22 Pulled Pork Recipes That The Whole Family Will Love

It's a Southern staple for good reason.

Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Pulled pork is affordable and delicious, which makes it an ideal ingredient for weeknight dinners. Since most of these recipes are great for feeding crowds, it's a go-to choice for tailgates and potlucks. Whether you're looking to dress up leftovers or create a special barbecue spread, there are countless ways to use pulled pork.

These recipes will be hit at Sunday Supper, the church potluck, and your dinner party. With company-worthy options like Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms or our bite-size Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw, you can use these creative ideas for everything from main dishes to appetizers. Since your pork must be tender, we have dozens of slow cooker recipes that cook the meat low-and-slow without a smoker. Whether you need an easy weeknight slow-cooker solution or a tailgating recipe that will wow your crowd, these dishes are easy, affordable, and kid-friendly too. Meet your new weeknight and weekend favorites.

01 of 22

Pork Carnitas Nachos

Pork Carnitas Nachos
Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

No one will protest when you announce you're serving nachos for dinner. Your slow cooker helps slash hands-on time to make this recipe incredibly easy.

02 of 22

Italian-Style Grits And Greens With Pulled Pork And Mushrooms

Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Company coming? This meal is comforting and impressive. Slow-cooker grits make prep easier, and the pork can be made up to two days in advance.

03 of 22

BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes
Greg DuPree

This fun recipe might be your family's new favorite way to eat barbecue. Make a toppings bar for the kids to customize their potatoes.

04 of 22

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos With Fresh Tomato Salsa

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

A taco night recipe this delicious calls for a pitcher (or two) of homemade margaritas. Whether you're celebrating a promotion or the end of a long week, any excuse is a good one to throw an at-home fiesta.

05 of 22

Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Dinner has never been easier than this five-ingredient, hands-off recipe. Serve with a baked potato for a complete meal.

06 of 22

Harry Young's Burgoo

Harry Young’s Burgoo
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This storied Kentucky stew has changed over the years, but it's still made with a big crowd in mind. Make some for dinner now, freeze some for dinner later.

07 of 22

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor With All The Fixings

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings
Greg Dupree

This tender pork cooks in pineapple and chipotles in adobo for the perfect sweet and spicy mix. Fresh toppings like radishes, onion, cabbage, avocado, and goat cheese add flavor and texture.

08 of 22

Southwest Pork Stew

Southwest Pork Stew
Alison Miksch

Would you believe you could have a cozy stew ready in just 20 minutes? With this easy recipe, you can.

09 of 22

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar slow cook to form the ideal sweet and tangy sauce for tender pork shoulder. Serve the pork Southern-style with a side of grits or as a sandwich.

10 of 22

Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits With Pulled Pork And Slaw

Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw
Hector Manuel Sanchez

This big-batch recipe freezes well, so have these mini biscuits at this week's tailgate and next week's. With a bit of sweet and savory, these are the perfect bites.

11 of 22

Barbecued Pork Quesadillas

Barbecued Pork Quesadillas
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Pork quesadillas? Why not? This six-ingredient recipe has us convinced we can use barbecue pork with any style cuisine.

12 of 22

Barbecue Mac And Cheese

Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese
Hector Sanchez

This hearty mac and cheese recipe is filling enough to stand alone at dinnertime, and it's ready in just 20 minutes. Drizzle with barbecue sauce before serving.

13 of 22

Pork Noodle Bowls

Pork Noodle Bowls
Photo: Iain Bagwell

This light recipe is an inventive way to use slow-cooked pulled pork. These noodle bowls come together quickly for an easy dinner or lunch recipe.

14 of 22

BBQ In A Blanket With Buttermilk-Ranch Sauce

BBQ in a Blanket with Buttermilk-Ranch Sauce
Hector Sanchez

Upgrade your pig-in-a-blanket recipe with pulled pork and a four-ingredient sauce that you'll want to bottle and save for chicken fingers and barbecue sandwiches.

15 of 22

Quesadillas al Pastor

Quesadillas al Pastor
Skyler Burt

Pineapple-avocado relish adds color and freshness to this easy quesadilla recipe that you can make for lunch, dinner, or football watch parties. Cook the quesadillas in a non-stick pan with butter for a crispy tortilla.

16 of 22

Summer Brunswick Stew

Summer Brunswick Stew
Hector Sanchez

Soups and stews aren't reserved for cold weather. With a light broth and summery additions like fresh corn, lady peas, and tomatoes, you can enjoy this recipe all summer long.

17 of 22

Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

Barbecue Pork Sandwiches
Southern Living

We prefer our barbecue pork sandwiches topped with a few Dill pickles. Want to add a personal touch to the lineup? Homemade pickles should do the trick.

18 of 22

Pulled Pork Mac And Cheese

Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Pulled pork and mac and cheese join forces in this epic cross-over dish. Sliced scallions and crispy panko make for an irresistible topping.

19 of 22

Pulled Pork-Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Southern Living Zucchini Boats on a platter to serve, topped with slaw

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southerners love pulled pork on just about anything, and our Pulled Pork-Stuffed Zucchini Boats prove it. A tangy vinegar dressing helps to cut through the sweetness of the pork.

20 of 22

Pulled Pork Bowls

Southern Living Pulled Pork Bowls ready to serve with extra pork beside

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Don't even worry about pulling out the slow cooker for this recipe. Go to your favorite local barbecue joint instead. Pickles, slaw, and cubed cornbread make our Pulled Pork Bowl a dinner you won't soon forget.

21 of 22

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Pork
Jennifer Davick

Use your favorite can of cola soft drink and the best bottle of barbecue sauce you can find to make this super simple Slow Cooker Barbecue. Slow roast the whole pork shoulder and enjoy variations of the dish all week.

22 of 22

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Chili

pulled pork chili
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Your pulled pork will be as tender as if you had been cooking it for days, but it really only took you about two hours thanks to the Instant Pot! However, if you don't have an Instant Pot, you can cook this recipe in the slow cooker for eight-10 hours and get the same result.

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