If you’re looking for a hearty meal that will please everyone, these BBQ Jackfruit Sliders could be just what you need. They’re a satisfying plant-based option, perfectly pulled apart to mimic traditional barbecue sandwiches.
This recipe solves challenges like replicating pulled BBQ texture, reducing cooking time, managing excess brine, and maintaining flavor and freshness in plant-based sliders.
I remember a busy weeknight when I had unexpected guests. I wanted to impress them without spending hours in the kitchen. With just a couple of cans of jackfruit and my favorite BBQ sauce, I whipped up a filling dish that turned out better than I’d hoped.
This recipe is quick and reliable, taking only about 25 minutes from prep to plate. You’ll end up with tender, flavorful sliders that smell amazing and taste even better. If you want another flavorful option, check out my BBQ Chicken Breast for a tasty dinner idea!
Table of contents
Dietary Considerations
- This recipe is not gluten-free due to the slider buns containing wheat flour ingredients in the recipe.
- The recipe is vegan as it contains no animal-derived ingredients like meat, dairy, or eggs in any form.
- This recipe is not low-carb or keto because jackfruit and slider buns have high carbohydrate content.
- The recipe is dairy-free since none of the ingredients, including BBQ sauce and coleslaw, contain milk or milk products.
- The recipe is nut-free as it uses olive oil and no nuts appear among the listed ingredients.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Incredible Texture The jackfruit mimics the pull of traditional BBQ meat, making these sliders satisfyingly chewy without the heaviness of meat.
- Rich Flavor Tossed in BBQ sauce, paprika, and garlic powder, these sliders pack a punch of smoky and savory flavor, ensuring each bite is memorable.
- Breeze to Prepare Ready in just 25 minutes, you can whip up these BBQ jackfruit sliders in no time, making them a great choice for busy weeknight dinners.
- Storage Friendly These sliders maintain their taste and texture well, so you can make extra for lunch or snacks later in the week without losing quality.
How To Make BBQ Jackfruit Sliders
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cool Time: N/A
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Delicious vegan BBQ jackfruit sliders that are quick to prepare and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (14.5 oz / 411 g each) canned young green jackfruit, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup (240 ml) BBQ sauce, preferably bold and smoky (e.g., Sweet Baby Ray’s or Stubb’s)
- 8 slider buns, soft and pillowy (brioche or potato buns recommended for slight sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon (2.3 g) paprika
- 1 teaspoon (2.8 g) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (5.7 g) salt
- Optional: 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil, to prevent sticking if pan is not non-stick
Instructions
- Step 1: Drain and Rinse Jackfruit: Drain the canned jackfruit thoroughly. Rinse it under cold water to remove excess brine and any off-flavors, ensuring a cleaner taste in the sliders. Drain well.
- Step 2: Heat the Jackfruit: Place a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the jackfruit. If using a non-stick pan, oil is optional. If using another type of pan, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil to prevent sticking. Cook the jackfruit for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to heat evenly and avoid burning.
- Step 3: Shred the Jackfruit: Use a potato masher or the backside of a fork to shred and mash the jackfruit until it resembles pulled pork in texture. Remove visible seeds and harder seed casings where possible (all are safe to eat if left in).
- Step 4: Add Seasonings: Stir in 1 teaspoon (2.3 g) paprika, 1 teaspoon (2.8 g) garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon (5.7 g) salt. Mix thoroughly to coat the jackfruit evenly with the spices.
- Step 5: Stir in BBQ Sauce: Add 1 cup (240 ml) BBQ sauce to the seasoned jackfruit. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently to incorporate the sauce and prevent sticking. The jackfruit should absorb the sauce well during this time.
- Step 6: Assemble Your Sliders: Spoon generous amounts of the BBQ jackfruit mixture onto each slider bun. For extra flavor, consider drizzling additional BBQ sauce over the jackfruit before serving. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Room Temperature: Store assembled sliders in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days. Keep away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.
- Refrigeration: Store BBQ jackfruit mixture separately from buns in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To prevent sogginess, keep buns separate and reheat jackfruit before assembling.
- Freezing: Wrap the BBQ jackfruit mixture tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- If the jackfruit begins to stick during cooking (especially when using a non-stick pan), add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil around 8 minutes into cooking to prevent burning.
- For bootstrapping the pulled texture, if jackfruit does not shred easily, mash it after 5 minutes of heating using a potato masher or fork to break down pieces quickly.
- To balance overly sweet BBQ sauces, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar during the 2 minutes of cooking with the sauce for enhanced flavor.
- Reheat cooked BBQ jackfruit in a pan over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes until warmed through, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Serve sliders with crunchy coleslaw or potato salad for texture contrast. Both pre-packaged coleslaw mix or homemade cabbage and carrot slaw work well.
- Include sides such as baked sweet potato fries or steamed broccoli for a balanced meal.
- Use leftover BBQ jackfruit as a filling for tacos or bowls, or stir into grain salads or vegetable soups.
- Top sliders with pickles (bread and butter pickles recommended for sweetness and tang), sautéed or caramelized yellow onions, fresh avocado slices, hot sauce, or fresh cilantro for added layers of flavor.
- Substitute slider buns for gluten-free buns to accommodate gluten intolerance.
- For flavor variation, try different smoky BBQ sauces or add other spices as preferred.
- Use young green jackfruit packed in water or brine; it shreds easily and absorbs flavors well.
- Choose a bold, smoky BBQ sauce to prevent excessive sweetness and ensure rich depth.
- Soft buns with a slight sweetness (brioche or potato buns) complement the jackfruit texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Ingredient Notes
- Jackfruit: Look for young green jackfruit, preferably packed in water or brine. It shreds easily, giving it a meaty texture that absorbs flavors beautifully.
- BBQ Sauce: Choose a bold, smoky BBQ sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s or Stubb’s. It adds richness and depth, ensuring the sliders are packed with flavor.
- Slider Buns: Go for soft, pillowy slider buns to hold everything together. Brioche or potato buns work well; their slight sweetness complements the jackfruit.
- Coleslaw: Use a crunchy coleslaw mix for texture contrast. Pre-packaged slaw works great, but homemade with fresh cabbage and carrots adds a nice touch.
- Pickles: Bread and butter pickles are perfect for a sweet and tangy balance. They’ll elevate your sliders with a nice crunch, adding bright flavor notes.
- Onions: Sautéed onions bring sweetness and depth. Yellow onions are the best choice here; caramelize them for extra flavor.
- Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil is essential for sautéing and enhancing flavors in the jackfruit mixture. It adds richness and helps prevent sticking.
Recipe Tips
- If jackfruit is overly brine-y, drain two 14.5-ounce cans well, then rinse thoroughly under cold water before cooking to remove residual flavor.
- When using a non-stick pan, add 1 tablespoon of oil 8 minutes into cooking jackfruit if it begins to stick. This prevents burning and ensures even heating.
- If jackfruit doesn’t shred easily, use a potato masher to break apart pieces after heating for 5 minutes. This helps achieve a pulled texture quickly.
- For BBQ sauce that’s too sweet, mix in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar while cooking jackfruit for 2 minutes. Adjust sauce flavor to your preference.
- If assembling sliders ahead of time, store BBQ jackfruit separately from buns for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving to maintain freshness.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a side of coleslaw or potato salad for a crunchy contrast. You can include baked sweet potato fries or steamed broccoli alongside.
Use to make BBQ jackfruit tacos or quinoa bowls. Add to grain salads or stir it into vegetable soup for added flavor.
Top with extra BBQ sauce or fresh avocado slices. Drizzle on hot sauce or sprinkle with fresh cilantro for an extra kick.
Recipe variations
- You can use young green jackfruit packed in brine as the main ingredient for BBQ jackfruit sliders, draining and rinsing well to reduce excess saltiness before cooking.
- Add 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon salt to the cooked jackfruit for seasoning before stirring in 1 cup of your preferred BBQ sauce.
- Either a non-stick skillet or a regular pan with 1 tablespoon of oil can be used to cook jackfruit thoroughly, stirring occasionally for even heating over medium heat.
- If using this recipe for more servings, double the jackfruit cans and increase BBQ sauce up to 2 cups to maintain flavor consistency for 16 sliders, paired nicely with BBQ Sausage sides.
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How to Store?
To keep your bbq jackfruit sliders fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
Room Temperature: Store bbq jackfruit sliders in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days. Avoid direct sunlight and heat.
Refrigeration: Place bbq jackfruit sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Keep buns separate to avoid sogginess.
Freezing: Wrap bbq jackfruit mixture in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer container up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
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