Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (2024)

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Mary

Jan 28, 2020, Updated Aug 16, 2022

So you cooked yourself a pork butt and now find yourself with loads of leftovers. Now what?! Whether you smoked a pork butt for amazing pulled pork sandwiches, or cooked it in the Instapot we’ve got several uses for that leftover pulled pork in this round up of recipes with leftover pulled pork.

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (2)

Smoked Pork Butt is a staple around here. We love the tender and flavorful meat. But let’s be honest, it yields tons of meat! While that’s a good thing, it also means coming up with new ways to use the leftovers so you’re not eating sliders for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).

Want to get your hands on some amazing pork shoulder to make some of there? Head over to Snake River Farms and grab one of their Kurobuta Pork Shoulders. Amazing flavor.

Table of Contents

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas
  • More Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can You Keep Pulled Pork In the Fridge?

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s food safety guidelines, 3-4 days is a safe bet to store meat like pulled pork in the refrigerator. Make sure to keep your meat in a food-safe container and your refrigerator at a proper temperature (40 degrees F or below).

Can you Freeze leftover Pulled Pork?

Absolutely. That’s what we usually do. The meat should stay good in the freezer for several months. Make sure to label and date your meat in a freezer-safe container. And don’t forget to freeze it with some of those juices.

How to Re-Heat Pulled Pork

If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator first. Or run under a steady stream of cold water until thawed. About one hour.

In an oven preheated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, warm up the meat in a large dish covered to slowly come back to temperature. We add about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar into the dish to steam.

Or place in a large skillet. If the meat has dried out during the freezing process, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or BBQ sauce to the meat to add some moisture back while it heats up in the skillet.

Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas

Below are a few favorite ways to use up that leftover meat. From snacks, to appetizers, to breakfast, to dinner, we’ve got you covered in this round up of our favorite leftover pulled pork recipes.

Pulled Pork Tacos

Everyone loves a good taco night, and this is the easiest, and one of the most satisfying, uses for leftover pulled pork.

Pulled Pork Nachos

I don’t even need to explain why these are one of the ultimate uses for leftover pulled pork! One word explains everything — Nachos.

Hawaiian Style Pulled Pork Sliders with Grilled Pineapple

These Hawaiian-inspired pulled pork sliders have many amazing flavors happening here! This is a great one for a crowd, and it will make you believe you’re sitting on a beach sipping on a Mai Tai.

Smoked Pulled Pork Hash

Aka, best brunch idea ever.

Pulled Pork Enchiladas

Turn leftover pulled pork into a plate full of incredible enchiladas. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, or an easy weeknight dinner. This is a family favorite!

Pulled Pork Wontons

The perfect little crispy bite of pulled pork deliciousness. A great appetizer for your family.

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (8)

Pulled Pork Spring Rolls

Light, fresh, and full of great flavor. These are also a fun one for the kids to help assemble.

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (9)

Smoked Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps

Tired of traditional BBQ sauce? Try this sweet and savory Asian dipping sauce to jazz up your next batch of leftover smoked pulled pork! Keep things light by skipping the bread or tortilla, and make lettuce wraps instead.

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (10)

Smoked Cuban Sandwich

This, my friends, is one heck of a delicious sandwich for pork lovers!

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (11)

More Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas

Use the pulled pork to sub for some of the meat in the following recipes.

  • BBQ Baked Beans: add a handful of pulled pork to these amazing Baked Beans.
  • Mac and Cheese: sub pulled pork for the Tri Tip in this recipe.
  • Chili with Pulled Pork: use pulled pork instead of brisket in this award-winning chili recipe.
  • Pulled Pork Empanadas: similarly, sub the pulled pork for brisket in these incredible empanadas.

Smoked Pulled Pork Sloppy Joes

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (12)

Now we don’t have an official recipe for this (yet), but I’m happy to share what we do. We basically cooked up a bit of chopped onion and red bell pepper until soft, then added a 15 ounce can of tomato sauce and about a tablespoon of tomato paste. Then we added about one tablespoon of chili powder and salt and pepper to taste.

We adjusted the flavors, then added the leftover meat (two cups, give or take) and cooked until everything was combined. Then we loaded up the mixture onto a bun, topped with some cheese and put under the broiler to melt the cheese. Holy amazing use for leftover pulled pork! So good.

Categorized as:

Appetizers, , Dinner, Food, Pork, Recipes,

Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (13)

Vindulge

About Mary

I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!

About Me

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Amazing Recipes for Pulled Pork Leftovers (2024)

FAQs

How to eat leftover pulled pork? ›

Lunch and dinner is sorted with these delicious pork recipes.
  1. 1Pulled-pork bowl.
  2. 2Pulled-pork buns. ...
  3. 3Pulled-pork burrito. ...
  4. 4Pulled pork soup. ...
  5. 5Lemongrass pulled pork banh mi. ...
  6. 6Pulled pork, cabbage and caramelised pineapple nachos. ...
  7. 7Sticky hoisin pulled pork and slaw burgers. ...
  8. 8Pulled pork sang choy bow.

How long is leftover pulled pork good for in the refrigerator? ›

USDA recommends using cooked pork within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40 °F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.

What can I serve with pulled pork besides coleslaw? ›

20 Sides for Pulled Pork Sandwiches That Go Way Beyond Coleslaw
  • 02 of 21. Easy Coleslaw Dressing. View Recipe. ...
  • 05 of 21. Old-Fashioned Potato Salad. View Recipe. ...
  • 08 of 21. Classic Caesar Salad. View Recipe. ...
  • 11 of 21. Cream Corn Like No Other. View Recipe. ...
  • 14 of 21. Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries. ...
  • 17 of 21. Squash Casserole.
Feb 2, 2024

What can I do with tough leftover pork? ›

Are there any other good ideas for what I should do with about 3 pounds of dry, overcooked pork? Editor: Allison, overall, my suggestion would be to dice or shred it extra-fine and use it in places where its texture will be less of a problem: Breakfast burritos, cheesy pasta casserole, omelets, and soups.

How do you moisten leftover pulled pork? ›

Heat the leftover pulled pork until it reaches an internal temperature of about 165 °F (74 °C). Add additional juice, sauce, or apple juice to the pot for more moisture.

What to do after shredding pulled pork? ›

After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat. It also helps mellow out the darker, gamier-tasting parts of the butt.

What do Americans eat with pulled pork? ›

Side dishes for pulled pork (or any grilled protein) can include everything from the classic mac and cheese or potato salad to creative takes on slaws, such as a carrot and apple slaw. The key is to pick and prepare side dishes that go with your meat of choice.

What condiment goes with pulled pork? ›

Barbecue sauce is almost always welcome on a pulled pork sandwich.

What vegetables go with pulled pork? ›

Because pork can be a bit of a heavier dish, we've paired it with plenty of veggies—sautéed mustard greens, cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, grilled green beans—and fresh salads to give a refreshing contrast.

What can I do with leftover pork shoulder fat? ›

The fat can be used for cooking vegetables for a stew, crisping up meat carnitas-style, or as an aroma oil for a bowl of ramen. Pork drippings add meaty, savory depth to anything and everything, from ragù to beans to fried rice.

How do you salvage dry pulled pork? ›

Mix equal parts of low sodium chicken and beef broth together along with a little of your rub and mix it in with your pork. The combinations of broth, will not alter the flavor of the pork, while moistening it.

How do you moisten leftover pork? ›

Depending on the finished internal cooking temperature of the pork roast, the biggest challenge when reheating is to maintain moisture in the meat. To do that, place the pork roast in a oven safe dish, add 1/8 cup of water or broth/stock to the pan, and cover with foil. Reheat at 300 degrees F until warmed through.

Can you eat cold cooked pulled pork? ›

One of the best ways to eat leftover pulled pork is to consume it cold. Include it in sandwiches or salads. You can grab a handful and enjoy it straight out of the fridge or serve it with a side dish and add some BBQ sauce. Cold doesn't mean raw.

Can you eat pulled pork by itself? ›

You could eat the pork by itself, but throw it over your favorite rice for a true Thai vibe. Get the Thai-style pulled pork over rice recipe.

What can I do with overcooked pulled pork? ›

Further, dry, overcooked pulled pork can also be improved by simply making it an ingredient in a larger dish. A pulled pork sandwich slathered in condiments and coleslaw will taste moist and delicious no matter how dry it starts out.

How to get kids to eat pulled pork? ›

Shredded pork mixed with your child's favorite barbecue or tomato sauce makes for a great sandwich. The options for serving pork to kids and toddlers are endless! Another hack for serving pork to picky eaters: micro portions.

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