How To Repurpose Leftover BBQ Pulled Pork Into Another Satisfying Meal

Upgrading pasta with BBQ pulled pork

Getting inventive with leftovers can be a delightful experience, and it's easy to see why there are countless ways to repurpose leftover rotisserie chicken. Leftover pulled pork, however, is a bit of a rarity since it's such a sought-after dish. When you do find yourself with some, incorporating it into pasta sauce offers a delicious smoky-sweet twist compared to ground beef or chicken breast. In fact, it can resemble the flavors of bacon, pancetta, or guanciale found in classic sauces like carbonara and amatriciana. Notably, leftover pulled pork also excels in bolognese.

With just a few servings of leftovers, you can whip up a tasty pasta sauce. To elevate the meat's flavors, consider adding a touch more brown sugar and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Some people even mix in additional barbecue sauce to highlight the sweet and smoky elements. For a traditional Memphis-style dish, use pork from a smoker instead of a slow cooker, incorporating half of the pulled pork while the sauce simmers and reserving the other half to top the finished spaghetti.

This technique can be applied to any type of shredded meat, but it works particularly well with shredded pork shoulder, whether it's a simple smoked pork butt or well-seasoned pork carnitas. Keep in mind that some pre-seasoned pork may blend better with a classic tomato sauce than others, so feel free to experiment. Pulled pork seasoned with soy sauce might be ideal for a creamy pasta dish, while spicy pulled pork could enhance a zesty fra diavolo. Alternatively, you can use tender shreds of pork as a substitute for traditional meat sauce in a hearty lasagna.