Leftover Barbecue Pulled Pork Tacos

tacos made from leftover pulled pork with pickles and bbq sauce

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When you smoke a whole pork butt it’s almost inevitable that you are going to end up with leftovers because it’s such a big piece of meat. 

The great thing about pulled pork is that it is extremely versatile and can be added to many different recipes.

My absolute favorite thing to make when I have leftover pulled pork is Pulled Pork Tacos.

Pulled pork tacos can be as fancy or as simple as you want. Since this is leftovers you can’t go wrong with a bag of store-bought coleslaw but you can easily make your own.

Leftover pulled pork

Pulled pork is an American BBQ staple made from a pork butt or pork shoulder that has been smoked low and slow for hours on end. Usually smoked over oak or pecan wood, the pork is filled with a delicious smoky flavor that can’t be beat.

Leftover pulled pork makes a great base for a taco as it is already cooked and packed full of flavor.

If your freezer is anything like ours it’s probably already stuffed withleftover pulled pork in there, just waiting for a rainy taco Tuesday. If you need pulled pork, head over to our competition inspired pork butt recipe first.

The key to great pulled pork is to keep the pork hydrated. Reserve the juice from the bottom of the cooking pan and add it back to the pork after it’s been pulled. Additionally, when you have leftover pulled pork, be sure to add a bit more of that juice to the container you are storing it in.

How to make Pulled Pork Tacos

The possibilities are endless when it comes to tacos. Some people like to keep them simple with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and white onion, others add all the toppings under the sun. When I make tacos with leftover pulled pork, I like to make them with a bit of a barbecue twist.

1. Reheat pulled pork

The first step is to heat up your leftover pork. For this recipe, I used my Blackstone griddle set to medium-high heat.

I like the Blackstone because I don’t have to dirty many dishes and can cook multiple things on it at one time. If you don’t have a griddle, then you can just heat the pork up in a pan on your stove.

When you place the pork on the griddle, it’s important to rehydrate it to prevent it from drying out.

All you have to do is pour a bit of apple juice on top and give it a good mix. You can also sprinkle on a bit more of whatever pork rub you used when you were smoking it to pack it full of some extra flavor.

Reheating the pork will only take about 5 to 7 minutes.

While it’s heating up, grab your favorite tortillas and throw them down on the griddle alongside your pork to give them a nice toast. I like to use corn tortillas for this recipe, but if you prefer flour tortillas then they will work just as well.

I usually double stack my corn tortillas, so plan for 2 tortillas per taco.

2. Build your taco

Once your pork is reheated and your tortillas are toasted, it’s time to build your taco.

As I mentioned before, I like to put a barbecue twist on my pulled pork tacos. I top them with a generous scoop of creamy coleslaw, a few pickles, and a drizzle of barbecue sauce on top.

If you like a little extra spice, add a few fresh or pickled jalapeños on top as well.

More taco ideas?Beef Birria Tacos

Leftover BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos Recipe

tacos made from leftover pulled pork with pickles and bbq sauce

Leftover BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork Tacos

A quick and easy taco that uses up some of that delicious smoked pulled pork you have stored away in your fridge or freezer
3.42 from 34 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 524kcal
Author: Breanna Stark

Ingredients

  • 2 cups leftover pulled pork
  • ¼ cup apple juice
  • 1 tbsp bbq rub
  • 8 tbsp bbq sauce
  • 16 corn tortillas
  • 1 cup creamy coleslaw
  • 16 pickle chips

Instructions

  • Preheat your griddle or fry pan to medium-high heat and then add leftover pulled pork.
  • Pour apple juice and sprinkle on the BBQ rub over the top of the pork and mix through.
  • Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring regularly.
  • While the pork is cooking, lay your tortillas out on the griddle and toast for about 30 seconds per side.
  • For each taco, stack 2 corn tortillas.
  • Add a scoop of pulled pork, a scoop of creamy coleslaw, 2 pickle chips, and 1 tbsp of barbecue sauce to each stack of tortillas and Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 1343mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 3mg
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