Tag: #KitchenConfidence

Posted in Heat & Eat

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Posted on by simplegoodfood

One of the best rewards for spending a few minutes preparing a slow cooker meal is how easy dinner becomes the next day. These BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches come together in just minutes using precooked Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, making them perfect for busy weeknights, relaxed weekends, or campground meals.

With a toasted bun, warm pulled pork, your favorite barbecue sauce, and a scoop of creamy homemade coleslaw, you’ve got a hearty meal that’s satisfying without requiring hours in the kitchen. It’s proof that leftovers don’t have to feel like leftovers—they can become something everyone looks forward to eating.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Ready in about 15 minutes
  • Perfect use for planned leftovers
  • Budget-friendly and filling
  • Easy enough for beginning cooks
  • Great for lunch or dinner
  • Campground and RV friendly

simplegoodfood's avatarsimplegoodfood

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

One of the best rewards for spending a few minutes preparing a slow cooker meal ishow easy dinner becomes the next day.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 425
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 to 4 cups Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
  • ½ to ¾ cup your favorite barbecue sauce
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 1 tablespoon butter optional, for toasting buns
Optional Toppings:
  • Homemade Creamy Coleslaw
  • Dill pickle slices
  • Sliced red onion
  • Jalapeño slices
  • Extra barbecue sauce

Method
 

  1. Place the pulled pork in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
  2. Stir in the barbecue sauce until the pork is evenly coated and heated through.
  3. If desired, butter the cut sides of the hamburger buns and toast them lightly in a skillet until golden.
  4. Spoon a generous amount of pulled pork onto each bun.
  5. Top with creamy coleslaw, pickles, onions, or your favorite toppings.
  6. Serve immediately with chips, baked beans, potato salad, or fresh fruit.

Notes

🧺 Kitchen Confidence
This Week’s Skill: Toasting Sandwich Buns
Toasting your buns is a simple step that makes a big difference. A lightly toasted bun stays firmer, adds extra flavor, and helps keep juicy barbecue sauce from soaking through too quickly.
Simply butter the cut sides lightly and toast them in a dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully so they don’t burn.

💰 Stretch Every Grocery Dollar

Buying a larger pork shoulder may cost a few dollars more upfront, but it creates multiple meals throughout the week. Instead of buying deli sandwiches or takeout, one batch of pulled pork can provide several delicious lunches and dinners for less money.

♻️ Waste Not, Want Not

Only warm the amount of pulled pork you plan to eat today. Leaving the remaining pork refrigerated allows you to use it later this week for rice bowls, baked potatoes, or another easy meal.

🍽️ Cooking for One or Two

This recipe is easy to scale down. Warm only one or two servings of pulled pork and freeze the rest in individual portions. Keeping meal-sized containers in the freezer means you’ll always have the start of a homemade dinner ready to go.

🥣 Meal Prep Note

If you’re following this week’s menu, save some of your pulled pork for tomorrow’s BBQ Pulled Pork Rice Bowl. Cooking a batch of rice tonight will make tomorrow’s dinner even faster.

Storage & Freezing

Refrigerator: Store precooked pulled pork in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Freeze precooked pulled pork in meal-sized portions for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Warm gently with a splash of broth or barbecue sauce to keep the meat moist.

Posted in One-Pot Meals

Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Posted on by simplegoodfood

Some recipes feel almost magical, and this is one of them. With just a few minutes of preparation, an inexpensive pork shoulder transforms into tender, flavorful pulled pork that can become several different meals throughout the week.

Whether you’re feeding a family, cooking for one, or planning meals for two, this recipe proves that a little planning goes a long way. It’s nearly impossible to mess up, freezes beautifully, and is one of the best ways to stretch your grocery budget.

This recipe is also the perfect place to begin building kitchen confidence. You don’t need fancy equipment or years of cooking experience—just a slow cooker, a handful of simple ingredients, and a little patience.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Budget-friendly and economical
  • Beginner-friendly with minimal prep
  • Great for meal prep and freezer meals
  • Makes several different meals from one roast
  • Perfect for campers, busy families, retirees, and small households

simplegoodfood's avatarsimplegoodfood

Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Some recipes feel almost magical, and this is one of them.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 325
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 –4 pound boneless pork shoulder Boston Butt
  • 1 medium onion sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Optional for serving:
  • Your favorite BBQ sauce
  • Hamburger buns
  • Coleslaw
  • Pickles

Method
 

  1. Place the sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Set the pork shoulder on top of the onions.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Rub the mixture over the pork.
  4. Pour the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic around the roast.
  5. Cover and cook on Low for 8–10 hours or High for 5–6 hours, until the pork easily falls apart with a fork.
  6. Remove the pork to a large bowl or cutting board.
  7. Using two forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  8. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the cooking juices.
  9. Serve immediately or cool for meal prep.

Notes

🧺 Kitchen Confidence
This Week’s Skill: The Easiest Way to Shred Cooked Meat
Here’s a little kitchen shortcut that can save both time and effort.
After the pork has finished cooking, remove it from the slow cooker and cut it into a few large chunks while it’s still warm. Place the chunks in a large mixing bowl.
Using either a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, mix on low speed for 30–60 seconds. The meat will quickly shred into perfect, even pieces with very little work.
This trick works beautifully for pulled pork, shredded chicken, and even cooked beef roasts.
Tip: Don’t overmix. Stop as soon as the meat reaches the texture you like.
💰 Stretch Every Grocery Dollar
Pork shoulder is one of the best values in the meat department. Watch for sales and compare the price per pound, not just the package price. Buying a larger roast often costs less per pound and gives you several meals for only a little more money.
♻️ Waste Not, Want Not
Plan ahead by dividing the finished pulled pork into meal-sized containers.
This week’s menu turns one roast into:
  • BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  • BBQ Pulled Pork Rice Bowls
  • Sweet & Tangy Pork & Veggie Rice Bowls
  • Loaded BBQ Pork Baked Potatoes
You may even have enough left for the freezer.
🍽️ Cooking for One or Two
A large roast might seem like too much, but it’s actually one of the smartest purchases for a small household.
Enjoy pulled pork for dinner tonight, refrigerate a couple of portions for lunches, and freeze the remaining servings in individual containers. Future you will appreciate having a homemade meal ready to reheat on busy days.
🥣 Meal Prep Note
This recipe is the foundation for several meals throughout the week. Cook a batch of rice while the pork finishes, and you’ll already be halfway to tomorrow’s rice bowl. If you’re planning to make homemade coleslaw later in the week, pick up a fresh cabbage during this shopping trip.
Storage & Freezing
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze in meal-sized portions for up to 3 months. For the best results, freeze with a little of the cooking juices to help keep the meat moist when reheated.
Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop, in the microwave, or in a slow cooker with a splash of broth if needed.