How To Cook Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork to Perfection – A Full Guide

Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork from Costco is a quick and easy solution for making delicious pulled pork The pork comes pre-cooked and smoked, so all you need to do is heat and serve! With a few extra steps, you can take this shortcut pulled pork from good to great

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share my tips and tricks for cooking Kirkland smoked pulled pork to perfection every time. You’ll learn how to choose the right pork shoulder, prep and season it, use alternate cooking methods, make killer sides, and more. Let’s get pulled!

Selecting and Prepping Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork

Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork comes in a vacuum sealed pouch containing one boneless pork shoulder weighing around 3 pounds. It is smoked over natural hardwood chips, giving it a rich, smoky flavor.

Look for a package with a use or freeze by date at least week away. Inspect the pork through the packaging – it should look moist with some marbling and fat cap.

Once home, remove the pork from the packaging and place in a bowl or pan. Discard any juices, as these tend to be salty. Rinse the pork with cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.

Use two forks to shred and pull apart any large chunks of meat into smaller shreds. This allows more surface area for seasoning and heating.

Seasoning Kirkland Pulled Pork for Maximum Flavor

While Kirkland’s smoked pulled pork has a nice smoky flavor, it benefits from additional seasoning. Here are some of my favorite ways to spice it up:

• BBQ dry rub Coat shredded pork with 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ rub. Great choices are brown sugar, chili powder paprika garlic powder, cumin, and chipotle powder.

• BBQ sauce: Mix in 1⁄2 cup of bold BBQ sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s into shredded pork. Barbecue sauce adds sweetness and tang.

• Taco seasoning: For Mexican flair, use 1 packet of taco seasoning. Top with salsa and cilantro.

• Jerk seasoning For heat, sprinkle on Caribbean jerk seasoning and top with mango salsa

• Teriyaki: Toss pork with teriyaki sauce and toasted sesame seeds.

Get creative and use any combination of dried spices, sauces, salsas and fresh herbs that complement smoked meat. Marinate the pork for 30+ minutes to infuse flavor.

Cooking Methods for Kirkland Pulled Pork

Since Kirkland’s pulled pork is pre-cooked, you simply need to heat it through. Here are some easy cooking methods:

• Oven: Bake pork in a 375°F oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through. Use a baking sheet lined with foil for easy clean up.

• Stovetop: Heat pork in a skillet over medium-high, stirring frequently until heated through, about 7-10 minutes.

• Microwave: Microwave pork in a microwave-safe dish for 2-3 minutes. Stir and heat in 30 second intervals until warmed through.

• Crockpot: Add pork to a crockpot with 1⁄2 cup broth or water. Cook on High for 2-3 hours or Low for 4-6 until hot.

• Grill: For smoky flavor, grill pork over direct medium heat for 6-8 minutes, flipping occasionally.

No matter which cooking method you choose, use an instant read thermometer to confirm pork reaches 165°F for food safety.

Serving Suggestions for Kirkland Pulled Pork

Kirkland’s pulled pork is incredibly versatile. Here are some fun ways to serve it:

• Pulled pork sandwiches – Pile pork on brioche buns and add BBQ sauce, coleslaw and dill pickles.

• Tacos – Stuff pork in soft tortillas with salsa, guacamole, cilantro and queso fresco.

• Burritos – Roll up pork, beans, rice, cheese, lettuce and pico de gallo in a flour tortilla.

• Nachos – Layer pork over tortilla chips with melted cheese, black beans, jalapeños and Greek yogurt.

• Baked potatoes – Top russet potatoes with pork, shredded cheese, green onion and sour cream.

• Breakfast – Add pork to scrambled eggs, hash browns or biscuit sandwiches.

• Pizza – Top baked pizza crust with pork, mozzarella, red onion and barbecue sauce.

• Salads – Toss pork with mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado and ranch or vinaigrette dressing.

Get creative with global flavors! The possibilities are endless.

Complementary Sides for Pulled Pork

No pulled pork meal is complete without some classic BBQ sides:

• Coleslaw – Cool, crispy cabbage slaw balances the richness of pork.

• Baked beans – Sweet, smoky and saucy beans are a perfect match.

• Potato salad – Creamy, mustardy potatoes cut through the fattiness.

• Mac and cheese – Ooey-gooey mac ‘n cheese sopps up BBQ sauce.

• Cornbread – Sweet, crunchy cornbread beggs to be topped with pork.

• Collard greens – Earthy, seasoned greens provide a fresh contrast.

Don’t be afraid to also add fresh veggie sides like corn on the cob, roasted broccoli or a crisp green salad. Amp up the flavor with pickles, pickled onions or jalapeños on the side too.

Storing and Freezing Leftover Pulled Pork

Like any cooked meat, leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours and stored for up to 4 days. Place cooled pork in an airtight container.

For longer storage, pulled pork freezes remarkably well:

• Portion pork into freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible.

• Freeze for up to 3-4 months.

• Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

With these foolproof tips, you can fix crowd-pleasing Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork anytime. Customize with global spices, get creative with serving suggestions and round it out with classic BBQ sides. From tacos to nachos, sliders to salads, this versatile pork is a dinnertime winner!