All that juicy unused pulled pork can be turned into another delicious recipe. Try any of these delicious leftover pulled pork recipes for a comforting grilling experience while also avoiding food waste!
It’s worth making a large batch of pulled pork since it takes a while to cook and reheats well. You can store the leftovers in the fridge or freezer and use them at a later time.
The variety of recipes using pulled pork leftovers is impressive. From sandwiches and casseroles, to pizza, pies, dips, and stews, there are plenty of options to use them.
These pulled pork leftover recipes make the perfect excuse to repurpose all that extra meat from the smoked pork butt with pulled pork rub and make it shine in a new and exciting dish!
1. Pulled Pork Quesadilla
Quesadilla is one tasty Mexican food that comes in many versions.
They still have some things in common: they’re budget-friendly, easy to scale up when you need to feed a crowd, and excellent for using up your pulled pork leftovers.
Since this dish is so versatile, there’s always the option to switch some ingredients.
Getting creative with the ingredients you already have is a wonderful way to prevent food waste. Don’t forget the sour cream, salsa and guacamole.
2. Pulled Pork Smoked Chili
A warm bowl of chili is a lip-smacking dinner perfect for the cold weather! I used smoked pulled pork for this fantastic chili that was also cooked in the smoker.
That double dose of smokiness is the upgrade no one can beat! And yes, it’s totally fine if you make pulled pork just to have it for this recipe. I certainly won’t judge.
3. Pulled Pork Casserole With Cornbread Topping
That cheesy cornbread crust really sets this casserole apart!
Even for other casserole recipes, the cornbread crust would make an excellent addition.
No pulled pork leftovers? You can still make this yummy casserole using BBQ beef, pulled smoked chicken, or store-bought rotisserie chicken.
4. Pulled Pork Nachos
When you need dinner on the table fast, these pulled pork nachos can save the day.
The pulled pork used in this recipe was from a grilled pork shoulder – still smoky, but faster to cook than the smoked version. Of course, it works for any pulled pork leftovers, it’s just that the grilled or smoked pulled pork will have a lot of extra flavor!
You just need to assemble your nachos in a sheet pan using all your favorite toppings and let it bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes.
5. Leftover Pulled Pork Flautas
Pulled pork flautas are such an easy lunch or dinner idea you can make with pulled pork leftovers.
In case you’re wondering, flauta is a fried flour tortilla rolled into the shape of a tube and filled with meat. If you use corn tortillas instead, it would be called a taquito. Easily cooked in the Air Fryer as we did with our Taquitos.
6. Smoked BBQ Dip With Leftover Pulled Pork
Fiesta cheese blend, fire-roasted tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, leftover smoked pulled pork, and carefully selected aromatics turn into the dreamiest of dips. This never lasts for more than 15 minutes after I pull it out of the smoker!
It comes together in minutes and then you just need some patience to let the smoker do the rest. It’s so good there’s no need to wait for game day to try it.
7. Pulled Pork Stuffed Avocado Boats
If you are following a low-carb diet, or occasionally enjoying low-carb recipes, this is the one to try with your pulled pork leftovers.
Baked avocado boats, stuffed with pulled pork, and generous amounts of BBQ sauce and ranch dressing will receive enthusiasm even from picky eaters.
8. Leftover Pulled Pork Sliders
Everyone loves pulled pork sliders! Getting fancy in the kitchen can be exciting, but sometimes a simple and comforting meal like these sliders is what we all need.
Drench your pulled pork in BBQ sauce, add it to the bun, top it with creamy coleslaw and dinner is ready!
9. Leftover Pulled Pork Smoked Queso
Does a super cheesy smoked dip sound appetizing? Well then, how about a super cheesy smoked dip with leftover smoked pulled pork?
It’s extra smoky, juicy, and cheesy at the same time! I always like to stay a bit hungry before the queso comes out of the smoker. I’ll be eating it either way, might as well earn it.
What’s your excuse for eating too much smoked queso? I know you have one!
10. Southern BBQ Pizza With Pulled Pork
Pizza is another exciting way to use pulled pork leftovers.
Whether you’ve prepared some homemade dough, or you’re using the store-bought kind, it will still be an amazing homemade pizza.
Also, pizza lets you get creative when it comes to toppings. Just don’t be stingy with the cheese, that one is not optional!
11. Smoked Pork Twice Baked Potatoes
These twice-baked potatoes look mouthwatering and you can serve them on their own or accompanied by a green salad.
You can even meal prep this recipe and bake the potatoes one day ahead.
12. Smoked Pulled Pork Tacos
Taco night, here we come! In all honesty, you don’t need any excuses to make these pulled pork tacos. We’re big taco fans so I couldn’t resist making two versions: BBQ style tacos, and Mexican style tacos.
The pulled pork I used comes from smoked pork butt because it can’t get any better than this. For the Mexican tacos we went with the traditional toppings: sour cream, guacamole, and red onions.
Also, we served the BBQ tacos with BBQ sauce and a spicy Creole coleslaw, just to give it a fun twist!
13. Pulled Pork Shepherd’s Pie
Traditionally, shepherd’s pie is made with ground lamb meat. Don’t worry, you won’t be breaking any laws if you replace it with your leftover pulled pork.
Layered with sauteed veggies and creamy mashed potatoes, this twist on the classic shepherd’s pie is just as scrumptious.
I’m sure you’ll get raving reviews for this one!
14. Pulled Pork Bowls With Avocado Slaw
Pulled pork is associated with calorie-rich meals most of the time. Exceptions exist, though.
When you feel like having a healthy dinner, try these pulled pork bowls loaded with grilled sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, and a light Greek yogurt dressing.
The combination of flavors and textures is to die for!
15. Smoked Carnitas With Leftover Pulled Pork
I double-smoked the pork meat for these carnitas. And no, it’s not too much!
The carnitas are slow smoked in a special sauce with Coke that’s to die for. We use them to make carnita tacos and our toppings of choice are queso fresco, salsa verde, homemade pickled red onions, and lime wedges.
16. Pulled Pork Breakfast Hash
All that leftover shredded meat can be used in a keto-friendly breakfast hash recipe you can make in a pinch.
Of course, being a low-carb dish, potatoes are not included. If you don’t mind the extra carbs, you can definitely add some.
17. Pulled Pork Stuffed Mushrooms
If you use small mushroom caps, you can turn this tasty recipe into a fun appetizer!
Stuffing mushrooms with pulled pork is a brilliant idea. And let’s not forget about other veggies that work well for this: bell peppers, eggplants, zucchini, and the list goes on.
18. BBQ Pork Fried Rice
For those evenings when your family is craving Chinese takeout, put those pulled pork leftovers to good use and make your own!
In fact, this fried rice recipe is ideal for leftover meat. You’ll be adding the pork in the last moments of the cooking process.
19. Pulled Pork Soup
This soup is called Pozole pork hominy stew, and it’s a Mexican soup you need to try next time you want to use up your leftover pulled pork.
It’s a good idea to tweak this recipe to your family’s liking.
There are other versions of the Pozole soup available online that can help you create the perfect variation for you!
Final Thoughts
Being made with large cuts of meat, pulled pork is the perfect meal prep food. It keeps well in the fridge or freezer and can be used for an impressive variety of recipes!
Snag the FREEBIE Pulled Pork Cheat Sheet for Temperature and Cooking Guides.
Regardless of the storage method you choose, reheating pulled pork is easy. As long as you do it properly, the meat will be just as good as when it was freshly cooked.
The recipes above show how versatile pulled pork can be. Having some pulled pork leftovers can be amazing when you need to make a quick meal.
I also enjoy eating pulled pork on its own, along a simple side like these smoked fingerling potatoes or a creamy cucumber salad.
If you like to keep your meals exciting like me, here are some more delicious sides for pulled pork you can try.
Switching between different sides will make it impossible to get bored with it!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
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