BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork | Tofu Test Kitchen (2024)

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Jackfruit is a meatless dream come true. Shredding jackfruit chunks with your fingers or a fork gives the perfect texture for a vegan pulled pork recipe.

And because young jackfruit doesn’t have much flavor of it’s own, it’s adaptable to whatever sauce you cook it in.

I’ve been craving a messy, indulgent BBQ sandwich, so I grabbed a box of vegan Chao mac and cheese from the freezer to pile on top. With a little sprinkle of salt and an extra squirt of BBQ sauce, the perfect vegan pulled pork sandwich was born.

How to make pulled jackfruit

Jackfruit easily pulls apart to mimic the look and texture of pulled pork. It also works great for vegan shredded chicken recipes, like a jackfruit buffalo chick’n dip.

In this recipe, we’re using green jackfruit in brine from Trader Joe’s, and my favorite BBQ sauce by Sweet Baby Ray’s.

As you start to shred the canned jackfruit chunks, you’ll find some parts are too tough. You can either discard those smaller parts, or finely chop them. They will soften during the cooking process.

To add extra flavor besides the BBQ sauce, this jackfruit pulled pork recipe starts by cooking thinly sliced onions on low heat for ten minutes. Then we stir in some minced garlic, and add the shredded jackfruit doused with BBQ sauce.

Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then give it a taste test to check the chewiness. You may want to cook for an additional 5-10 minutes if you felt your jackfruit was particularly tough.

Now you’re ready to serve on a bun with your favorite topping! My vegan slaw recipe is a great choice if you want some crunchy veggies in the mix.

For a less healthy but equally delicious BBQ sandwich topping, I used a box of frozen Chao mac and cheese. I’ve tried virtually all of the dairy free macaroni and cheese options on the market, and Chao is the best vegan mac and cheese, hands down.

Jackfruit Q&A

Q: What is jackfruit?
A: Jackfruit is a tropical fruit with a meaty texture. It shreds easily by hand to mimic a pulled pork or pulled chicken texture. It’s also high in fiber and an environmentally sustainable food.

Q: What does jackfruit taste like?
A: It can be canned while still green (young) before much sweet flavor develops, so jackfruit is perfect as a vegan meat substitute. It basically absorbs whatever flavors you cook it in.

Q: Where do you buy jackfruit?
A: Check with your grocery store to see where they keep canned jackfruit. It’s in the canned goods section of my local Trader Joe’s, and in the meat alternatives section of my health food store. Just be sure you’re buying jackfruit in brine rather than syrup, otherwise it will taste far too sweet.

Q: Which jackfruit should you use for pulled pork?
A: While you can buy a whole fresh jackfruit, they’re not sold in all grocery stores. The easier option is to buy green jackfruit in a can in brine (not syrup). This jackfruit was canned young, before too much sweetness developed. When shredded, it very closely matches the look and texture of pulled pork or chicken.

Other jackfruit recipes

Many meatless chefs commonly use jackfruit in place of shredded meat. Here are some ideas to inspire your creativity in the kitchen!

• BBQ jackfruit pizza
• Jackfruit meat tacos with all the fixings
• Ultimate nachos piled with Mexican seasoned shredded jackfruit, roasted corn, diced tomatoes, and green chiles
• Buffalo jackfruit chick’n dip
• Jackfruit plant-based power bowl with cabbage, carrots, avocado, baby tomatoes, lettuce, and grains

Do you have any other uses for jackfruit as a meat substitute? Leave a comment below!

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