BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Learn how to make the best BBQ jackfruit pulled pork sandwiches with a flavorful marinade, double-simmer method, and crispy seared edges. This vegan pulled pork recipe is perfect for summer BBQs, meal prep, and easy weeknight dinners!
Ingredients
- 1 (14-oz) can jackfruit in brine or water
- 1 ½ Tbsp refined coconut oil optional
For the marinade:
- ½ medium red onion minced or grated
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced or grated
- ½ cup apple juice
- 1 Tbsp agave
- 1 Tbsp BBQ sauce
- ½ Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ Tbsp pickle juice
- ¾ tsp chili powder
- ¾ tsp smoked paprika
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
For the slaw:
- ¼ small head green cabbage shredded
- ½ large granny smith apple shredded or grated
- 1 Tbsp vegan mayo
- ½ Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp celery salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
For serving:
- 4 burger buns
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce divided
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the jackfruit.
- Drain the jackfruit and add it to a zip-lock bag or shallow dish.
- To a mason jar or medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the marinade until fully combined.
- Pour the marinade all over the jackfruit. Give it a quick toss to make sure the marinade is coating it well.
- Marinate for about 2 hours or overnight in the fridge.
Step 3: Simmer the jackfruit
- Add 1 Tbsp refined coconut oil to a large nonstick skillet and turn heat to medium-high. If you’re oil-free, skip this.
- Slowly add the jackfruit along with all of the excess marinade and stir.
- Cover and bring to a simmer.
- Once simmering, turn the heat to medium low and continue to cook (covered) for another 10 minutes.
Step 4: Shred the jackfruit.
- Remove the skillet from heat and use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the jackfruit pieces from the skillet to a medium mixing bowl (leave the marinade in the pot for now).
- Now, it’s time to shred the jackfruit using a potato masher and/or two forks. I like to use a combination of both!
- Shred the jackfruit until it takes on the texture of a pulled pork.
Step 5: Finish cooking the jackfruit
- Add the shredded jackfruit back to the pot with the marinade and stir to make sure everything is well-coated.
- Turn the heat to medium-low and cook for another 7-10 minutes, covered.
- Then, remove the cover, turn the heat to medium or medium-high, and cook for another 5-10 minutes, stopping to stir the jackfruit around every 1-3 minutes (and not more often). You want to stir thoroughly and flatten the jackfruit out each time you’re done stirring, so you get a nice char on the edges of the jackfruit. The color will also darken slightly.
Step 6: Make the slaw
- To a medium mixing bowl, toss together the shredded cabbage and apple.
- In a small bowl, mix the vegan mayo, apple cider vinegar, celery salt, onion powder, and ground black pepper until combined.
- Pour this dressing over the cabbage and toss until fully coated.
Step 7: Prep each sandwich
- If desired, lightly toast the buns in a non-stick skillet on medium-low heat until lightly toasted, about 3-4 minutes.
- Spread about ½ - 1 Tbsp BBQ sauce on each side of the toasted bun.
- Spoon the cooked jackfruit onto the bottom bun, top with desired amount of slaw, and finish with the top bun.
- Enjoy served all on its own or alongside potato wedges, cold deli salads, or more slaw!
Notes
Equipment Spotlight
For this recipe, we used several of the Microplane Jar Top attachments to streamline the prep process and seriously cut down on cleanup. The Jar Top Fine Grater and Extra Coarse Blade were AMAZING for making the BBQ jackfruit marinade because they let us grate the garlic and onion directly into the mason jar. The fine grater in particular creates a super flavorful garlic paste that melts right into marinades and sauces, so none of that flavor gets left behind on the cutting board! We also used the Jar Top Slicer and Extra Coarse Blade to quickly make the cabbage and apple slaw directly in the same jar (after a quick rinse!), which made this multi-step recipe feel surprisingly manageable. One of our favorite things about the Microplane Jar Top system is how practical it is for real-life cooking. Everything stores neatly, works directly with wide-mouth mason jars, and helps minimize mess while still giving you beautifully prepped ingredients. Plus, the tools are dishwasher-safe, which is always a huge win in our kitchen after making a saucy recipe like this one!Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwich with jackfruit, slaw, extra BBQ sauceCalories: 393kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 7gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 655mgPotassium: 751mgFiber: 5gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 517IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!