You only need 6 simple ingredients and a slow cooker to make this delicious barbecue jackfruit burger! These small sliders are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner at home, for a game day snack, or to bring to a barbecue!
These jackfruit mini burgers are absolutely delicious! Jackfruit is slow cooked with tangy barbecue sauce and pineapple for a touch of sweetness and served on a soft pillowy burger bun topped with coleslaw.
What's great about this recipe is that it's super simple to assemble and it's 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!
These jackfruit burgers are perfect to make for an easy weeknight dinner or to bring to a summertime family gathering! They also make a tasty appetizer or finger food to serve for game day or for a potluck.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Onion - Onions add flavor and texture to this burger recipe. Yellow onions are my favorite to use because of their mild flavor.
- Jackfruit - This is my favorite canned jackfruit. I also like this jackfruit from Trader Joe's.
- Pineapple - Pineapple chunks add the perfect amount of sweetness to the burgers. You can use fresh or canned. The slices for a topping are optional, but it's a nice presentation.
- Arrowroot - I used organic arrowroot powder, but you could also use cornstarch.
- Barbecue - This is my all time favorite barbecue sauce. It's so delicious and it's made with date syrup.
How To Make It
Put the onions, rinsed and drained jackfruit, pineapple chunks, and barbecue sauce into a large slow cooker. Stir everything together, cover it, and set it to cook on high for 3 hours.
Remove the lid, and use two forks to shred the softened jackfruit pieces. You could also use a potato masher or wooden spoon to lightly break up the bigger pieces of jackfruit.
Scoop a little bit of the liquid into a bowl along with the arrowroot powder. Whisk it together and pour it back in. Leave the lid off and let the jackfruit continue to cook for 10-15 more minutes or until the consistency has thickened to your preference.
Serve the shredded jackfruit on small burger buns topped with a pineapple slice and a spoonful of coleslaw.
Stovetop Instructions
You can also make these jackfruit burgers on the stovetop with the following instructions.
In a large pan, over medium heat, saute the diced onions until soft and translucent. Rinse and drain the jackfruit and add it to the pan along with the drained pineapple, and barbecue. Mix it well, cover it, and let it cook for 30 minutes.
Remove the lid and use a wooden spatula or potato masher to lightly break up the chunks of jackfruit.
Strain a little bit of the liquid out of the pan and put it into a small bowl. Whisk together 1 tbsp of arrowroot powder with the liquid to make a slurry and then pour it back into the pot and stir to combine. The mixture will continue to thicken as it cooks.
What Goes With It
I like to put the barbecue jackfruit on small soft rolls to make mini burgers topped with a scoop of sesame ginger coleslaw. If you don't want to put the slaw on the slider, you can serve it on the side.
Any of the following would make a delicious side dish too.
- Dairy-Free Macaroni and Cheese
- Creamy Broccoli Salad
- Avocado Arugula Tomato Salad
- Watermelon Salsa & Chips
Recipe Variations
If you don't want to serve the jackfruit on mini burgers, you could also enjoy it in any of the following ways.
- Tacos - Use the jackfruit as a filling to make tacos or burritos topped with rainbow salsa!
- Sandwich - Make a pressed sandwich with the jackfruit and caramelized onions.
- Pizza - Top a flatbread with the shredded "meat," diced bell peppers, and grilled corn.
How To Store It
Store the leftover jackfruit burger filling in a container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
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.
You can freeze the cooked jackfruit too. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you're ready to defrost it, remove it from the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw for 24 hours before reheating it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackfruit has a mild flavor until it is seasoned or coated in sauce. Once cooked, it tastes like a cross between pineapple and pork and it has a similar texture to soft shredded meat.
Fresh, ripe jackfruit tastes sweet, but canned young green jackfruit does not taste sweet.
Success Tips
- Rinse and drain the canned jackfruit very well before cooking it. Canned jackfruit is usually packed in a salty brine that you should rinse off before cooking it.
- Only use young green jackfruit to make the burgers. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and won't work as a meat replacement for these burgers.
- After testing it both ways, I've found that the jackfruit has a better texture after cooking it on high for 3 hours rather than cooking it on low for 7 hours. If you cook it for too long it gets too soft and mushy.
Want More Jackfruit Recipes?
Mini BBQ Jackfruit Burgers
Equipment
- 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion diced
- (3) 14 oz cans young green jackfruit rinsed and drained
- 14 oz can pineapple chunks drained
- 18 oz jar barbecue sauce
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 10 small burger buns
- 14 oz can pineapple slices (optional)
Instructions
- Put the diced onions, rinsed and drained jackfruit, pineapple chunks, and BBQ sauce 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.
- Strain a little bit of the juice from the slow cooker and put it into a small bowl. Whisk together the arrowroot powder with the liquid to make a slurry and then pour it back into the pot. Stir to combine and let it continue to cook for 10-15 more minutes or until the mixture has thickened to your preference.
- Serve on soft mini burger buns with a spoonful of sesame ginger coleslaw and a pineapple slice.
Notes
- Only use young green jackfruit as a meat replacement. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and won't work for these burgers.
- Store the leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days or you can freeze it for a future meal.
I'm about to make this dish for my vegan in-laws and wondering if I cook it ahead, will it stay good? We're traveling to their house and I want to make it up before we go so we can just warm it up before dinner. I didn't think anything of it until I read the comment about cooking it on low and turning to mush!
Thanks for your help!
Hello! Yes, you can make it ahead of time and then refrigerate it until you're ready to serve it. I just don't recommend leaving it in the crockpot on low for more than the recipe instructions call for because then it will get mushy. Enjoy!
I’m not one to get on the internet and put my two cents in, but this recipe was that good that I needed to! This will be a staple of mine from now on!! Also, it was super helpful and awesome that you added alternatives and little tid bits. Super helpful!
Thank you so much, Brianna! I really appreciate that you took the time to leave a comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe =) I hope you get to try some of my other recipes, the jackfruit and wild rice soup is another slow cooker favorite of ours that you might also enjoy!
Hi there,
I've made this recipe twice and we adore it. Super deelish! I have a question about the leftovers. Both times I made this, I followed your recipe and used Sweet Rays bbq sauce along with the other ingredients. (yes whiskey too. 😉 ) the next day leftovers had a strong vinegar taste overpowering enough that it just wasn't good to eat. Any suggestions on what might be happening? I did try adding brown sugar/organic maple syrup to try to counter the vinegar. Thanks and I'll keep making this!!
Hello! I'm so glad you enjoy the recipe! I haven't experienced or heard of this issue happening. Maybe it's something in the Sweet Ray's bbq sauce? Does it have vinegar in the ingredient list? Maybe you could try a different bbq sauce the next time you make it? Please keep me posted about what you find if you try a different sauce and I'll add it to my notes. Thank you for the feedback!
This was really good. I would use Jack Daniels next time or no whiskey at all and not as much pineapple. My son really liked it.
Thank you! I'm so glad you liked the recipe!
Sounds delicious!! Can't wait to make! Did you use the entire jar of BBQ sauce in the crockpot? Also, what size crockpot did you use?
Thanks! 🙂
Thank you, Miranda! Yes, I used the whole jar. Enjoy!
Accidentally hit post before I hit the star rating. So here it is!
Thank you!
Made this to take with us to Christmas dinner yesterday. My brother is vegetarian, but the rest of my extended family is omni. Almost everyone tried at least a little and they all loved it! I make BBQ Jackfruit a lot, but I've never tried adding the pineapple and I've never even done it in the crockpot - always stovetop. Will definitely be making this again! Thanks, Stacey! Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much, Jenn! I'm so glad your family enjoyed the recipe too! Happy Holidays!!
Could I use frozen jackfruit? That is what my local Publix carries. I've never even seen a jackfruit before so it's a bit intimidating!
Hi Naomi, I haven't tried frozen jackfruit before so I'm not sure. I linked to the canned young jackfruit in water that I use in the post. If you try it with the frozen jackfruit, let me know how it turns out!
This has made my mouth water! It looks delicious!!
Thank you, Shannon!! =)
This looks amazing! I've been hearing about jackfruit lately and will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
these look so delicious ...a complete meal to enjoy
Thank you, Albert!
Omg yummm! I can't believe these mouth-watering sliders are vegan! I gotta try them out this summer!
This looks delicious and I LOVE jackfruit. But never made it. I'll definitely give this recipe a try. Pinned! Thank you.
Thank you!
These look delish!!! I love bbq and am marking this for a dinner sooon!!!!
Enjoy! Let me know what you think =)
I love pulled pork, but I've never thought to put whiskey in it! This looks so good, especially with that slaw!
My husband JUST told me that jackfruit is used a susbstitute for pork in vegan pulled pork and then I came across this!!! I'm sending this to him, stat!!
That's awesome! It must be fate!
This sounds seriously amazing! I love pulle pork and pineapple.
Thanks, Jenn! If you love pulled pork, I think you'll love the pulled jackfruit!
This looks so good! The pictures were done beautifully and makes the food look so delicious! I am going to grab the recipe and try it out! Thanks for the idea! 🙂
Thank you!!
I've been wanting to try jackfruit. That looks so yummy and your photos are awesome!
Thanks, Jenna!!
Super Yummy! 🙂 Looks so delicious and totally a meal that my family would love!
Thank you, Latasha!