Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwich

Jackfruit BBQ Sandwiches are rich in sauce and texture. A satisfying shredded jackfruit sandwich that is easy to make and is as flavorful as it sounds. A spicy bbq sauce recipe is included and it all makes enough for 6 fat sandwiches.

I have to admit, the first time I tried jackfruit as a meat alternative, I had my doubts. How could the flesh of this colossal, prickly-looking fruit pass for a pile of shredded pork? Much to my initial surprise though, it nailed it. The texture is incredibly meaty and as for the flavor–it is subtly fruity but in a way that complements most any sauces or seasonings I have tried cooking it with. Some of my favorite vegan chicken nugget brands are even made with jackfruit! 

My favorite pairing however, has got to be jackfruit + BBQ sauce. The fruity, lightly tropical taste of the jackfruit just goes oh so nicely with my homemade sweet, tangy, spicy bbq sauce. 

Not only does this sandwich mimic the taste and appearance of a traditional pulled pork barbecue sandwich without the use of meat, but it is far easier to cook too! Where pork must be slow cooked for hours to create a pulled sandwich, this vegan version is ready in just 45 minutes. Vegan, easy, and delicious–this vegan pulled “pork” sandwich checks all of the boxes!

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a fruit tree that grows in tropical or subtropical climates. The fruit has a bumpy exterior and averages in weight from 10-25 pounds but it can become much larger.

How to Buy Jackfruit

I’m going straight to canned jackfruit here. Fresh jackfruit is a sticky mess and if it’s too ripe it will be sweet. That won’t taste very good in a pulled jackfruit sandwich.

So buy canned jackfruit. It tastes great and you can even buy it organic.

You want green jackfruit that is packed in water or brine. I’ll even go a step further and say buy it in water if you can find it. It takes a little more work with brine but it’s still not too much work.

I used jackfruit in brine once and it used lime juice as the brine base. It tasted delicious but I didn’t soak and wring it enough and I could taste a little bit of lime in the sandwich.

So packed in water will help. You still need to drain the can of jackfruit but that’s it. If you use jackfruit in brine I would drain, press between towels a bit, marinate in water and then drain and press between towels again.

Ingredients

For the Spicy BBQ Sauce:

• Extra virgin olive oil – since you’ll be sauteing, opt for lighter colored EVOO here. 
• Onion – finely minced, onion forms a great base flavor for your BBQ sauce. 
• Garlic – 2 small/medium cloves or 1 large will get the job done! 
• Herbs and spices – chili powder, ground sage, cumin, dried thyme, dried oregano, and ground cloves create a flavor profile that is smoky, savory, spicy, and herbal all at the same time! I have tried other spice blends, but this specific combo really stands out to me.  
• Tomato sauce – either homemade or canned, both are great. 
• Ketchup – this is one of the most crucial ingredients! The sweet yet acidic flavor brings depth and complexity to the sauce while the thick texture helps give the BBQ sauce body and viscosity.
• Water – I find a splash of water helps to bring all of the ingredients together and helps the simmering process. 
• Maple syrup – I just love the naturally earthy taste that maple syrup offers, and it’s just the right type of sweet to round out this BBQ jackfruit recipe. You can adjust the amount of maple syrup to your taste preferences for a sweeter or more subtle barbecue sauce.

For the Pulled Jackfruit:

• Extra virgin olive oil – again, lighter EVOO is best here. 
• Onion – since you’ll only be putting 2 Tbsp of minced onion in the sauce, you can go ahead and use the rest of that same onion for the pulled jackfruit filling here. The key is to chop this batch of onion bigger, so that you can see and taste the bits as they are mixed into the pulled jackfruit. 
• Canned jackfruit – whether you choose jackfruit in either water or brine, be sure to drain it well. If it is in brine, you’ll need to rinse it first, then drain. In either case, press the jackfruit between clean kitchen towels or paper towel to extract more of the moisture. This will help it to take on more of a meaty texture. 
• Cumin – adds a smoky, thoroughly barbecue-y flavor and aroma to your jackfruit. 
• Chili powder – to punch up the heat! If you prefer less spice, feel free to reduce the quantity of this one. 
• Vegetable broth – adds a savory flavor to the jackfruit and also helps to moisten the “meat” mixture.
• Sandwich Buns – choose classic burger buns with sesame seeds on top and make sure to toast or grill them! 
• Prepared vegan coleslaw, optional – I like to make my own coleslaw dressing and toss it over shredded cabbage, but store bought works too! Just be sure it is vegan. Or skip the slaw altogether if you prefer. 

How to Make Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Make the BBQ Sauce: 

1. Cook the onion with spices. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, chili powder, ground sage, cumin, dried thyme, dried oregano, and ground cloves. Stir well and cook until the onion softens slightly, about 5 minutes. 
2. Finish and simmer. Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, water, and maple syrup to the onion mixture in the skillet. Stir well and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside. 

Make the Pulled Jackfruit:

3. Saute the onion. In another large skillet, heat the remaining extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the diced onion, stirring often, until translucent and softened, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the jackfruit and season. Add the drained jackfruit, cumin, and chili powder to the hot skillet of cooked onions. Stir to combine. Preheat your oven to 400℉. 
5. Add broth and simmer. Pour the vegetable broth into the hot skillet. Allow the mixture to come to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook until the liquid is gone, about 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Shred the jackfruit. I like to save a bit of time and shred the jackfruit in the skillet as it simmers. Use 2 forks to pierce each of the larger jackfruit pieces and pull it apart in opposite directions. Repeat until all of the jackfruit is uniformly shredded. 
7. Add the sauce. Add the spicy BBQ sauce to the skillet with the jackfruit and stir until all of the jackfruit is well coated and heated through. Transfer the jackfruit onto a baking sheet and spread evenly. You could line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup if you like! 
8. Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to your preheated oven and cook until the jackfruit browns slightly on the edges and dries out a bit, about 15-20 minutes. Keep in mind the jackfruit is already cooked now, so this step is really a matter of personal taste! If you like your pulled jackfruit filling to be a bit saucier and more moist, bake it for less time. If you like it a little more dry and textured, bake it for longer.
9. Assemble. Place a pile of pulled jackfruit on each of your toasted sandwich buns. I like to top mine with some crunchy homemade coleslaw! 
10. Serve! Serve your sandwiches warm with extra sauce on the side if you like. 

Watch Us Make Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Chef Tips 

Make it extra saucy! If you like lots of BBQ sauce on your vegan pulled “pork” sandwiches, serve some on the side for dipping. Double the barbecue sauce recipe, but instead of mixing it all into the pulled jackfruit, reserve half. When you’re ready to serve, heat the extra sauce through for about 5 minutes and serve in bowls alongside your sandwiches for dipping.

Can You Freeze Jackfruit?

Yes, fresh jackfruit, jackfruit from a can, and cooked jackfruit freeze well.

In fact, this bbq jackfruit pulled pork recipe freezes very well. After it’s cooled pack it in a rigid sided freezer container that has an airtight fitting lid. It is best used within a couple of months.

Want More Fantastic Vegan Sandwich Recipes? Here are a few:

• Baked Falafel Sandwiches are small and tasty!
• If you’d like to make an easy seitan recipe then you won’t want to miss this great Vegan Muffuletta Sandwich.
• A Loaded Chickpea Salad Sandwich only takes about 15 minutes to bring you to a very popular sandwich.