Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork from Costco is a tasty and convenient option for making delicious pulled pork dishes. This fully-cooked, boneless pork shoulder just needs to be heated and seasoned, making it an easy weeknight dinner or party pleaser. With a few simple steps, you can take this Kirkland pork from the package to the plate in no time.
Ingredients
- 1 package Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork
- Barbecue sauce, as desired
- Burger buns or slider rolls
- Cole slaw or cabbage, shredded (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Remove from Packaging
Start by removing the plastic sealed pork from the cardboard box Lay it on a baking sheet or plate The pork is fully cooked so you just need to heat it up to serve, The pork has a smoky ham flavor since it’s cured and smoked,
Step 2: Heat the Pulled Pork
There are a few different methods you can use to heat up the pork
-
Oven Preheat oven to 300°F Place pork in a baking dish and cover with foil Heat for 30-45 minutes until warmed through,
-
Microwave: Place pork in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes. Let sit 2 minutes then break pork apart and microwave 1-2 minutes more until hot.
-
Stovetop: Place pork in a skillet or pot on the stove over medium heat. Break up large chunks. Cook about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
-
Crockpot: Place pork in a crockpot and cook on low for 2-3 hours until heated through.
-
Grill: Slice pork into pieces and cook on a preheated grill for 6-8 minutes per side until hot.
Heat pork until internal temperature reaches 165°F. The meat should be hot and tender enough to shred easily with two forks.
Step 3: Shred the Pork
Once heated, use two forks to shred and pull the pork apart into bite-size strands. The tender meat should shred easily.
Break up any larger fatty pieces. You can discard any unappetizing pieces of fat. The shredded pork should have a nice smoky flavor from being cured and smoked.
Step 4: Season the Pulled Pork
The Kirkland pork has a mild ham-like flavor since it’s pre-smoked. Now it’s time to add more flavor with your favorite barbecue sauce:
-
For 3 pounds of pork, mix in 1/2 to 1 cup of barbecue sauce.
-
For more flavor, you can add spices and seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin or chili powder.
-
For a tangy slaw flavor, mix in some apple cider vinegar and sugar.
Mix well until pork is fully coated in sauce. For even more flavor, let it marinate in the fridge up to 8 hours before serving.
Step 5: Prepare the Buns
While the pork marinates, prepare the buns or rolls:
-
Buns: Toast or grill buns until golden brown.
-
Rolls: Bake slider rolls wrapped in foil at 400°F for 5 minutes.
Step 6: Assemble Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Start assembling sandwiches by adding a scoop of pulled pork on the bottom bun. Top with more barbecue sauce if desired.
Top with crispy coleslaw for crunch and tang. Add sliced pickles, onions or other favorite toppings.
Top with the other bun half and serve while hot and delicious!
Tips
-
Refrigerate leftover pulled pork up to 4 days. Reheat gently before serving.
-
Freeze extra pork up to 3 months for quick sandwiches later.
-
Try serving the pork in tacos, nachos, baked potatoes or omelets too.
-
Adjust the smoky flavor with different barbecue sauces like a sweeter, tangy or spicy variety.
-
Make it kid-friendly by limiting or omitting spicy seasonings.
FAQs
How much pulled pork is in one package?
Each package contains about 3 pounds of fully cooked smoked pulled pork.
What’s the shelf life of Kirkland Signature pulled pork?
Sealed, the unopened pork will last 2-3 months refrigerated. Once opened, eat within 4 days.
Is Kirkland pulled pork already fully cooked?
Yes, it just needs to be heated through until hot. Do not eat pork unless it’s steaming hot all the way through.
What’s the best way to reheat pulled pork?
Low, slow heating is best to rewarm without drying out the pork. Use the oven, crockpot or stove over medium heat. Microwave works too.
Can you freeze and thaw Kirkland pulled pork?
Yes, portion pork into freezer bags and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork from Costco makes for easy, delicious pulled pork. With just a few minutes of prep, you can have tasty shredded barbecue sandwiches ready to serve a crowd. Follow these simple steps to turn this convenient ready-to-heat pork into your next delicious dinner or party pleaser.