You only need 6 simple ingredients and a slow cooker to make this finger-licking vegan pulled pork recipe! This easy to make, crowd-pleasing dish is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner at home or to bring to a vegan barbeque!
Do you have a hankering for vegan BBQ? If so, this vegan jackfruit pulled pork recipe is what you should make for dinner tonight! This recipe is pretty much impossible to mess up because all you have to do is fill up the slow cooker, set it, and forget it until dinner time!
This crowd-pleasing dish is perfect to make for dinner tonight or to bring to a summer BBQ or family gathering! This recipe is vegan and non-vegan approved, everyone loves it!
What is Vegan Pork Made of?
This version of vegan pork is made of cooked young, green jackfruit. Before the jackfruit is coated in a sauce or seasoned, it doesn’t have much flavor. It looks like meat and it has the same texture of shredded meat but it really picks up the flavors of the BBQ sauce and it makes the perfect meat replacement.
How To Cook Canned Jackfruit
For this recipe, you’re cooking the jackfruit in a slow cooker, but you can also cook canned jackfruit in the stovetop, in the oven, or in an instant pot. It just depends on what type of jackfruit recipe you’re making. Whatever cooking method you’re using, the goal is to cook the canned jackfruit long enough to soften it.
Once the jackfruit is soft and you can shred it, you can season it any way you like and incorporate it into so many recipes! Here are some more ways you can enjoy jackfruit –> 17 Plant-Based Jackfruit Recipes That Taste Better Than Meat!
Now, let’s talk about how to make jackfruit pulled pork in the slow cooker!
Jackfruit Pulled Pork Slow Cooker – Step by Step Instructions
Step #1 – Put the diced onions, rinsed and drained canned jackfruit, pineapple chunks, BBQ sauce, and (optional) whiskey into a large slow cooker.
Step #2 – Stir it all together, cover it, and set it to cook on high for 3 hours.
Step #3 – After 3 hours, remove the lid, and use two forks to shred the softened jackfruit chunks. You could also use a potato masher or wooden spoon to lightly break up the jackfruit chunks.
Step #4 – Add the arrowroot powder and stir well to combine. Leave the lid off and let the jackfruit continue to cook for 10-15 more minutes or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
Step #5 – Serve the shredded BBQ jackfruit on soft rolls with a spoonful of coleslaw and a pineapple slice. Enjoy!
Jackfruit Pulled Pork Stovetop Instructions
If you don’t have time to wait for the crockpot, follow these instructions to learn how to make shredded BBQ jackfruit on the stovetop.
Step #1 – In a large pan, over medium heat, begin by sauteing the diced onions in 2-3 tbsp of low-sodium vegetable broth (you may need to add more) over medium heat until translucent.
Step #2 – Rinse and drain the jackfruit and add it to the pan along with the drained pineapple, BBQ sauce, and whiskey. Mix it well, cover it, and let it cook for 30 minutes.
Step #3 – Remove the lid and use a wooden spatula or potato masher to lightly break up the chunks of jackfruit. Leave the lid off, reduce the heat to low, and let it cook for a few more minutes or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
Step #4 – Serve the vegan BBQ jackfruit on soft rolls with a spoonful of coleslaw and a pineapple slice.
How to Reheat Leftovers
You can reheat the jackfruit in the microwave or over medium-low heat in a pan on the stovetop. Add 1-2 tbsp of water to the jackfruit so it doesn’t dry out when you warm it up.
Can You Freeze Jackfruit?
Yes, you can freeze leftover BBQ jackfruit. Make sure to store it in an airtight container and then store it in the freezer for 3-4 months. When you’re ready to defrost it, remove it from the freezer and put it in the fridge to defrost for 24 hours.
Ways to Adapt This Recipe
If you don’t want to make BBQ jackfruit sliders, you could also use the shredded vegan pork to make tacos, sandwiches, or wraps. You could also add the BBQ jackfruit to salads or pizza!
Side Dishes to Serve with BBQ Jackfruit
Take your meal to the next level with a few of these delicious sides! If you don’t top the vegan pork sliders with Asian coleslaw, it also makes a great side dish!
Notes & Substitutions
- Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free but make sure that you use gluten-free rolls.
- BBQ Sauce: I used this pre-made organic vegan BBQ sauce to save time. If you’d like to make your own vegan BBQ sauce, use this recipe.
- How to Thicken the Sauce: I use organic arrowroot powder to thicken the BBQ sauce, but you could also use organic cornstarch if you prefer.
- Do You Have to Use Whiskey? The whiskey is completely optional. If you don’t want to add it, that’s fine! The vegan pulled pork will still taste delicious without it.
- Should You Remove the Jackfruit Seeds? Some recipes recommend that you should remove and discard the jackfruit seeds, but I don’t do that. Jackfruit seeds are loaded with minerals and protein! If they’re cooked properly, they should be soft and easy to eat and you won’t have to pick them out.
- What Type of Jackfruit is Best? This is my favorite high-quality canned jackfruit. I love it because the chunks of jackfruit are large and I’ve never found any pieces that have a lot of the hard center still attached. I also like the Trader Joe’s canned green jackfruit.
Success Tips
- Make sure to rinse and drain the canned jackfruit very well before adding it to the slow cooker. Canned jackfruit is packed in a salty brine that you should rinse off before cooking with it.
- Only use young green jackfruit as a meat replacement. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and won’t work for this recipe.
- I’ve found that cooking the jackfruit on high for 3 hours in the slow cooker is better than cooking the jackfruit on low for 7 hours. If you cook the tinned jackfruit for too long it gets too soft and mushy.
- Store the leftover BBQ jackfruit in an airtight glass container (these are my favorite glass containers!) for 3-4 days or you can freeze it for a future meal.
More Easy Jackfruit Recipes You’ll Love!
Chipotle Pulled Jackfruit Tacos
Hearty White Bean Jackfruit Stew
The BEST Baked Vegan Jackfruit Enchiladas
Slow Cooker Jackfruit Wild Rice Soup
Slow Cooker Vegan Pulled Pork Recipe
Equipment
- 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion diced
- (3) 14 oz cans young green jackfruit in brine rinsed and drained
- (1) 14 oz can pineapple chunks drained
- 1/4 cup whiskey (optional)
- (1) 18 oz jar BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 8 soft slider rolls
- (1) 14 oz can pineapple slices (optional)
- vegan coleslaw (optional)
Instructions
- Put the diced onions, rinsed and drained canned jackfruit, pineapple chunks, BBQ sauce, and (optional) whiskey into a large 6-quart slow cooker.
- Stir it all together, cover it, and set it to cook on high for 3 hours.
- After 3 hours, remove the lid, and use two forks to shred the softened jackfruit chunks. You could also use a potato masher or wooden spoon to lightly break up the jackfruit chunks.
- Add the arrowroot powder to the slow cooker and stir it well to combine. Leave the lid off and let the BBQ vegan pulled pork continue to cook for 10-15 more minutes or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
- Serve the vegan pulled pork on soft rolls with a spoonful of vegan coleslaw and a pineapple slice. Enjoy!
Notes
- Here is the recipe for the vegan coleslaw that you can make to top the BBQ jackfruit sliders.
- Make sure to rinse and drain the canned jackfruit very well before adding it to the slow cooker. Canned jackfruit is packed in a salty brine that you should rinse off before cooking with it.
- Only use young green jackfruit as a meat replacement. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and won't work for this recipe.
- I've found that cooking the jackfruit on high for 3 hours in the slow cooker is better than cooking the jackfruit on low for 7 hours. If you cook the tinned jackfruit for too long it gets too soft and mushy.
- Store the leftover BBQ jackfruit in an airtight glass container (these are my favorite glass containers!) for 3-4 days or you can freeze it for a future meal.
Nutrition
*This recipe was originally shared on 7/10/17, but I updated it with better recipe instructions on 5/13/20.
