21 Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes - Smoked BBQ Source (2024)

Joe Clements

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We all know that last night’s dinner can be even more delicious the next day, so why not try some of these great ideas for leftover pulled pork?

If you’re like me, your freezer is probably stuffed with leftover barbecued pulled pork.

The best part is most of the hard work is done once you’ve slow-cooked the pork. So why not try a few of these recipe ideas?

All you need to do is reheat it and add some key ingredients, and your lunch or dinner is complete!

Our favorite creative ways to use leftover pulled pork

1. Leftover Pulled Pork Chili

Transform your leftover pulled pork into a hearty, flavorful chili that’s perfect for any season.

You don’t need to stick to beef for your chili! This pulled pork chili is packed with bold flavors, tender meat, and a rich tomato base. A real crowd-pleaser and easy to make.

Recipe: Leftover Pulled Pork Chili

2. Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos

Loaded nachos are a tried and tested way of using up large quantities of leftover pulled pork.

This recipe keeps things simple (no one wants to fuss with leftovers) with pre-grated cheese and your choice of toppings.

You can use our recipe for homemade bbq sauce, or try Smoke Kitchen Sweet BBQ sauce.

Recipe: Pulled Pork Nachos

3. Leftover Barbecue Pulled Pork Tacos

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While we are being inspired by Mexican dishes, don’t forget about Tacos!

A classic meal that is super easy to prepare, this recipe also allows you room to experiment a little with toppings while using up your leftover pulled pork.

Just heat up your leftover meat in a frypan, pop it in the taco shells, and go crazy with the toppings you love!

Recipe: Leftover Pulled Pork Tacos

4. BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

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Sandwiches taste way better as sliders, and this is one of the best examples.

It’s as simple as cutting your slider buns and slathering them with BBQ sauce, piling on that leftover pulled pork, a bit of cabbage, and cheese, and then popping them into your smoker.

Recipe: BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

5. BBQ Pulled Pork Stuffed Biscuits

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And who thought buttery flaky biscuits couldn’t get any better?

Simple to make with pre-made biscuit dough, leftover pulled pork, shredded cheese, a light dusting of BBQ rub, and these little packages of deliciousness are out of this world.

Recipe: BBQ Pulled Pork Stuffed Biscuits

6. BBQ Pulled Pork Crostini

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Get a little fancy with your game day snacks or next get-together with these irresistible pulled pork crostini.

There’s no better way to eat your leftover pulled pork with all the traditional trimmings than on a crunchy piece of bread!

Recipe: BBQ Pulled Pork Crostini

7. BBQ Sundaes with Leftover Pulled Pork

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Portable food doesn’t get any easier than this!

Gather up those leftovers from last night’s BBQ and serve them buffet style so everyone can layer up their own cup.

Don’t forget to offer different sauces, such as siracha or a mustard BBQ, some diced jalapenos, or pickles.

Check out the recipe for some more BBQ sundae combos.

Recipe: BBQ Sundaes with Leftover Pulled Pork

8. Redneck Nachos

These are a little different than your average nachos. No corn chips here, buddy.

What makes these different are the homemade deep-fried chips. Sounds a little time-consuming but worth the effort, believe us. Your chips get a really nice crispy texture.

Scoop up that leftover pulled pork, beans, sauces, and toppings, and it’s a chip made in heaven.

Recipe: Redneck Nachos

9. Leftover Pulled Pork Pizza

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The beauty of this recipe is that it can be as homemade as you like. Make the dough and the sauce yourself if you feel inspired, or go with readymade ingredients if you are short on time.

The toppings can be adjusted to your tastes, too, making it the perfect crowd pleaser.

Recipe: Leftover Pulled Pork Pizza

10. Pulled Pork Stuffed Potato Skins

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Who can deny that just about anything with potatoes is the ultimate comfort food?

Add cheese, sour cream, and pulled pork to the mix, and you have a snack that is seriously tempting.

While there is a little bit of prep involved, you can cook this en masse and keep a crowd of people happy once they are pulled out of the oven. The only question is, how many can one person eat in a sitting?

Recipe: Pulled Pork Stuffed Potato Skins

11. Pulled Pork Cuban Sandwich

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Perfect for lunch or a lazy dinner, these sandwiches are everything wonderful that you can stuff on a sandwich – pork, pickles, mustard, ham, and cheese.

Then the whole lot is toasted just to top it off!

This is just about one of the easiest things you could make with your leftovers, and the results are addictive.

Recipe: Pulled Pork Cuban Sandwich

12. Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

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Marry two of the most beloved comfort dishes, and you are surely onto a winner. This recipe combines the classic barbecue flavors of pulled pork along with the cheesy gooeyness of mac and cheese.

Get creative and swap out the pulled pork for pulled chicken, or choose whether you would like sharp, vintage cheese or milder cheese.

Whatever takes your fancy, use the recipe as a starting point, and discover how you like your pulled meat mac and cheese – then have some friends and family over to share!

Recipe: Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

13. Pulled Pork Shepherd’s Pie

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While technically not a true shepherd’s pie (they are made with lamb), this recipe is so delicious it really doesn’t matter what you call it.

All you need to transform your leftover pulled pork into the perfect meal on a winter’s night is some frozen peas and corn, your favorite BBQ sauce, mash, and plenty of cheese.

Recipe: Pulled Pork Shepherd’s Pie

14. Pulled Pork Enchiladas (Only 15 mins prep required!)

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This recipe uses Mexican-style pulled pork (Carnitas) as a starting point. If you have some on hand in the freezer, you can assemble this dish in about 15 minutes.

Of course, it will need a little bit of time in the oven to allow the cheese to melt and the edges of the pork to go crispy, but the lack of effort required to make this yummy dinner makes this a perfect midweek meal.

Recipe: Pulled Pork Enchiladas

15. Barbecue Pork and Penne Skillet

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Hands up if you love pasta! Transform your leftover pulled pork into the basis for a delicious pasta sauce.

With ingredients that are cheap and easy to find, this quick, economical dinner is filling and sure to be a hit with the family.

Recipe: Barbecue Pork and Penne Skillet

16. Pulled Pork Hash (You don’t have to wait till dinnertime to enjoy pulled pork!)

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Anyone who grew up in a thrifty household will know all about hash. Basically, just throw everything you have left over in the fridge with some potatoes and fry. And there is your breakfast!

So why not try it with pulled pork?

Like many of the recipes on our list, there’s room for customization within this dish, so check out the recipe, and then throw in whatever you can dig out of your fridge!

Recipe: Pulled Pork Hash

17. Shredded Pork Empanadas with Adobo Aioli Dip (If you need a hit of veggies)

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Let’s be honest – most of the recipes we have looked at so far are incredibly meaty.

But if you have a hankering for some veggies, or you have some shriveling up in the fridge, this recipe is a nice balance of meat and veg all wrapped up in a handy little parcel.

If you have trouble finding empanada dough, you could try making your own or just use pastry.

Recipe: Shredded Pork Empanadas with Adobo Aioli Dip

18. Cuban French Bread Pizza

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Back to meat, meat, more meat, and cheese with this quick and tasty midweek treat.

Combining ham, pulled pork, and plenty of cheese on a bread base, it is easy to see why this meal is both filling and a crowd pleaser.

Recipe: Cuban French Bread Pizza

19. The Cuban Pizza

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This recipe takes its inspiration from Cuban-style pizzas. A nice hit of sweetness is introduced with bread and butter pickles, which go oh so well with pulled pork.

Just to be sure, two types of cheese are part of the topping – because you can never have too much cheese on a pizza!

If you want to learn more about other pizza styles, we have a whole post dedicated to different types of pizza.

Recipe: Cuban Pizza

20. Pulled Pork Poutine with BBQ Gravy

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Poutine is a classic Canadian dish.

For those who aren’t familiar with what a poutine involves, I will give you a hint: Cheese curd, chips, and gravy.

You don’t need to stretch the imagination far to conclude that this, combined with pulled pork, results in very smoky, satisfying comfort food.

Recipe: Pulled Pork Poutine with BBQ Gravy

21. BBQ Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

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The combination of pulled pork, melted grilled cheese, and buttery toasted bread is just so hard to go past.

This recipe also includes coleslaw, which introduces a nice level of crunch. You can either pop it in the sandwich or put it on the side.

Recipe: BBQ Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

Wrapping it up

A quick scroll through these recipes tells us there is plenty you can do with leftover pulled pork. In fact, the hardest part is picking which recipe to try first!

What did you think of this list of recipes? Are there recipes that we have missed that you think are worthy of adding? Let us know in the comments section below.

And if you enjoyed this roundup and found some inspiration, then be sure to share it with your friends.

21 Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes - Smoked BBQ Source (23)

21 Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Joe Clements

Instructions

  • Choose a leftover pork recipe and click the link above for the full list of ingredients and instructions.

Did you make this recipe?Tag @smokedbbqsource on Instagram so we can admire your work!

21 Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes - Smoked BBQ Source (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover smoked pulled pork good for? ›

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 is best to use for smoked pulled pork? ›

Pork shoulder: Pork shoulder is perfect for pulled pork because it's inexpensive, forgiving to work with, and tends to have a lot of marbling (which means it'll result in tender meat).

How to make leftover pulled pork juicy? ›

Using completely thawed pulled pork, you'll want to wrap your leftovers in a couple of layers of aluminum foil and cover your pork in BBQ sauce for extra flavor and moisture retention. You can also heat it in a covered, grill-safe pan. You'll heat your pulled pork on the indirect heat side of your grill to start.

How do you keep pulled pork moist when smoking? ›

Smoke Low and Slow

We recommend smoking at low temperatures for long durations. This allows the meat to cook well without drying, keeping it moist and tender. It will also result in well-cooked meat with a nice bark that isn't burnt. Most of the rubs used to season meat do not go with high temperatures.

Can I eat pulled pork after 7 days? ›

The USDA guidelines say, if it is fresh, uncured pork but cooked, It is good refrigerated 3 to 4 days. If it's cooked and not removed from the store wrapping, it's good for a week.

What is the food poisoning in pulled pork? ›

Trichinellosis, more commonly known as trichinosis, is a parasitic food-borne disease that is caused by eating raw or undercooked meats, particularly pork products infested with the larvae of a type of roundworm called Trichinella.

What is the danger zone for smoking meat? ›

Danger Zone for Smoking and Grilling Meat

As mentioned above, the temperature danger zone is 46°F -140°F (8°C-60°C). Hence, it is better to keep the hot smoking or grill above 158°F (70°C).

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in? ›

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

What liquid to add to pulled pork when reheating? ›

Reheating your pulled pork in the oven is easy, simple, and probably the best way to reheat a lot of pre-shredded meat. Place your whole butt or shredded pork in an ovenproof dish and add in a little liquid to replace some of the lost moisture. This can be apple juice, cider vinegar, broth, or a thick BBQ sauce.

How do BBQ restaurants keep pulled pork moist? ›

I have seen broth, apple juice, water mixed with liquid smoke or other things added to pulled pork to keep it moist.

How do you add flavor to pulled pork after cooking? ›

This thin, vinegar-based finishing sauce, which differs from a BBQ sauce, is the secret ingredient to kick up my smoked 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.

Does pork get more tender the longer you smoke it? ›

So this depends on the cut, and how much connective tissue it has. If you're cooking pork tenderloin, time doesn't matter much. If you're cooking the tougher cuts, you can benefit from longer cooking times for increased tenderness.

How do you reheat pork and make it juicy? ›

Reheat pork in a covered dish in the oven, microwave, or pan/skillet. Oven: Preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add some water or broth to an oven-safe pan. Place the leftover pork in the pan and then cover with aluminium foil and reheat for 15 to 20 minutes (this is dependent on the size).

Can I eat pulled pork after 5 days? ›

Use cooked pork within two hours (one hour if air temperature is above 90 °F / 32.2 °C) or refrigerate it (at 40 °F / 4.4 °C or less) in shallow, covered containers. Eat within 3 to 4 days, either cold or reheated to 165 °F / 73.9 °C (hot and steaming). It is safe to freeze ready prepared pork dishes.

How long will smoked pork last in fridge? ›

Refrigerate meat and poultry within 2 hours of removing it from a smoker. Cut the meat or poultry into smaller portions or slices, place it in shallow containers, cover, and refrigerate. Use it within 4 days or freeze for later use.

How long is leftover smoked meat good for? ›

How Long Smoked Meats Last In The Fridge, Hot-Smoked Or Cold-Smoked. Hot-smoked meat, like ribs or brisket, lasts four days in the fridge and up to three months in the freezer, while cold-smoked meats can last for a few months or even indefinitely.

Does smoked pork last longer? ›

So, if you are looking for a way to preserve your meat, then smoking it is an excellent method to try. Just be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight or moisture, and you should be suitable for months.

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