BBQ Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Bites | Easy Appetizer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make pulled pork ahead of time? ›

Divide pork into 2-cup portions. Place each portion in freezer container or resealable freezer plastic bag. Label with date. Cover and refrigerate until completely cooled, at least an hour.

Cheddar: Sharp, tangy, and full-flavoured, cheddar complements the smoky, sweet taste of barbecue sauce. Monterey Jack: Mild and melty, Monterey Jack adds creaminess without overpowering the other flavours. Pepper Jack: A spicy variation of Monterey Jack, this cheese adds a kick of heat to the sandwich.

For a party I think the easiest way to serve this is with soft buns, coleslaw and maybe a couple of other side dishes like corn on the cob or potato salad.

Make ahead of time: The pulled pork can be made ahead of time and refrigerated, covered for a day or two. It can also be frozen for several months. It's easy to reheat, and tends to keep it's flavor and moisture better than other reheated meats.

Any cooler will work for the most part. Heat the butts whole and then wrap in foil and put in the cooler. You will not want to pull until you are ready to serve. This should hold for a several hours.

Storing pulled pork

If it is expected to be served within a few hours after smoking, it is better to store it in a crockpot set at the lowest possible temperature. Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot.

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

I have seen broth, apple juice, water mixed with liquid smoke or other things added to pulled pork to keep it moist.

You can smoke your meat the day before. Pull it, put it into foil pans, and cover it with foil. Make absolutely sure you cool the meat correctly. Then pull your smoker out to the party the next day for show and use it to heat the pork in the foil pans.

How many pounds of pulled pork per person for a party? ›

Here is a great rule of thumb: if you're doing pulled pork for your guests, you'll at least want eight ounces—half a pound—of raw meat per person. You can also use that same formula if you're doing pulled chicken or brisket.

I like to use soft vegetables, like peppers, onions and aubergines, or sliced thin portions of fennel, sweet potatoes or pumpkin.

It matches very well to the umami and sweetness of pulled pork. Beans and corn on the cob are also up there. Collards, Mustards, Turnip greens, tater tots, corn on the cob, cornbread, pintos, baked beans, chow-chow, slaw, cooked cabbage, green beans, fried okra.

Tender, slow-cooked BBQ pulled pork served on a Texas-sized bun with steak fries and a pickle spear.

Slow cooker Warm up your leftovers in a slow cooker to keep it juicy. Put your pork and all of its juice in your slow cooker or crock pot, put on the lid, and set the cooker to warm. Let the meat heat up for 2-4 hours (depending on how much is in there). Check for a temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) before serving.

Reheating pulled pork

This is because heating will again absorb moisture from the heat and cause it to dry out. Try reheating it on the grill, smoker, or oven at the minimum temperature. Wrap the meat in foil before reheating it to further prevent it from drying out. Shred the pork before serving.

Reheating your pulled pork in the oven is easy, simple, and probably the best way to reheat a lot of pre-shredded meat. Place your whole butt or shredded pork in an ovenproof dish and add in a little liquid to replace some of the lost moisture. This can be apple juice, cider vinegar, broth, or a thick BBQ sauce.

After I cook and pull, I add a little JJ's and zip the meat in a bag, in the reefer over night the next day in the crock pot, maybe another squirt. Its made to accentuate the meat, its not what you'd think of as a sauce. Its what I use, and I make my own sauce too! Its a great way to keep it moist.