BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (2024)

You won’t believe how meaty and tender this BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork really is! Jackfruit and barbecue sauce are cooked together on the stove, giving you an easy and smoky shredded meat copycat even carnivores will love.

For more incredible jackfruit recipes, check out my Jackfruit Tacos, Jackfruit Carnitas or Buffalo Jackfruit Quesadillas!

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (1)

Barbecue-ready vegan pulled pork

If there’s one meal that screams “barbecue”, it’s this BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork. Made with shredded jackfruit and barbecue sauce, even meat eaters will think they’re eating the real thing! One bite and all of your guests will be hooked.

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that’s easy to cook and has the same texture as shredded meat. Mix it with homemade BBQ sauce and you have a winning combination! Pulled jackfruit soaks in the smoky flavors, giving you tender and meaty vegan pulled pork that looks and tastes just like real meat.

The best way to eat jackfruit pulled pork is to stuff it into hamburger buns. Top the sandwiches with more BBQ sauce and creamy coleslaw and dig in! They’re a must-have at any summer barbecue or potluck.

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (2)

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

  • Canned jackfruit – Make sure you use young green jackfruit in water or brine. If you’re using jackfruit packed in brine, just rinse it well to get rid of the briny flavor.
  • Olive oil – Or cook the onion in water for an oil free alternative.
  • Onion
  • BBQ sauceHomemade BBQ sauce is easy to make at home with simple ingredients! For a time-saving solution, use your favorite storebought sauce instead.
  • Water
  • Sriracha – You can use any hot sauce you like.
  • Salt
BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (3)

How to make jackfruit pulled pork

Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Drain and rinse the canned jackfruit to wash away the brine.

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (4)

You can chop off and discard the woody core of the jackfruit if you find it to be too tough. Otherwise, leave it intact.

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (5)

Saute the onion in an oiled skillet until it’s soft. Add the jackfruit, BBQ sauce, and water. Stir everything together before covering the skillet with a lid and leaving the jackfruit to cook and tenderize.

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (6)

Afterward, remove the lid and mash the jackfruit with a potato masher or two forks. It should have a shredded texture similar to real pulled pork. Adjust to taste before turning up the heat and letting it cook a little longer. This achieves a flavorful, caramelized crunch!

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (7)

Serve the pulled jackfruit on buns with vegan coleslaw, then enjoy!

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (8)

Serving suggestions

The best way to use BBQ pulled jackfruit is in vegan pulled pork sandwiches. Top with vegan coleslaw and extra barbecue sauce, then dig in! Don’t forget the cornbread and macaroni salad on the side.

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (9)

Frequently asked questions

  1. Does jackfruit taste like pulled pork? Young jackfruit has a meaty texture and soaks up flavor like a sponge. Once it’s cooked, it takes on all of the savory, smoky flavors the BBQ sauce has to offer! It tastes a lot like pulled pork!
  2. Can you make BBQ jackfruit in the Instant Pot? Yes! Just follow the steps in my Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Jackfruit recipe.
  3. Can you make it ahead of time? Yes, you can cook the barbecue jackfruit up to 3 days in advance. Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, reheat the jackfruit in a skillet until warmed through, then enjoy in sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, and more.
  4. Can you freeze BBQ jackfruit? Yes! Freeze any leftovers in airtight containers and let them thaw overnight in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (10)

Want more vegan barbecue recipes?

  • BBQ Tempeh Sandwich
  • BBQ Cauliflower Wings
  • Sticky BBQ Tempeh Ribs
  • The Best Vegan Potato Salad
  • BBQ Soy Curl Sandwich

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (11)

BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork

You won’t believe how meaty and tender this BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork really is! Jackfruit and barbecue sauce are cooked together on the stove, giving you an easy and smoky shredded meat copycat even carnivores will love.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

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Ingredients

Jackfruit Pulled "Pork":

For serving:

  • 4-6 vegan buns
  • 1 Recipe Vegan Coleslaw

Instructions

  • Drain and rinse the jackfruit from the can. Rinse very well if your jackfruit was packed in brine. Chop off the hard center core portions, if desired(see photos in post above). I like the texture better with the tougher parts removed. Set aside.

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent.

  • Add the jackfruit, BBQ sauce and 1/2 cup of water. Stir well to combine, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes on low-medium heat, stirring occasionally.

  • After 20 minutes, remove the lid and mash the jackfruit with a potato masher or two forks, to create a shredded texture so it resembled pulled pork. Add Sriracha hot sauce and salt to taste.

  • To finish, turn the heat up to high and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently. This helps it dry up a bit and get blackened in some spots, which makes it extra tasty!

  • Remove from heat and serve on buns with Vegan Coleslaw. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. If you can find young green jackfruit in water, that is best as it won’t have a briny flavor at all. However, I often get the jackfruit from Trader Joe’s in brine and I don’t mind it. So either will work.
  2. For oil free, omit the olive oil and cook the onion in a few tablespoons of water.
  3. For gluten free, use gluten free vegan buns.
  4. Calories listed are for 1/4th of the bbq jackfruit only, and do not include the bun or coleslaw.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Nora Taylor

Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!

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Posted In: BBQ Recipes, Dinner, Gluten Free, Holiday, Main Dish, Meal Type, Method, Nut Free, Special Dietary Needs, Summer

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BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork (2024)

FAQs

Does jackfruit really taste like pulled pork? ›

Does jackfruit taste like pulled pork? Young jackfruit has a meaty texture and soaks up flavor like a sponge. Once it's cooked, it takes on all of the savory, smoky flavors the BBQ sauce has to offer! It tastes a lot like pulled pork!

Is Trader Joe's pulled jackfruit in smoky barbecue sauce vegan? ›

Though mainly carnivorous in nature, in all honesty, a little vegan meat substitution here and there doesn't bother me.

What is BBQ jackfruit made of? ›

Ingredients for BBQ Jackfruit

Canned jackfruit — Make sure to purchase the young green jackfruit that comes in water or brine, and not the ripe yellow kind that often comes packed in syrup. Garlic and onion powder — Combined with the barbecue sauce, these make the jackfruit taste super flavorful and extra savory.

What does jackfruit taste like when cooked? ›

What Does Jackfruit Taste Like? Ripe yellow jackfruit has a subtly sweet flavor, often described as a combination of banana, apple, and mango. Young green jackfruit, on the other hand, has a neutral flavor and texture similar to shredded meat, making it a popular meat substitute in savory dishes.

What are the benefits of jackfruit pulled pork? ›

“You don't have to go vegetarian, but you can use jackfruit in place of traditional pork every now and then,” she says. 3. It's good for your heart. Jackfruit is a good source of fiber (see above), potassium (110 mg per serving), and antioxidants—all of which support heart health.

What can you not eat with jackfruit? ›

Jackfruit can also be harmful if you eat it with milk or carbonated drinks. It may cause digestion and skin issues. You should avoid drinking water after the consumption of jackfruit as it can lead to diarrhoea. Jackfruit is a high water content fruit that smoothes out bowel movements.

Is jackfruit a pork substitute? ›

Unripe jackfruit has a stringy texture that looks and feels similar to pulled pork or shredded beef cheeks. This combination of factors makes it the holy grail of meat substitutes. You can flavour the jackfruit with the same spices and flavours you would use for meats, and it has that great meaty texture.

Can you smoke jackfruit on a smoker? ›

Drizzle olive oil onto a baking sheet. Place seasoned jackfruit on a baking sheet and place in a 220 °F-240°F Smoker for 1 hour.

Which fruit is known to be a vegan substitute for pulled pork? ›

The main ingredient, which masquerades as the pork, is Jackfruit. This is a tropical fruit, also known as Durian fruit. It has a very similar texture to “pulled” pork or chicken! But unlike meat, it is free from saturated fat and cholesterol.

Is jackfruit meat healthy? ›

Jackfruit is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and other important vitamins and minerals. Also, research suggests that compounds in the flesh, seeds, and other parts of the plant may potentially treat or prevent several health conditions. Jackfruit is a popular meat substitute.

Why is jackfruit so delicious? ›

One unique aspect of jackfruit is its unusually large size. It is the largest tree fruit in the world and can reach up to 80 pounds (35 kg) in weight. Jackfruit has a subtle sweet and fruity flavor. It has been said to taste similar to a combination of fruits, including apples, pineapples, mangoes and bananas.

Does jackfruit taste like pulled pork? ›

Some think it's sweet, while others do indeed liken it to the taste of pulled pork. This is especially true when cooked, and you'll find it used regularly in the place of pulled pork or chicken in the best vegan cookbooks.

Is jackfruit a fruit or vegetable? ›

Jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit grown in Asia, Africa and South America. It belongs to the same plant family as figs and mulberries. Under its thick, bumpy green rind is a stringy yellow flesh that you can eat raw or cooked in a variety of dishes. (Its seeds are also edible.)

Is jackfruit expensive? ›

After all, fresh jackfruits can be found in many parts of Brazil for the equivalent of $1.10 (81p)each, and are similarly affordable in many other tropical countries. They can even be picked for free from the trees in many places, but the vast majority - at least in Brazil - are left to rot on the streets.

Why does jackfruit taste like meat? ›

Compared to ripe jackfruit, unripe jackfruit has a stringy, meaty texture similar to that of beef or pork. This texture—along with the fruit's neutral, almost bland taste, which can accommodate the flavor of whatever it's cooked in—is a large reason why jackfruit is such a popular meat alternative.

What does jackfruit taste like on pizza? ›

Even though it is not native to the States, it's gaining its popularity in the vegan world. Jackfruit has a meat-like texture and is neutral in flavor. It's a vegan/vegetarian wondrous food that makes a perfect substitute for pulled pork sandwiches or in this case, pulled pork pizza!

What is jackfruit similar to? ›

Breadfruit and jackfruit do indeed have a similar external and internal appearance, as they are both members of the mulberry family. This similarity hides some major differences in taste, nutrition, and plant biology, however.

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