Vegan pulled pork made with jackfruit is so similar to the texture of real pork that your non-vegan family and friends will think they’re taking a bite of the real thing!
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Jackfruit is an innovative and versatile tropical fruit that has become an everyday staple in vegan recipes. This all-natural plant mimics the texture of pulled pork, making it an excellent substitute for meat in many vegan recipes.
I have shared a few of my favorite ways to use jackfruit in my jackfruit BBQ pizza, curried jackfruit bowls, and vegan jackfruit burgers. Today I’m sharing another tasty way to use jackfruit with vegan pulled pork sandwiches!
This recipe is so easy to make! It’s much faster than making real pulled pork. Plus it’s got tons of vitamins and nutrients. It’s a great recipe for a BBQ, picnic, summer gathering, or simple weeknight dinner. You’ll be shocked at how the taste and texture mimic that of slow-roasted pork.
💗 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Pulled Pork
- Quick and Easy
- Simple Ingredients
- Great Texture
- Versatile Uses
- Vegan and Vegetarian
🥣 Ingredients and Notes
Jackfruit: Two (20 ounce) cans of jackfruit are needed for this recipe. You can use fresh jackfruit if you choose, but it’s such a large fruit that canned is much easier to work with.
Diced Onion: I like to use red onion for this recipe.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic works best.
Spices: A combination of chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper season the jackfruit before adding BBQ sauce.
BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce. Most are naturally vegan, but take a look at the ingredient label to be sure.
Shredded Cabbage: Any shredded cabbage will do. I used a bag that was pre-shredded and had a mix of cabbage.
Hamburger Buns: Opt for whole wheat hamburger buns for more fiber.
📖 Variations and Substitutions
Change the Spices: If you like your BBQ jackfruit to be more on the spicy than smoky side, and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to increase the heat.
Roast the Jackfruit: If you prefer, you can roast the jackfruit with the added spices and BBQ sauce. To do this, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spread the marinated jackfruit on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through, until it’s nicely browned and slightly crispy.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Vegan Pulled Pork
- Drain and rinse the canned jackfruit and shred it using a fork or your hands. Discard any hard pieces or seeds.
- In a large skillet or pot, sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until translucent, about 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
- Add the shredded jackfruit to the skillet and the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix and cook for 2-3 minutes until the jackfruit is coated with the spices.
- Pour in the BBQ sauce and stir to combine. Lower the heat to medium-low and let the jackfruit cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s tender and the sauce has thickened.
- While the jackfruit is cooking, toast the hamburger buns.
- Assemble the sandwiches by placing a generous amount of BBQ jackfruit on the bottom half of each bun. Top with shredded red cabbage and pickles if using.
📝 Expert Tips
- Use young or green jackfruit in brine or water, not the sweet, ripe variety. Canned jackfruit is widely available at most grocery stores.
- Drain the canned jackfruit and rinse it thoroughly to remove excess brine or salt. This will prevent your dish from becoming too salty.
- Use your hands or two forks to shred the jackfruit into small pieces that resemble pulled pork. Remove any tough cores or seeds.
- Marinate the shredded jackfruit overnight for maximum flavor absorption.
- Keep an eye on the texture of your BBQ jackfruit. It should be tender but not mushy. Adjust the cooking time as needed.
❓ FAQS
Vegan pulled pork, also known as “pulled jackfruit,” is a plant-based alternative to traditional pulled pork made from animal meat. Instead of pork, vegan pulled pork is typically made from young or green jackfruit, which has a fibrous texture that resembles pulled meat when prepared properly.
Several plant-based ingredients can be substituted for pulled pork in vegan or vegetarian dishes. The choice of substitution often depends on the desired texture, flavor, and dietary preferences. Consider using jackfruit, tempeh, lentils, king oyster mushrooms, seitan, tofu, textured vegetable protein, eggplant, or cauliflower.
Not all BBQ sauces are vegan, as some traditional recipes for barbecue sauce contain non-vegan ingredients. However, many BBQ sauces on the market are vegan-friendly, and you can also make your own vegan BBQ sauce at home. Here’s what you should look out for to avoid a non-vegan BBQ sauce: honey, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, gelatin, or lard (animal fat).
🍽 How to Serve
- Serve it on hamburger buns with vegan coleslaw for a pulled jackfruit sandwich. Use gluten-free buns if needed.
- Use it as a topping for baked potatoes.
- Add it as a filling for tacos and burritos.
- Make jackfruit bowls. Serve with rice, pickled vegetables, and shredded lettuce.
🫙 How to Store and Keep
Refrigerate: Transfer the BBQ jackfruit to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep the hamburger buns and cabbage in separate containers.
Freeze: Transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container. Freezer-safe plastic bags work well. Make sure all air has been pushed out. Label with the date and contents. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Reheat: If frozen, transfer to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Place in a skillet and warm for 5 minutes or until heated through.
😋 More Vegan Jackfruit Recipes!
⚖️ Serving Size
This recipe prepares six vegan pulled pork sandwiches.
Recipe
Vegan Pulled Pork
Equipment
- Toaster
Ingredients
- 40 ounces jackfruit in brine 2 (20 ounce) cans
- ½ cup diced red onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup vegan BBQ sauce
- 6 whole wheat hamburger buns
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- sliced pickles to taste
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the canned jackfruit and shred it using a fork or your hands. Discard any hard pieces or seeds.
- In a large skillet or pot, sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until translucent, about 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
- Add the shredded jackfruit to the skillet and the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix and cook for 2-3 minutes until the jackfruit is coated with the spices
- Pour in the BBQ sauce and stir to combine. Lower the heat to medium-low and let the jackfruit cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's tender and the sauce has thickened
- While the jackfruit is cooking, toast the hamburger buns.
- Assemble the sandwiches by placing a generous amount of BBQ jackfruit on the bottom half of each bun. Top with shredded red cabbage and pickles if using.
Notes
- Use young or green jackfruit in brine or water, not the sweet, ripe variety. Canned jackfruit is widely available at most grocery stores.
- Drain the canned jackfruit and rinse it thoroughly to remove excess brine or salt. This will prevent your dish from becoming too salty.
- Use your hands or two forks to shred the jackfruit into small pieces that resemble pulled pork. Remove any tough cores or seeds.
- Marinate the shredded jackfruit overnight for maximum flavor absorption.
- Keep an eye on the texture of your BBQ jackfruit. It should be tender but not mushy. Adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze it for 2-3 months.
- Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, and heat on the stovetop.
Farah
Perfect recipe for non pork eaters like me! Everything i’ve tried with jackfruit so far I’ve loved, so i’m so excited by this- thanks for the recipe!
Dannii
I had always wanted to try jackfruit and I am so glad I did. This was amazing and so easy to make too.
Kathleen
I love how versatile jack fruit is. It makes a perfect vegan pulled pork. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Tara
I love that you made these sandwiches using jackfruit! The flavors sound amazing, especially paired with the cabbage.
Stephanie
I am trying to serve more plant-based meals to my family so I was happy to come across this vegan pulled pork recipe. What a clever take on pulled pork – the jackfruit works nicely and the flavoring is perfect.
Farah Abumaizar
I’ve been loving recipes with jackfruit! And as someone who doesn’t eate pork these look so good and right up my ally!