bar-B-Q sauce.
Our Charcuterie Board with Smoked Brisket & BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe
Keto, Low Carb, and Low Sugar Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
This recipe for pulled pork sliders is one of our favorite ways to quickly, easily, deliciously, and, without added sugar, feed a crowd. Make the pulled pork ahead of time, if you like, then serve it up on these small-bite sandwiches for game day, the neighborhood cookout, or the next family get-together. If you’re serving these as part of a buffet, here’s our advice: offer all kinds of toppings, from classic slaw to French-fried onions, pickled jalapenos, or even seasoned potato chips.
Our Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
Low Carb Pulled Pork with Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
This low-carb smoked pulled pork is rich, flavorful, and versatile, delicious with grilled vegetables or topped with coleslaw. The sugar-free sauce brings BBQ back to the table for ‘que fans watching sugar and carbs.
Our Low Carb Pulled Pork with Sugar Free BBQ Sauce Recipe
Keto BBQ Pulled Pork Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Life without burritos? No, thank you. Thanks to these burritos-in-a-bowl, complete with smoked pulled pork and zesty riced cauliflower, it’s easy to skip the tortilla and load up on the low-carb (and delicious) fillings.
Our Keto BBQ Pulled Pork Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe
Asian Lettuce Wraps with BBQ Pulled Pork
Leftovers from a BBQ pork shoulder get transformed in this recipe for easy lettuce wraps featuring Asian-inspired flavors. Butter lettuce and cilantro bring lush, fresh flavor, and peanuts deliver a satisfying crunch.
Our Asian Lettuce Wraps with BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe
