Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Lexi

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Can you believe this pulled mushroom "pork" sandwich is vegan?! It looks and tastes surprisingly similar to meat, but it's made with just mushrooms. Perfect for your next summer bbq - you might even get some carnivores to give it a try!

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (1)

We are SO excited to share this recipe. A few months ago, we saw a recipe on Pinterest for pulled mushroom tacos and I couldn't get over how good they looked. The only issue is that the recipe required oyster mushrooms, which aren't widely available and can be pretty expensive.

While pulled oyster mushrooms do have a remarkably similar texture to pulled pork, we figured out after a few trials that a number of other mushrooms work equally well.

We landed on a mix of shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, plus some caramelized onions for good measure.

The result is a meaty, satisfyingly umami sandwich that pairs perfectly with traditional bbq flavors. Even my grandpa (a staunch carnivore) went back for a second serving! That's the ultimate compliment in our book.

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (2)

Instructions

This vegan pulled pork recipe made with mushrooms is far less complicated than it looks. In fact, we actually just thinly slice the shiitake mushrooms and it works perfectly!

The key is just to have some different sizes and textures to mimic real pulled pork.

Portobello mushrooms can be "shredded" into larger chunks to add extra meatiness. Simply use a spoon to remove the dark inner gills (not totally necessary, but it's easier to shred).

Then, slice into quarters and use a fork and your hands to gently shred. The shreds won't be evenly sized - that's totally fine.

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (3)

The shiitake and button mushrooms can either be thinly sliced with a sharp knife or alternatively shredded in a food processor. It's really up to you and what you find easiest and most convenient.

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (4)
Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (5)

You'll need quite a few mushrooms to serve more than four people. Mushrooms contain a lot of water, so they tend to shrink down quite a bit when cooked (like spinach!).

Once you get them in a hot pan, they cook down pretty quickly. Then, you'll just need to add your homemade bbq sauce, let it simmer, and you're good to go!

Of course, if you'd prefer to use store-bought bbq sauce, that's perfectly fine, too. And a bit easier, especially if you're serving a crowd.

Make ahead

This vegan pulled pork is the perfect make-ahead recipe. Store in an airtight container in the fridge, and simply reheat on the stove before serving. I love eating it as leftovers the next day! It's even perfect just served over rice.

Toppings

Whether you're making this sandwich with pulled mushrooms, chicken or pork, it's all about getting a few different textural elements in there.

We always start out with a freshly toasted bun. We spread a bit of vegan butter on each side and pop it on the grill for a few minutes. The toasted bun helps hold everything together and adds a bit of crunch!

I always spread the bottom of the bun with a bit of spicy vegan mayo. A thin layer of mayo on the bottom bun also prevents the bun from getting too soggy, so I highly suggest using it.

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (6)

When it comes to toppings, I like to keep it simple with a basic marinated purple cabbage "slaw" and some tangy pickles. It's the perfect amount of crunch, tanginess and freshness!

When it comes to marinating cabbage, you can keep it super simple with a bit of lime juice and salt. It's just enough to soften it up and add some flavor without too many complicated steps or ingredients.

More recipes for your summer bbq

Round out your summer BBQ menu with these side dishes, co*cktails and desserts to compliment this pulled mushroom sandwich:

  • Rainbow Summer Slaw
  • Grill
  • Blackberry Cucumber co*cktail
  • S'mores Brownies
  • Four Berry Pie Bars
Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (7)

If you make this vegan pulled pork recipe, we’d love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations onInstagram– tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.

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📖 Recipe

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (8)

Pulled Mushroom BBQ Sandwich

★★★★★5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Can you believe this pulled mushroom sandwich is vegan?! It looks and tastes surprisingly similar to meat, but it's made with just mushrooms. Perfect for your next summer bbq - you might even get some carnivores to give it a try!

Ingredients

Scale

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 large yellow onions, sliced thinly
  • 1-1 ½ teaspoon salt, divided
  • 4 large portobello mushrooms, shredded (see photo in blog post)
  • 10 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced thinly
  • 16 oz button mushrooms, sliced thinly or shredded
  • 1 cup vegetable broth (low sodium)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp low sodium tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sriracha
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tbsp dried mustard
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp turmeric

Marinated Cabbage:

  • Small head of purple cabbage, sliced thinly
  • Juice of one small lime
  • 1 tsp salt

Sandwich:

  • Buns, toasted
  • Spicy vegan mayo
  • Pickles

Instructions

  1. Heat a large sauté pan over medium. Add oil, onions, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Sauté on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.
  2. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring often, until caramelized. Deglaze pan with water or vegetable broth if needed.
  3. Wash mushrooms and pat gently with clean towel to dry. Thinly slice button mushrooms using a food processor or slice by hand. Then roughly chop them. Slice the shiitake mushrooms into thin pieces after removing the stems.
  4. Use a spoon to remove dark gills from the underside of the portobello mushrooms. Slice portobellos into quarters and use a fork to shred.
  5. Add all mushrooms to the pan with onions and stir well. Turn heat up to medium high and cook down for 8-10 minutes, stirring several times.
  6. While the mushrooms are cooking, stir together all of the dry spices in a small bowl adding only ½ a teaspoon of salt at this time.
  7. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together broth, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, tamari, and sriracha. Add dry spices to the wet ingredients and whisk well.
  8. Pour sauce into mushroom and onion mixture and let reduce for 35-45 minutes. After it has reduced, taste and add additional ½ teaspoon of salt if desired.
  9. Meanwhile, slice cabbage thinly and toss in lime juice and salt. Let sit while mushrooms are cooking.
  10. To assemble sandwiches, lightly toast buns. Spread mayo on bottom of bun, top with mushroom mixture, cabbage and pickles. Enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Sandwich
  • Calories: 387
  • Sugar: 24.3 g
  • Sodium: 1994.5 mg
  • Fat: 17.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 52.9 g
  • Fiber: 7.9 g
  • Protein: 12.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: bbq pulled mushrooms

Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe | Crowded Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the best vegetarian alternative to pulled pork? ›

Jackfruit is probably the most popular option in my experience and it's easy to understand why. It's less expensive than mushrooms (though still more expensive than tofu) and it's incredibly easy to use. Like the tofu, you shred and season it. Then pan fry and then drench it in BBQ sauce.

What is vegan pulled pork made of? ›

These sandwiches are a great plant-based alternative to the classic pulled pork sandwich. The jackfruit is seasoned with spices and BBQ sauce, creating a tender and flavorful meat substitute that even the stanchest of meat eaters will love.

What condiments do you need with pulled pork sandwiches? ›

Sweet pickles, bread and butter pickles, and dill pickles all make perfect pairings for your smoked pulled pork meat. You don't have to stick to using just cucumber pickles, either; any veggies that can be pickled are fair game, including jalapeños, carrots, or asparagus spears.

Which fruit is often used in vegan recipes to replace pulled pork? ›

Jackfruit is a very large tropical fruit often used as a meat substitute. It packs some nutritional wallop, and the fact that you can cook, chunk or shred it like chicken or pork makes it a go-to main ingredient in many vegetarian and vegan dishes.

What are the 3 main vegetarian alternatives to meat? ›

The 10 best vegan meat alternatives
  • Tofu. Tofu is the classic meat alternative and has been one of the basic sources of nutrition in Asia for centuries. ...
  • Soy protein. Soy chunks and mince are very inexpensive ingredients that are easy to prepare. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Seitan/wheat protein. ...
  • Lupin protein. ...
  • Green spelt. ...
  • Oat flakes. ...
  • Black beans.
Nov 11, 2019

Why don t vegans eat pork? ›

1–6: Animal Foods

Veganism is a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, be it for food or any other purpose. For this reason, vegans avoid eating foods of animal origin, such as: Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, veal, horse, organ meat, wild meat, etc.

What is a plant-based alternative to pork? ›

Mushrooms. Many supermarkets offer close to a dozen varieties of mushrooms each with their own unique characteristics. Whether shiitakes, Portobellos, or creminis, mushrooms come loaded with umami and have a chewy, satisfying texture, making them perfect replacements for meat, especially pork.

What is jackfruit meat substitute? ›

Compared to ripe jackfruit, unripe jackfruit has a stringy, meaty texture similar to that of beef or pork. This texture—along with the fruit's neutral, almost bland taste, which can accommodate the flavor of whatever it's cooked in—is a large reason why jackfruit is such a popular meat alternative.

Does mayo go on pulled pork sandwich? ›

Pour sauce over meat and toss well. Spread buns with Hellmann's® Real Mayonnaise and fill with pulled pork.

Does mayo go on pulled pork? ›

I love mayo on my pulled pork sammies. In fact, that's the only way I'll eat 'em! Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth. The only mayo I put on a bbq pork sandwich , comes from the slaw i put on top of it .

What is the best bread for pulled pork sandwiches? ›

The bread you choose for your pulled pork sandwich is almost as important as the meat itself. A soft, yet sturdy bun is ideal, as it will hold up well under the weight of the juicy, saucy pork without becoming soggy. Popular choices include hamburger buns, brioche buns, and potato rolls.

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in? ›

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.

What cheese goes with pulled pork sandwiches? ›

Rich, creamy cheeses work well. We like to use an extra sharp cheddar that holds up to the pork flavor or we sometimes will use a Jack cheese or mozzarella that adds stringy, gooey, delicious texture and flavor. And by the way, we have totally used that weird canned nacho cheese, too.

How do you spice up bland pulled pork? ›

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

What is a healthier alternative to pulled pork? ›

Although nutrition information can vary depending on the recipe, ingredients and chef, pulled chicken is lower in calories and fat than pulled pork, making it a healthier choice.

What is the best substitute for pork shoulder? ›

Because of that, we recommend opting for pork butt when uniform chunks of pork shoulder are called for in a recipe—think stews, like chile verde or carne adovada, and carnitas.

What is a popular vegetarian meat substitute? ›

Mushrooms are one of the most popular vegetables to replace meat due to their savory umami flavor and meaty texture. Portobello mushrooms are large enough to eat just like a burger and sturdy enough to be able to throw on the grill without falling apart.

What vegetables are good to replace pork with? ›

  • Tofu. Starting the list is probably the most widely known meat substitute, and a staple of any vegan or vegetarian diet - tofu. ...
  • Tempeh. A close relative of tofu, but less well-known, is tempeh. ...
  • Seitan. Serve up some seitan in a stew and no one will know it's actually meat-free. ...
  • Jackfruit. ...
  • Banana blossom.
Dec 12, 2022

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