Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches and 42 More Meal Ideas

[Updated on June 30, 2020] Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches are one of those “no-brainer” recipes for a busy weeknight.  With just seven ingredients, total, you put it in your slow cooker in the morning and finish it up with just a few extra steps in time for dinner.  Please note:  this BBQ pulled pork sandwich recipe is meant to be super-easy and uses store-bought ingredients to make your dinnertime preparations quick and effortless!

So if you are looking for an easy, hearty, satisfying meal for your family, this is one you should consider.  And don’t we need those kinds of recipes handy in our back pocket for dinner on busy days – the ones that are so easy they don’t require much thought, but satisfy our hungry families?

But, if you have the time and want to make barbecue sauce from scratch, I’ve got you covered!  Here’s my recipe:  Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce in a Pinch.

In addition to this easy pulled pork recipe, this blog post includes 42 more meal ideas using pulled pork!  So, whether you make a large batch of BBQ pulled pork for intentional leftovers or just have leftovers anyway, I’ve included a bunch of ideas for using your leftovers without creating a whole new meal from scratch!

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How to Make BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Here are the four super-easy steps:

Step One

To start, you’ll need a 2 1/2 to 3-pound pork shoulder roast and a bottle of root beer.

1. Place the pork shoulder in your slow cooker.
2. Pour the entire bottle of root beer over the pork roast.
3. Cover the slow cooker with the slow cooker’s lid.
4. Plug it in; adjust the controls to low.
5. Walk away for 6 hours.

After 6 hours, make sure that your pork shoulder roast is fall-apart tender.  If your roast doesn’t fall apart as you remove it, it’ll be harder to shred and not as deliciously tender.  The goal is a juicy and tender pork roast that falls apart easily.  If that isn’t happening for you, continue cooking on low in the slow cooker for another hour or two.  So, plan your meal with that in mind, i.e., the possibility that you might have to cook the pork roast longer.  And, of course, if you choose to cook a pork shoulder roast that is bigger than 3 pounds, it will require for cooking time.

Be sure not to cook your pork roast on high in the slow cooker with the hope that it’ll cook faster.  Instead of cooking faster, you’ll risk burning the roast.

Step Two

For this step, you’ll need a bottle of barbecue sauce.

1. Remove the pork shoulder roast from the slow cooker using kitchen tongs or a large spoon and place it either in a bowl large enough to contain it and allow room for you to shred it OR on top of a chopping board that has a well around it to catch any flowing juices.
2. Pour the juices that have collected in the slow cooker into a separate bowl (save this juice IF you think you’ll have leftovers OR if you are not serving your BBQ pulled pork that day – more about this later).
3. Using two forks, or special pulled pork shredder claws, shred the pork.
4. Return the shredded pork to the now-empty slow cooker.
5. Add the entire bottle of barbecue sauce to the shredded pork and mix to combine.
6. Set the slow cooker on low, again, to heat the barbecue sauce and cook for another hour.

Step Three

For this step, you’ll need shredded cabbage, crushed pineapple, and jalapeno ranch dressing.

1. Empty the bag of pre-shredded cabbage into a large bowl.
2. Add the crushed pineapple and stir to combine.
3. Add the jalapeno ranch dressing and stir to combine.
4. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Step Four

For this step, you’ll need hamburger buns (see the many choices available below).

1. Plate your favorite hamburger bun.
2. Add a healthy serving of the BBQ pulled pork to one side of each bun.
3. Cover shredded BBQ pulled pork with a healthy serving of coleslaw.
4. Top with the other half of the bun.
5. Serve.

A Few Tips for Shredding Your BBQ Pulled Pork

The easiest way to shred pork to make pulled pork is with a pair of pulled pork shredder claws.  But, in a pinch, two forks will do; you’ll just have to work a little harder!

It’s best to shred your slow-cooked pork shoulder roast while it is hot.  If you don’t plan to serve your BBQ pulled pork on the day that you make it, still remove it from your slow cooker after it has cooked for 6 hours or more and place it in your large bowl and shred it.  If you skip this step and refrigerate it instead for the next day or later, it will be more difficult to shred cold.  You’ll need to reheat it and that will take extra time (that you probably don’t have!).

Don’t throw out the crockpot juice!

If you are not serving your BBQ pulled pork immediately after you’ve cooked it, place your shredded pork back into the juice created by the slow cooking process, allow it to cool for a while, then transfer to a food-safe storage container and refrigerate it until ready to use.

If you think you will have leftovers from your dinner, save the juice from the slow cooker and pour some of the juice over the leftovers before storing it in the refrigerator.  You can reheat the BBQ pulled pork in the microwave or in a non-stick frying pan, adding some of the saved juices as needed as you reheat it.

What kind of bread do you use for pulled pork sandwiches?

The kind of bread you choose is truly based on your personal preference.  A simple hamburger bun is really all you need, but if you want to elevate your BBQ pulled pork sandwich to rock-star status, choosing one of these types of buns and/or rolls will make your sandwiches even better:

• Seeded hamburger buns
• Country Potato hamburger buns
• Multi-grain hamburger buns
• Brioche buns
• Pretzel buns

Other choices and options include:

• Mini hamburger buns or slider rolls
• Hawaiian sweet rolls
• Sandwich Thins (fewer calories)
• Texas toast
• French baguettes
• Country biscuits
• Sourdough rolls
• Naan bread (add the pork and coleslaw and fold it like a taco – yum!)
• Ciabatta buns
• Bagels

Tender and juicy BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, with a bit of crunchy coleslaw on top nestled in a soft bun, are a delicious treat all on their own.  To be honest with you, I’ve made this easy BBQ pulled pork sandwich recipe without “doctoring” the cabbage, and it’s still delicious.  What I mean is that instead of mixing the shredded cabbage with any other ingredients or dressing, I’ve placed the raw shredded cabbage on top of the BBQ pulled pork in the buns and eaten it that way.  Still delicious.  And you can really taste the textural crunchiness of the cabbage in relation to the sweet, tender BBQ pulled pork.  In other words, I think this super-easy recipe is really hard to mess up!

But, if you want to elevate your sandwich further, try a few of these BBQ pulled pork sandwich toppings:

• Thinly-sliced red onion
• Caramelized onions
• Dill pickle slices
• Pepperoncini peppers
• A slice of your favorite cheese
• Onion rings between the sandwich buns (or, in a pinch, crispy fried onions already made from the package)

What sides go with BBQ Pulled Pork?

Here are a few suggestions for yummy side dishes to go with your BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, all from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s archives:

Baked Mac & Cheese with a Crunchy Buttery Sourdough Topping

Beat-the-Heat Confetti Pasta Salad

Southwestern Summer Fiesta Coleslaw

South-of-the-Border Mexican Corn Salad with an Italian Twist

Bacon-Laden Million Dollar Baked Beans

And here are a few dessert suggestions:

Sensational Summer Berrylicious Ice Box Cheesecake

Homemade Depression-Era Crazy Chocolate Cake {aka Wacky Cake}

Insanely Good Peach Pineapple Dump Cake That Will Blow Your Mind!

Each one of the above suggestions would be a delicious companion to your sandwiches.

42 More Meal Ideas for Using Pulled Pork

Here are 42 ideas on how to serve easy BBQ pulled pork from the different types of buns and bread you can use to the actual reinvention of pulled pork into completely different meals!

Mexican-Style Meal Ideas for Pulled Pork

1. Composed salad with pulled pork, white rice, corn, sliced avocado, sliced grape tomatoes, lettuce, and lime wedges
2. Shredded pork quesadillas with melted cheese
3. Shredded pork enchiladas
4. Crunchy corn tostadas smeared with guacamole and smothered with pulled pork topped slice red onion and sprigs of cilantro

5. Crunchy corn taco shells filled with pulled/shredded pork
6. Flour tostada shells made into bowls filled with pulled/shredded pork
7. Pulled/shredded pork nachos covered with barbecue sauce, shredded cheese, and sliced green onions
8. Soft flour-tortilla tacos with shredded/pulled pork, topped with corn, tomatoes, purple cabbage, sliced avocado, and sprinkled with cotija cheese

Salads featuring Pulled Pork

9. A simple lettuce and tomato salad served alongside pulled pork
10. Composed salad with sliced red onion, sliced jalapenos, barbecue pulled pork, sliced cucumber, corn, and shredded purple cabbage

Alternative Sandwich Ideas Using Pulled Pork

11. Pulled pork grilled cheese sandwiches
12. Ciabatta bun filled with pulled pork and crunchy coleslaw and kale
13. BBQ pulled pork drenched in barbecue sauce and served unadorned on a toasted hamburger bun
14. Pulled pork on a bed of coleslaw served in an everything bagel topped thinly-sliced red onion, sliced green onion, and dabbed with barbecue sauce

One Potato, Two Potatoes, Three Potatoes, Four

15. Barbecue pulled pork served with a side of potato wedges
16. Large russet baked potato loaded with BBQ pulled pork and extra barbecue sauce
17. Curly fries covered in BBQ pulled pork, vinegar-based coleslaw, and barbecue sauce
18. Baked sweet potato topped with pulled pork and shredded cheese
19. Thin-sliced French fries topped with barbecued pulled pork, BBQ sauce, chopped red and green onions

Italian-Inspired Dinners

20. Penne pasta tossed with pulled pork and sliced cherry tomatoes, and chopped parsley
21. BBQ pulled pork pizza with lots of melted cheese
22. Spaghetti topped with both barbecue sauce-laced meat sauce and pulled pork

Types of Buns and Bread for BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

23. Brioche hamburger bun, toasted
24. Pretzel bun
25. Mini hamburger buns
26. Classic hamburger bun
27. Texas toast slathered in butter and toasted
28. Whole-wheat hamburger bun
29. Seeded hamburger bun
30. Sourdough sandwich bun
31. Hawaiian sweet rolls

Serving Options for BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Decisions, decisions…do you serve your mini BBQ pulled pork sliders “naked,” (32) as in just BBQ pulled pork and nothing else, or “fully loaded,” (33) with lots of coleslaw and topped with pickles?

Other Dinner Ideas Using BBQ Pulled Pork

34. Barbecued pulled pork atop a bed of luscious mac and cheese
35. Pulled pork used as a base for a fried rice stir-fry
36. Mixed Grill dinner that includes BBQ pulled pork, barbecue grilled ribs, sliced barbecued beef, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, and mini cornbread muffins

More Serving Choices for BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

37. BBQ pulled pork tucked into a slender French baguette
38. BBQ pulled pork and extra barbecue sauce on a hoagie roll
39. BBQ pulled pork served as a wrap in a flour tortilla
40. A large soft gourmet seeded roll for a super-sized BBQ pulled pork sandwich
41. Barbecue pulled pork on top of a bed of lettuce served on a French torpedo roll, topped with coleslaw and sliced onions
42. No time to make coleslaw?  Store-bought coleslaw works just as well!

Here’s the recipe for Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches:

Print

Kitchen Tools and Supplies Needed to Make BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches:

6-Quart Slow Cooker || Root Beer || Kitchen Tongs || Large Bowl || Pulled Pork Shredder Claws || Barbecue Sauce || Mixing Bowl || Large Spoon || Crushed Pineapple || Hamburger Buns || Food-Safe Storage Containers

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Related Posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s Archives:

Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce in a Pinch

Flame-Kissed Grilled London Broil

One and Done Grilled Balsamic Chicken Breast Tenders

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