Don’t break a sweat anymore. When you’re done reading this article, you’ll have endless options on what to do with the pulled pork leftovers from the family dinner.
Everyone knows that pulling pulled pork together is time-consuming. So, seeing leftovers isn’t always such a great sight.
What’s worse? The thought of throwing them away. Well, this doesn’t have to be the case anymore. Rather than getting disposable bags to trash the pulled pork leftovers, get your hands ready to make new, exciting recipes.
What is pulled pork?
Pulled pork is a delicious barbecue made with pig shoulder. This barbecue is cooked slowly over wood (outdoors) or on a slow cooker (indoors). After cooking, the meat is shredded and mixed with sauce.
You can either eat pulled pork as it is or serve it with bread. Sometimes, pulled pork is added to other meals to serve as meat.
What can you do with pulled pork leftovers?
There’s so much you can do with pulled pork leftovers as long as you preserve the pork leftovers well. Your refrigerator and freezer will do those leftovers a lot of good.
1. Smoked pulled pork leftovers salad
Bring out the pork leftovers from the fridge and use them as protein for salad. Use cabbage, carrots, corn kernels, romaine lettuce, bacon, and cheddar cheese to make a hearty bowl of salad.
You can also add a salad dressing like lemon vinaigrette and a sprinkle of pepper for a kick of heat.
2. Pulled pork burritos
If you love burritos, here’s a way to make yourself homemade tasty burritos. Pulled pork leftovers come in very handy here.
Fill the burritos with pork. Add other fillings like rice, guacamole, black beans, or jalapenos. Make your burritos creamy with sour cream cheese sauce.
3. Make super bowls with pulled pork leftovers
A pulled pork bowl allows you to modify your meal. Heat the pork leftovers and add vegetables, black beans, lettuce, pickles, onions, soy sauce, and maybe noodles, rice, or potatoes for a filling meal.
4. Pulled pork chili
On a cold night, what better bowl of comfort can you have? A bowl of hot and spicy chili is the best indulgence you can have.
If you think you’ve run out of meat, remember the pulled pork leftovers in the freezer? Grab those and heat them with chili peppers, garlic, and onions.
You can either eat it alone or serve it with cornbread. Moreover, it can also pass for a family dinner if you run out of options.
5. Pulled pork leftovers mac n cheese
Mac n cheese is a divine pair that makes a hearty meal when paired with meat like pork. Unlike if you’re starting from scratch with pork leftovers, your creamy bowl of mac n cheese will be ready in minutes.
6. Pulled pork leftovers sliders
Need quick meal ideas that won’t require a trip to the store? Here’s one. Get the pork leftovers, reheat them, and place them between slider rolls or buns. Make a heartier slider with coleslaw toppings or diced potatoes.
7. Wontons
Make pork-filled wontons with leftover pulled pork and cheese fillings in wonton wrappers. You can have this as a quick lunch, an appetizer, or just something to snack on.
8. Taco soup
Turn sweet and spicy pulled pork leftovers into a savory and indulgent bowl of soup.
Slowly cook the pork with tomatoes, black beans, taco and ranch seasonings, corn, and chicken broth. Serve taco soup with pulled pork as it is, or use it as a dip for a sandwich.
9. Pulled pork leftover quesadillas
Just as you use meatloaf leftovers to make quesadillas, put pulled pork to similar use. Fill tortillas with pork, chili, onions, cheese, and any other filling you’ll like.
Afterward, heat the stuffed tortillas until you have a crisp quesadilla. This hearty meal is highly filling and a good choice for lunch.
10. Totchos
Totchos are nachos variants that replace tortilla chips with tater tots. It’s easy and will take less time since you’re working with cooked pork. Add the pork, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole as toppings.
11. Pulled pork king ranch casserole
Meat and casseroles don’t go to waste. Maybe this is why they go well together. Like you’d make your regular casserole, add the pork, some hash browns, bacon, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, and red and green onions.
Other toppings that will make your casserole more flavorful are sliced jalapenos, sour cream, tomatoes, and diced avocados. Enjoy pulled pork casserole with family.
12. Grilled cheese sandwich with pulled pork leftover
Save money and make a grilled cheese sandwich at home with pulled pork leftovers. Make a flavorful sandwich with two different kinds of cheese. Mozzarella and cheddar cheese, for instance.
Place the cheeses, pork, and other fillings like veggies between two burger buns.
Thereafter, cook the sandwich slowly on low heat until the cheese melts. However, watch out so the bread doesn’t burn.
13. Pulled pork nachos
Pulled pork nachos are not your regular nachos.
Get your tortilla chips, cheese, pulled pork, of course, and toppings like guacamole, corn kernels, diced avocados, pinto beans, cabbage, pickled onions, lettuce, and other toppings you’d prefer. Remember to melt your cheese or use cheese sauce.
14. Pizza with pulled pork leftovers
If you don’t know what to do with all that leftover pulled pork, you can start by using it as pizza toppings. You know pizza never goes wrong with meat toppings.
Spread out the pizza crust and throw in the cheese, pork, jalapenos, bacon, and any other vegetables or toppings you want.
In addition, one great thing about this recipe, apart from its deliciousness, is that it saves you the time you’d spend placing your order and waiting for delivery.
15. Puff pastries
For pulled pork pastry puff, all you need are puff pastries, egg, pork, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce.
Fill the pastry with pork, cheese, and sauce. Wrap, brush the pastries with egg wash, and bake. Pack puff pastries as a snack for your kids’ lunch and your lunch.
16. Pulled pork leftovers in stuffed potatoes
Pulled pork in potatoes is on another level. A very hearty meal it is. Sweet potatoes and spicy pork make a perfect combination for lunch or weeknight dinner.
Bake sweet potatoes and fill them with pork. You should make a meat sauce with the pork before you add it to the potatoes.
17. Pulled pork leftovers + rice
Another satisfying meal you should make with pulled pork leftovers when next you have some is leftover pulled pork and rice.
The pork will suffice as meat, while you can get invested in adding color to the rice with vegetables like carrots, pickled red onions, cucumbers, and corn kernels. Serve hot for lunch, dinner, or Sunday meals.
18. Spaghetti squash bake
Here’s another way to make unconventional casseroles. Spaghetti squash bake is a flavorful casserole and heartier too. What’s in the dish? The pork, cheese, and salsa verde. Add other toppings for flavor.
19. Barbecue empanadas
Here’s a quick lunch recipe you can try at home. Start by making a savory filling with pork leftovers, barbecue sauce, cheese, aji Amarillo sauce, vegetables, and spices.
Then, fill the empanada crust with the savory filling and bake.
20. Pulled pork leftovers tacos
Tacos are a Tex-Mex dish that requires almost no level of expertise to prepare. Pork-filled tacos are much lighter than other tacos. However, they are just as delicious.
Heat the leftover pork. Throw in black beans, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and any other toppings you’d prefer. Use this mixture to fill tortilla wraps and serve.
21. Stuffed zucchini boats
One exciting thing about zucchini boats is that you don’t always have to use fresh meat for the sausage mixture. Moreover, using pork leftovers saves you plenty of time and makes your food ready in minutes.
Hollow out the zucchini squash and fill it with pork sausage and cheese. Afterward, bake. Serve as a main course or a snack if you want something filling.
22. Pulled pork leftovers in enchiladas
Enchiladas take pork-filled tortillas up a notch. Top the pork-filled tortillas with enchilada sauce and cheddar cheese. Bake until the cheese melts and you have golden crisp enchiladas.
23. Pulled pork leftover potato hash
Make this pulled pork potato hash for your friends; they’ll surely ask for the recipe.
Whip up your dish with gravy sauce, cheese, eggs, pork, vegetables, and spices of your choice. Serve pulled pork leftover potato hash for breakfast or brunch.
24. Tamales
Own your tamales. Instead of using fresh meat and starting from scratch, work with cooked pulled pork.
Warm the pork leftovers a little with chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then, fill masa harina dough with the pork. Afterward, wrap it in a corn husk and steam or bake.
25. Pulled pork leftover in a simple sandwich
This is probably the simplest meal you can make with pulled pork leftovers. Heat the pork and place it alongside coleslaw and pickles in between two burger buns. If you’re out for a savory snack or appetizer, add BBQ sauce.
26. Cornbread muffins
Pulled pork as toppings on cornbread muffins is a good idea for what to serve at a get-together or tailgate party. Get your muffins ready and top them with pork, fresh coleslaw, and a savory sauce.
27. Pulled pork leftovers for stuffed peppers
Just as you do with beef, crush the meat or cut it into bits. Hollow out bell peppers of your choice and fill the hollow with pork, onion, chili, black pepper, tomato sauce, cheese, and BBQ sauce.
Bake until you can see the cheese melt. Eat pulled pork stuffed peppers for lunch, as an appetizer, as a snack, and even for breakfast.
28. Pulled pork shepherd’s pie
Shepherd’s pie is highly satisfying. Moreover, it’s a huge meal that the family can bond over. This giant casserole contains pork, peas, corn, shredded cheese, carrots, and mashed potatoes. Serve with coleslaw as a side dish.
Are pulled pork leftovers still good?
Yes, pulled pork leftovers are good and can still be eaten, as long as you preserve them well.
Refrigerate the leftovers if you’ll consume them within 3-4 days. Freezing, on the other hand, will keep them for up to six months.
FAQs
How can you store pulled pork leftovers?
Store pork leftovers in airtight containers or vacuum seal them before refrigerating or freezing.
Divide the meat into small portions and wrap them in aluminum foil. Then, gather the wraps into a freezer bag, squeeze out the air in the bag, and seal.
How long are pulled pork leftovers good in the refrigerator?
If you store pulled pork leftovers properly, they can keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Make sure you’re keeping the pork at the back of the fridge, which is the coldest part of the fridge.
Can you freeze pulled pork leftover?
Yes, you can. The best way to keep pulled pork leftovers is to freeze them. Pulled pork can stay frozen for up to six months. Ensure you freeze pulled pork leftovers with the juice.
Can you reheat pulled pork leftovers?
Yes. Reheat pulled pork leftovers after thawing.
You can heat the leftovers in a crockpot, on a grill, or in a dish covered with foil. Add the meat juice or any available broth or sauce and warm it slowly.
Conclusion
Before you throw out the pulled pork leftovers, remember how many hours it took to make pulled pork.
When next you have pork leftovers, store them in the refrigerator or freezer. This way, you can have pork for some weeks or even months. But you must freeze pork leftovers correctly to make the most of them.
From the list of recipes in this article, find some for yourself and get everyone in the house involved. Moreover, transforming pulled pork leftovers into new meals is great for family bonding.
Thanks for reading.
Check Millenora for more guides on how to transform scraps into tasty meals.
