Transform Your Leftover Pork Roast into Tender, Juicy Pulled Pork

Have you ever found yourself staring at a leftover pork roast in your fridge and wondering what on earth to do with it? As delicious as roast pork is fresh out of the oven, leftovers can get boring fast Well, I’m here to let you in on a secret – that leftover pork roast is just waiting to be turned into insanely delicious pulled pork!

Making pulled pork out of a leftover roast is easy, budget friendly, and opens up a whole new world of possibilities for using up the leftovers. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have tender, juicy pulled pork ready to top sandwiches, tacos, pizzas, salads and more in no time.

Benefits of Turning Leftover Roast Pork into Pulled Pork

There are so many great reasons to give this recipe a try:

• Saves money – No need to buy expensive pork shoulder when you already have roast pork ready to go. Get more mileage out of your grocery budget.

• Reduces food waste – Give that leftover meat new life instead of letting it go bad and get tossed. Being resourceful with leftovers is good for the wallet and the planet.

• Endless options – Shredded pork is incredibly versatile. Pile it on sandwiches, tacos, nachos, baked potatoes…the possibilities are endless!

• Intensifies flavor – The seasoning mixture permeates the pork as it cooks down into tender pulled pork, taking the flavor to the next level.

• So easy – With just 5 main ingredients and a slow cooker or instant pot, it couldn’t be simpler.

Let’s get into the easy step-by-step method!

Ingredients Needed

• 2-3 cups leftover roast pork, shredded into bite-size pieces
• 1⁄2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for finger-licking pulled pork every time.

Prep the Pork

Start by shredding or chopping the leftover roast pork into bite-sized pieces. You want chunks of meat rather than slices.

Aim for about 2-3 cups of shredded pork depending on how much you have leftover.

Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.

The sauce adds a punch of flavor and keeps the pork ultra moist. Feel free to tweak the ingredients to your tastes – more spice, extra sweetness, etc.

Cook the Pork

Dump the shredded pork and sauce mixture into the slow cooker. Give it a stir to make sure the pork is thoroughly coated.

Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. The long cooking time allows the pork to become insanely tender and absorb all that delicious sauce.

If you’re short on time, you can cook it on high heat for 3-4 hours instead.

Shred and Serve

Once cooked, use two forks to shred the pork into smaller strands.

Serve it up on buns or tacos, or use it as a topping for salads, baked potatoes, nachos, or pizza. The possibilities are endless!

Pro Tip: For added smoky flavor, throw the cooked pulled pork under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the edges get crispy.

Tips for the Best Pulled Pork

Follow these tips for maximum pulled pork perfection:

• Use pork shoulder, pork butt, or pork picnic roast – these cuts become tender and shreddable when cooked low and slow.

• Cut the pork into smaller 1-inch chunks before cooking for more surface area to soak up sauce.

• Use a flavorful sauce. I love an easy homemade mix of ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices. But a store-bought barbecue sauce works too.

• Cook it low and slow. The long cooking time allows the connective tissue in the meat to break down into succulent pulled pork.

• Shred the pork with two forks once cooked – this helps distribute the sauce evenly.

• Finish it with extra sauce and a dash of pepper, or broil it to crisp the edges.

Fun Ways to Use Pulled Pork

Now comes the best part – time to dig into that succulent pulled pork! Here are some of my favorite ways to use it up:

• Sandwiches – Pile it high on burger buns, Hawaiian rolls or garlic bread. Add pickled red onions, slaw, cheese, or barbecue drizzle.

• Tacos – Heap it into soft tortillas along with grated cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

• Pizza/Flatbreads – Top pizzas or flatbreads with pulled pork, bbq sauce, red onions and pineapple for a delicious Hawaiian twist.

• Salads – Toss with leafy greens, tomatoes, avocado, corn, beans, and ranch dressing.

• Breakfast – Wake up to pulled pork hash with eggs, potatoes, peppers and cheese.

• Nachos – Load tortilla chips with pulled pork, beans, cheese, salsa, and jalapeños for the ultimate nacho experience.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless with this versatile leftover pork roast recipe! I hope you’ll give this easy method a try. Just beware – once you realize how delicious DIY pulled pork can be, you’ll never see leftover roast pork the same way again.