Best BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe (High Protein)
Hands down the best BBQ pulled pork sandwich recipe (high protein) you will see. This pulled pork sandwich is not only delicious and filled with yummy lean pulled pork but also boasts a whopping 50 grams of protein per serving! What makes it even better is that is truly comes together in a matter of minutes from a few shortcuts used. If you want more delicious recipes you may also like this healthy pesto chicken wrap, turkey burger sliders, or this Asian chicken burger.
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WHY LOVE BBQ PULLED PORK SANDWICH
BBQ pulled pork sandwiches have that irresistible combination of flavors and textures that make them so lovable. The tender, juicy pork, slow-cooked to perfection, pairs beautifully with the smoky, tangy barbecue sauce. The sweetness of the sauce, along with the savory meat, creates a mouthwatering balance that’s hard to resist.
Plus, when you add it all between two soft buns, it’s like a comforting hug for your taste buds. The richness of the pork, the complexity of the sauce, and the simplicity of the sandwich form a perfect culinary trifecta that many find irresistible.
WHAT TYPE OF PORK TO USE
To save some time for this delicious pulled pork sandwich I used Just Meats Texas Pulled pork. It’s pre-seasoned and pre-cooked pulled pork with Texas style seasonings and slow cooked for 10 -12 hours. It shipped directly to my home and comes vacuum sealed to maintain its freshness. This significantly reduced cooking time and helped get this meal on the table in under 20 minutes.
That said if you plan to cook the pork roast yourself, traditionally either boneless pork shoulder or pork butt is used. Place the pork in a crock pot and season well with spices like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne pepper for an extra kick. Let it cook until the meat is fork tender and falls apart easily. You can find a simple slow cooker pulled pork recipe via Delish.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS PORK SANDWICH RECIPE
The ingredients list is not super long for this pork recipe and everything can be found at your local grocery store.
- Pulled Pork – already cooked pulled pork is the star of this great recipe.
- BBQ Sauce – I used my favorite barbecue sauce by G.Hughs specifically the sweet and spicy flavor. However feel free to use your favorite brand and flavor of bbq sauce.
- Hamburger buns – Here is where I did my research and looked at how I could make this healthier than other pulled pork sandwiches. The soft bun I chose is a new brand (to me) called The Better Brand. I used the Brioche Better Bun. It has 36g of carbs per serving and has 20g of protein per serving. Ultimately the type of bread you use is up to your personal preference.
- Coleslaw Mix – grab your favorite pre-chopped coleslaw mix from the grocery store to help make this sandwich complete.
- Pickled Red onions – to balance all the flavors and add a bit of zing, I added some simple pickled red onions that I already had on hand to the sandwich.
- Ranch seasoning – a blend of seasonings and herbs that make the coleslaw rich, tangy and flavorful.
- Mayo – low fat mayo is used as one of the the bases of the coleslaw dressing
- Plain greek yogurt – the other base used for the coleslaw dressing
- Apple Cider vinegar – to add some zing and a bit of earthiness to the coleslaw mix
HOW TO MAKE BBQ PORK SANDWICH
In a medium skillet, heat to medium heat and spray with extra virgin olive oil. Once heated, add the pre-cooked shredded pork to the pan. Next add the BBQ sauce to pulled pork, stir to combine. Heat for approximately 7-10 minutes or until the juicy meat is heated through.
While the pork is heating through, in a medium bowl, add the greek yogurt, mayo, ranch seasoning, black pepper, and vinegar and stir to combine. Set aside.
In a toaster, toast the hamburger buns to your liking and set aside.
HOW TO ASSEMBLE SANDWICH
Assembling this perfect pulled pork sandwich truly is a breeze.
On a cutting board or work surface, place the buns down.
Then add a layer of BBQ sauce to each side of the bun. Note this step is optional if you want your sandwich to be extra saucy. You can skip this step depending on your preferred level of sauciness. Next add about 3 oz (or a palmful) of the shredded pulled pork on the bottom side of the hamburger bun.
Next add the crunchy coleslaw mix on top.
Lastly add the pickled red onions.
Top with the other side of the bun.
WHAT TO PAIR WITH THIS SANDWICH
These delicious pulled pork sandwiches are perfect on their own however if serving for a crowd, here are a few things I’d pair with them:
Chips – nothing beats having a crunch of a chip alongside a sandwich. Some great choices are BBQ chips, regular potato chips, salt and vinegar chips or tortilla chips.
Potato Salad – A BBQ sandwich isn’t complete without a side of potato salad. Boil up some red potatoes and add all fo the traditional fixin’s like onion, celery (or celery seed), green pepper, boiled egg and yellow mustard. Top with a bit of hot sauce and lemon juice for the perfect balance of spicy and tangy flavor.
Green Salad – If you want to keep things low carb, add a nice green side salad into the mix.
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
- Cheese – if you’re a cheese fan add a slice of cheddar cheese, swiss cheese or pepperjack cheese for some added flavor and creaminess
- Onion rings – swap out the pickled onions for fried onion rings for some extra crunch
- Jalapeños – bring the heat and top with some pickled or fresh jalapeños
FAQ’s
While the most popular choice of meat used for a pulled BBQ sandwich is typically pork shoulder or pork butt, chicken and lean beef can also be used. Various cooking methods can be used however in order to get the most tender meat typically a slow cooking method is used.
Leftover pulled BBQ sandwich can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for longer storage.
You can reheat a pulled BBQ sandwich in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven until heated through. Adding a little extra barbecue sauce can help keep the meat moist.
If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a comment down below. Let’s stay in touch! Feel free to follow me on my social media as I share more healthy recipes, fitness workouts and motherhood. Give a follow at: Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest!
Best BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe (High Protein)
Ingredients
- 1 pkg Pulled pork precooked
- 1/3 cup Bbq sauce low sugar
- 3 Hamburger buns
- Pickled red onions optional
Ranch Coleslaw
- 1/2 pkg Coleslaw mix
- 1 tsp Ranch seasoning
- 1.5 tbsp Mayo
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt plain
- 1/4 tsp Apple cider vinegar
- Black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, heat to medium heat and spray with extra virgin olive oil. Once heated, add the pre-cooked shredded pork to the pan. Next add the BBQ sauce to pulled pork, stir to combine. Heat for approximately 7-10 minutes or until the juicy meat is heated through.
- While the pork is heating through, in a medium bowl, add the greek yogurt, mayo, ranch seasoning, black pepper, and vinegar and stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a toaster, toast the hamburger buns to your liking and set aside.
Assembling Pulled Pork Sandwich
- On a cutting board or work surface, place the buns down. Then add a layer of BBQ sauce to each side of the bun. Note this step is optional if you want your sandwich to be extra saucy. You can skip this step depending on your preferred level of sauciness.
- Next add about 3 oz (or a palmful) of the shredded pulled pork on the bottom side of the hamburger bun.
- Next add the crunchy coleslaw mix on top.
- Lastly add the pickled red onions.
- Top with the other side of the bun.
