Taking a busy schedule and finding time to make dinner can be tough. What if you could make BBQ pulled pork from the pork loin that you had left over from last night?
When we first thought of this series on how to use up leftovers, we wanted to help our readers make meals faster. With that in mind, we hit the jackpot today. Both of the recipes weâre sharing in this article are simple, almost to the point of effortless. A slow cooker is used in both of our recipes, which makes them easy to follow and more fun to eat. And did we mention there are only six ingredients?.
Unlike previous leftover dish articles, these recipes will create enough leftovers for more than two people. If you want to cut down on how much you make, you can get a smaller pork loin. Just make sure you adjust the other ingredients to reflect that change!.
There is also a series of recipes for leftovers that you may already know about. The goal is to save you time and money. Usually, our Diet recipes will focus on healthy tweaks or recipes that can help you lose weight. You wonât find that here. The following recipes will be tasty and easy, but they wonât help you shed pounds.
There aren’t many ways to make a pulled pork sandwich healthy. We won’t make them very fattening, and we’ll cut calories where we can. (Though we might try Getting Creative with Comfort Food: Healthy Pulled Pork!).
There you have it! Two full meals prepped and cooked in eight simple steps. It’s not even all of them! If you practice and get creative, you’ll be a master at leftover wizardry in no time!
Just like you, your health is one of a kind. What works for one person might not work for another, so don’t use the information in these articles instead of what an expert says. Before making significant lifestyle or diet changes, please consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know your own health best.
Got some leftover pork roast sitting in your fridge? Don’t let it go to waste! With just a few simple ingredients, you can easily turn leftover pork roast into tasty homemade pulled pork. In this article I’ll explain how to make mouthwatering pulled pork using leftover cooked pork roast.
Pulled pork is a classic barbecue dish made by slow-cooking pork shoulder until tender and shredding it into bite-sized pieces. While traditionally made with raw pork shoulder, you can also repurpose leftover cooked pork roast into amazing pulled pork with minimal effort.
The pulled pork made from leftover pork roast has all the same delicious flavor and texture as traditional pulled pork, but without needing hours of slow cooking. Simply reheating the cooked pork with sauce on the stovetop or in the oven is enough to transform it into fork-tender, succulent pulled pork in under an hour
Making pulled pork from leftover pork roast allows you to create an entirely new family meal while reducing food waste. In this article, you’ll learn just how easy it is to give leftover pork roast new life as homemade pulled pork sandwiches or tacos.
Benefits of Making Pulled Pork from Leftover Pork Roast
There are many excellent reasons to turn your leftover pork roast into pulled pork:
- Uses up leftovers and prevents food waste
- Quick and easy weeknight meal with minimal active cooking time
- Adds variety to your dinner menu with a tasty barbecue staple
- Allows you to control ingredients compared to store-bought
- Provides a flavorful protein to use in sandwiches, tacos, bowls, and more
- Leftover pulled pork freezes well for future meals
Overall, making pulled pork from leftover pork roast is a great way to extend your grocery budget while enjoying delicious homemade barbecue any night of the week.
How to Make Pulled Pork from Leftover Pork Roast
The basic process for turning leftover pork roast into pulled pork is simple:
Step 1) Shred or chop the cooked pork roast into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2) Toss the pork in your favorite barbecue-style sauce.
Step 3) Simmer the sauced pork until heated through and fork-tender.
Step 4) Pull or shred the tender pork into stringy pieces.
Step 5) Pile the pulled pork onto buns or tortillas and enjoy!
Let’s look at this easy method in more detail.
Ingredients Needed
- 2 cups shredded or chopped leftover cooked pork roast
- 1 cup barbecue sauce or broth
- 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional)
- Burger buns, tortillas, or greens for serving
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Shred or chop the cooked pork roast into bite-sized 1-inch pieces. Place pork in a skillet or pot.
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Add barbecue sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce (if using). Pour in just enough liquid to moisten the pork.
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Bring the pork mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until very tender.
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Uncover and use two forks to shred and pull pork apart into stringy bits.
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Let pork simmer uncovered for 5 more minutes to thicken sauce. Add more sauce or vinegar if needed.
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Serve warm pulled pork piled high on buns, stuffed in tortillas, or over greens. Enjoy!
In less than an hour, you can have tender, saucy pulled pork ready to eat for dinner or save for later.
Cooking Tips
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Add sliced onions, peppers, or other veggies when simmering for more flavor.
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Use chicken or vegetable broth instead of barbecue sauce for lighter option.
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Stir in a splash of bourbon, beer, cola, or coffee for extra flavor dimensions.
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For extra smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
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Shred pork with forks or fingers for varying texture.
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Add more hot sauce if you like extra heat.
Serving Suggestions
Pulled pork made from leftover roast is extremely versatile. Here are some serving ideas:
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Pile into burger buns for classic pulled pork sandwiches.
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Stuff into soft tortillas or taco shells for pulled pork tacos.
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Place over greens for a pulled pork salad.
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Mix with baked beans for barbecue flavor.
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Use as filling for empanadas or hand pies.
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Add to mac and cheese or baked potatoes for a protein boost.
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Top nachos, pizza, stuffed peppers, omelets, and more!
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Enjoy pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and baked beans.
The possibilities are endless for how to serve your easy homemade pulled pork.
Storage and Freezing
Properly stored, leftover pulled pork made from cooked pork roast will last 3-4 days refrigerated. To freeze, let cool completely then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container. Frozen pulled pork keeps well for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freezing allows you to prep big batches of pulled pork ahead of time to have ready whenever you need a quick protein for meals. Thawed pulled pork is also convenient for school lunches, snacks, or dinners on busy nights.
FAQs
Can I use a slow cooker instead of the stovetop?
Yes, you can combine the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours until pork is pull-apart tender.
What if my pork roast is already shredded?
Go ahead and use pre-shredded pork. Just simmer in sauce for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
Do I need extra liquid?
If pork seems dry, add more broth, cola, or water during simmering until moistened. Add liquid a little at a time to avoid getting the mixture too thin.
Can I use leftover pork loin?
Absolutely! Pork loin works just as well as pork shoulder/butt roast. Follow the recipe as instructed.
Conclusion
Making delicious pulled pork from leftover pork roast is easy, budget-friendly, and a great way to reduce food waste. With just some simple ingredients and a short simmer in your favorite sauce, you can transform cooked pork roast into tender, juicy pulled pork for sandwiches, tacos, salads, and more. Use these tips for reheating and shredding pork roast into homemade pulled pork your whole family will request again and again. Got leftovers? Make pulled pork!
For the Pork Loin
- 4lb of boneless pork loin
- 1 tbsp of salt
- 1 tbsp of pepper
- 1½ cups of brown sugar
- 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
- Put the pork loin in a slow cooker or crockpot and sprinkle it with salt and pepper all over.
- Put the Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar in a bowl and mix them together.
- Cover the pork loin with the brown sugar mixture.
- Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
- Cut off two 1-inch thick slices of pork per person.
- Shred the rest of the pork with two forks and put it in a container for storage.
We picked brown sugar pork loin for a specific reason. Pork is a very flavorful meat that can blend with a lot of different tastes. If you use a certain first recipe, the second recipe wonât work. In this case, our brown sugar pork loin is about to be turned into barbecue pulled pork sausages.
This pulled pork sandwich recipe is probably the easiest recipe weâll ever give you. You’re almost done! All that’s left to do is heat up the pork, add your favorite barbecue sauce (or make your own), and serve.
- Leftover pork loin
- Your favorite barbecue sauce
- Sandwich Rolls
- Put cooking spray on the inside of a saucepan and heat the pulled pork over low heat.
- Mix in your favorite barbecue sauce until it covers all of the pork.
- Heat the pork and barbecue sauce.
- Serve onto rolls.
There you have it! Two full meals prepped and cooked in eight simple steps. It’s not even all of them! If you practice and get creative, you’ll be a master at leftover wizardry in no time!
Just like you, your health is one of a kind. What works for one person might not work for another, so don’t use the information in these articles instead of what an expert says. Before making significant lifestyle or diet changes, please consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know your own health best.
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