Vegan Pulled Pork

Vegan Pulled Pork is super delicious and simple to make! Whether you use Tofu, Mushrooms, or Jackfruit, if it’s seasoned well and drenched in BBQ sauce, it’s gonna be GOOD!

One of the first vegan meats I remember trying was a Pulled Pork sandwich made with Jackfruit. It was by a restaurant in LA called “Pure Luck” which is now defunct. I remember seeing it on the menu and going “the heck is jackfruit?” And the server assured me that I’d love it, and they were right!

Every time I went there I would order that sandwich, but weirdly enough, I’ve never made one for myself. Well I started thinking about it recently and decided I wanted to whip one up. But then I started thinking, what about mushrooms and tofu? I know people use those too. So I thought, why not make some Vegan Pulled Pork with all three to test out which is best! So that’s what I did!

ingredients for vegan pulled pork

This recipe is quite simple with just three main components. The Dry Rub, BBQ Sauce, and the “Meat” so let’s go over each one!

the dry rub

You can of course use a store bought dry rub or seasoning blend if you like, but I like making one at home. The recipe I have below makes a lot so feel free to half it. But it’s super delicious and would be good on a lot of things besides this Pulled Pork recipe.

The BBQ Sauce

Just like the dry rub, you can find vegan friendly BBQ sauce at most grocery stores, but I really like making my own. It’s super quick and easy, and you can tailor it to your tastes. Check out my BBQ Sauce Recipe if you wanna make your own!

the vegan “pork”

For the meat, we have three great options with different pros and cons, so let’s break those down too!

tofu

For Tofu, I recommend using Super Firm, the kind that’s vacuum sealed and doesn’t need pressing.

If you can’t find that, then extra firm that’s been pressed for 30 minutes will work too. Then all you need to do is grate the tofu and toss it in a preheated pan with a bit of oil. Add some of the dry rub, and then some BBQ sauce.

In about 10 minutes you should have some vegan pulled pork!

Tofu is a great high protein option, and it’s also the cheapest compared to mushrooms and jackfruit. One 16 oz. block cost me $4, and it should get you just under 4 cups of shredded tofu. I’d say that can make 4 – 6 sandwiches depending on the size. So it’s a great budget option for sure!

mushrooms

For the mushrooms I tried out some King Oyster mushrooms. I got mine at Whole Foods and they were pretty pricey at just under $10 for 8 oz. They are way cheaper at your local Asian market if you have one.

They also need to be baked in the oven so they aren’t as convenient as tofu. Not only that, but once baked they shrink up quite a bit. So 8 oz. will really only get you about 2 sandwiches worth. Maybe 3 if you make smaller sandwiches.

To make them you simply need to shred them up, season and bake them, then pan fry and add some BBQ Sauce.

Now although the mushrooms are more expensive and time consuming to make, they are insanely delicious. The texture is super meaty, and if time and money were not an issue, the mushrooms would be the best bet hands down.

Like these were as good as anything I’ve gotten at a BBQ restaurant, vegan or not! So if time and money are not a factor, these would be my choice.

jackfruit

Jackfruit is probably the most popular option in my experience and it’s easy to understand why. It’s less expensive than mushrooms (though still more expensive than tofu) and it’s incredibly easy to use.

Like the tofu, you shred and season it. Then pan fry and then drench it in BBQ sauce. The texture is very similar to how I remember pulled pork.

As always, make sure you get Young Jackfruit in water or brine and not syrup.

Overall, I think Jackfruit is the best option as it’s relatively cheap, easy to work with, and has amazing texture. It also soaks up the seasoning rub and BBQ sauce wonderfully as well.

That being said, they are all super good, so choose the one that you like best!

And of course you could make some Sliders for a party too!

other recipes you’ll dig

• McRib
• Mac and Cheese
• Western Bacon Cheeseburger
• Honey BBQ Chick’n Strip Sandwich

handy dandy video here!

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Vegan Pulled Pork

Thee Burger Dude

4.72 from 7 votes

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Servings 4 -6 Sandwiches (and extra Dry Rub)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Dry Rub

• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup smoked paprika
• 1 Tbsp mustard powder
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• 2 Tbsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 Tbsp cumin
• 1 Tbsp chipotle powder optional for heat
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp citric acid optional for zip
• Salt & pepper to taste I used 2 tsp salt

Mushroom Pulled Pork

• 8-12 oz. King Oyster Mushrooms
• 2-3 Tbsp neutral oil
• 2-3 Tbsp Dry Rub Seasoning more to taste
• BBQ Sauce to taste at least 1/2 cup

Tofu Pulled Pork

• 16 oz. Super Firm Tofu
• 1-2 Tbsp neutral oil
• 2-3 Tbsp Dry Rub Seasoning more to taste
• BBQ Sauce to taste at least 1/2 cup

Jackfruit Pulled Pork

• 4 cups of shredded jackfruit about 3 (14 oz. cans)
• 1-2 Tbsp neutral oil
• 2-3 Tbsp Dry Rub Seasoning more to taste
• BBQ Sauce to taste at least 1/2 cup

Instructions

 

Dry Rub

• Simply combine everything in a mason jar and store. It makes a lot so feel free to half the recipe.

Mushroom Pulled Pork

• Preheat your oven to 400 F / 205 C
• Wash the mushrooms and then shred them using a fork. Add them to a bowl along with the oil and dry rub. Add more of either to taste. Toss to coat the mushrooms in the marinade and seasoning rub.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the mushrooms and spread them out in a single layer.
• Bake in the oven for 25 – 30 mins.
• Add the baked mushrooms to a pan over medium heat. Cover in BBQ sauce, starting with about 1/2 cup and adding more to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the BBQ sauce reduces a little and gets sticky. Remove from heat and serve on a toasted bun with pickles, onions and whatever you like!

Tofu Pulled Pork

• Pat the tofu dry. If using Extra Firm, press for 30 minutes.
• Using the large holes on a cheese grater, grate the tofu carefully.
• Heat up a pan over medium heat and add 1-2 Tbsp of neutral oil. Add in the tofu, and cook until it gets slightly golden brown. About 5-6 minutes.
• Add in the dry rub and stir to coat. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Cover in BBQ sauce, starting with about 1/2 cup and adding more to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the BBQ sauce reduces a little and gets sticky. Remove from heat and serve on a toasted bun with vegan mayo, pickles, onions and whatever you like!

Jackfruit Pulled Pork

• Drain and rinse the jackfruit. THIS is the kind I used FYI. Then cut it or smoosh it with your fingers so that it resembles a Pulled Pork texture. You can discard the core and seeds, but I always use them.
• Heat up a pan over medium heat and add 1-2 Tbsp of neutral oil. Add in the jackfruit, and cook until it gets slightly golden brown. About 5-6 minutes.
• Add in the dry rub and stir to coat. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Cover in BBQ sauce, starting with about 1/2 cup and adding more to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the BBQ sauce reduces a little and gets sticky. Remove from heat and serve on a toasted bun with pickles, onions and whatever you like!

Notes

Like I say in the blog post, you can also bake the tofu or jackfruit. But I personally couldn't see much difference in the final product versus just pan frying it. So for me, it's a lot faster and easier to bypass the oven. If you do want to, just toss them in the oil and dry rub. Then spread them out in a single layer and bake them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet at 350 F / 175 C for about 25 – 30 minutes. After that add them to a pan over medium heat, douse them in BBQ sauce and enjoy!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!