Pulled pork is a crowd-pleaser at barbecues and potlucks. It’s easy to make a big batch when you’re feeding a lot of people, which often means leftovers.
But what to do with that leftover pulled pork? Instead of another sandwich, how about a pulled pork salad? It’s a delicious and surprisingly healthy way to repurpose those tasty shredded pork shoulders.
This article dives into different pulled pork salad recipes, dressing ideas, and ways to customize your salad to make it your own.
Building Blocks: The Essential Components of a Pulled Pork Salad
While there’s a lot of room for creativity with a pulled pork salad, there are several key components you’ll need.
The Pulled Pork: Preparation and Reheating
You can make pulled pork in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot. One of my favorite recipes uses just three ingredients in the Instant Pot. You can also make it in a smoker or oven.
To reheat leftover pulled pork, try heating it in a skillet with a drizzle of oil, adding a little liquid to keep it moist.
The Greens and Veggies: Foundation of Freshness
For the base of your salad, you can use romaine, arugula, mixed greens, or even cabbage or coleslaw mix for extra crunch.
You can also add other veggies like carrots, bell peppers, red onions, and sweet corn.
Flavor Boosters: Dressings and Toppings
The right dressing can take your pulled pork salad to the next level. Citrus Lime Vinaigrette, Jalapeño Ranch, or even a homemade barbecue vinaigrette are great options.
Toppings like avocado, cotija cheese, almonds, French-fried onions, and pickled red onions can add even more flavor and texture.
Recipe Variations: Exploring Different Pulled Pork Salad Styles
Pulled pork salad is endlessly customizable. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Southwest Pulled Pork Salad
Bell peppers, red onions, and creamy avocado are naturals in a Southwest-inspired salad. You could use a store-bought dressing or make your own mayonnaise-based dressing with a little lime juice and chili powder.
Mexican-Inspired Pulled Pork Salad
Try adding tomatoes, cotija cheese, and a jalapeño ranch dressing. For an extra kick, add some chopped jalapeños, corn, and black beans.
Classic Cookout Pulled Pork Salad
Sweet corn and crisp apples pair well with pulled pork. Dress with a healthy coleslaw dressing or even a store-bought poppyseed dressing.
Cabbage and Arugula Pulled Pork Salad
Combine pulled pork, shredded cabbage, peppery arugula, carrots, cilantro, and crunchy almonds. Then, drizzle with a bright citrus lime vinaigrette.
Making it your own
Pulled pork salad is endlessly adaptable. You can easily swap out ingredients to suit your tastes or dietary needs. For a vegetarian or vegan version, try using jackfruit instead of pulled pork. You can also add or omit ingredients to create a salad that’s perfect for you. For example, Mr. Hungry hates fruit in his salad, so he always skips the apple slices.
If you prefer a sweeter flavor, try tossing the pulled pork in your favorite barbecue sauce before adding it to the salad. Don’t be afraid to experiment and create a salad that’s uniquely yours!
Meal Prep and Storage Tips
Pulled pork salads are great for meal prepping because you can cook the pork in advance. That makes it easy to throw together a healthy and satisfying lunch.
To keep your salad from getting soggy, try assembling it upside down in a jar: dressing on the bottom, then the pork, then the greens. You can also store the components separately and combine them right before eating.
Some salads, like the Cabbage and Arugula Salad, actually taste better after they’ve sat for a while. The cabbage and arugula get softer, and the flavors meld together.
Closing Thoughts
Pulled pork salad is a delicious, healthy, and wonderfully customizable way to enjoy leftover pulled pork. It’s also a fantastic way to cut down on food waste and create a whole new meal out of something you already have on hand.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different greens, veggies, dressings, and other variations to find your perfect pulled pork salad.
Whether you need a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a make-ahead meal for the week, pulled pork salad is a hearty and filling option that works any time of year.