Pulled pork makes for an incredibly versatile main course. From sandwiches to tacos to nachos, the options are endless. But every pork-centric meal needs the right appetizers and sides to complement the tender, smokey meat. In this article, I’ll suggest 25 scrumptious appetizer recipes that pair perfectly with pulled pork.
Appetizers are a great way to kick off any pulled pork dinner. Here are some key tips for picking the best options
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Choose a variety of flavors and textures – Mix up crunchy creamy spicy and fresh options to keep things interesting.
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Make it easy to eat – Finger foods and appetizers that can be easily picked up make sense for pulled pork meals,
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Balance rich and light – Pulled pork is decadent so have some lighter veggie-focused options too.
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Take advantage of leftovers – Leftover pulled pork can be easily incorporated into many appetizers.
25 Irresistible Appetizers for Pulled Pork Dinners
Here are my top recommended appetizers to complement pulled pork perfectly:
1. Deviled Eggs
These protein-packed bites are a classic pairing. Add some chopped pork or BBQ sauce for pulled pork deviled eggs.
2. Nachos
Chips, pork, cheese, beans, salsa – need I say more? Easy to make a big batch.
3. Potato Skins
Crispy potato shells loaded with melty cheese, bacon, green onions and pork.
4. Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Little smokies wrapped in bacon complement the pork wonderfully.
5. Pork Quesadillas
Shredded pork, cheese and salsa sandwiched between crispy tortillas.
6. Mini Corn Dogs
Bite-sized corn dog nuggets are perfectly poppable pork accompaniments.
7. BBQ Meatballs
Incorporate shredded pork into sweet and tangy meatballs for a crowd-pleasing pop.
8. Pork Egg Rolls
Get your pork fix in crispy egg roll form with sauteed veggies.
9. Mini Pulled Pork Tacos
All the flavors of pork tacos in an easy to eat mini size.
10. Cheesy Bacon Bombs
Smoky pork, cheese and bacon packed into bite-sized cheese “bombs”.
11. Pork Pinwheels
Shredded pork, cheese and pickle rolled up in tortillas or sandwich thins.
12. Pork-Stuffed Mushrooms
Meaty mushrooms stuffed with cheese and zippy pork.
13. Pigs in a Blanket
No brainer here. Pork sausages and dough are BFFs.
14. Candied Bacon
Crisp, maple-glazed bacon is pretty much unanimously loved.
15. Caprese Skewers
Cherry tomato, basil and mozzarella skewers offer lighter bites.
16. Sliders
Pork piled high on mini buns makes for perfect picker-uppers.
17. BBQ Chicken Wings
Crispy wings in sticky BBQ sauce are hard to resist.
18. Chips and Dips
Queso, salsa, guac and more are great vessels for pork.
19. Pickles
From fried pickles to quick pickles, sour balances the richness.
20. Pork Rinds
Crunchy, salty chicharróns complement their meaty cousin.
21. Cheese Board
Cubes of sharp cheddar, pepper jack and more hit the spot.
22. Vegetable Crudites
Fresh veggie sticks bring color, crunch and balance.
23. Fruit Skewers
Grilled pineapple, peaches and berries lend a touch of sweetness.
24. Flatbreads
Pizza-like flatbreads topped with pork make great shareable bites.
25. Chips and Salsa
Crunchy tortilla chips plus fresh salsa make a perfect pairing.
Putting It All Together
When hosting a pulled pork dinner, I like to set up a help-yourself appetizer station with a variety of the snacks above for guests to graze on. Nachos, quesadillas and tacos are easy to prepare in big batches. Skewers, pinwheels, sliders and cheese bombs can all be prepped ahead of time for quick serving. Focus on a mix of crunchy, spicy, cooling, meaty and veggie options and let the pork-friendly feasting commence!