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My pulled BBQ jackfruit is smoky, saucy, and shreddable in just 30 minutes, with crisp edges and tender strands that pile perfectly onto a bun. It’s vegan, low-effort, and hits that classic backyard BBQ vibe without turning on a grill.

Shredded barbecue jackfruit served on a blue and white floral platter with a serving fork, next to buns and a bowl of coleslaw.
Smoky, saucy BBQ jackfruit with crispy edges and real pulled texture, ready in 30 minutes and good enough to make you forget it’s not pork!
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I keep coming back to this recipe because jackfruit can be incredible or deeply disappointing depending on how it’s handled.

We tested this to solve the two biggest problems I see online: soggy texture and flat flavor. Drying the jackfruit aggressively and letting it sear before adding sauce gives you real chew and caramelized bits, not mush. This version is fast, repeatable, and built for weeknights, not all-day simmering.

Reader rating

★★★★★

“This was great, thank you! Added pickles and caramelized onions!” —Abbie

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A pulled barbecue chicken sandwich with coleslaw on a bun, placed on white parchment paper with a blue background.

Key Ingredients

These jackfruit sliders require pretty staple BBQ ingredients, except we swap out meat for jackfruit. Jump to the recipe card for the full measurements.

  • Young Green Jackfruit: It’s best to use young jackfruit in water or brine (NOT syrup) because the fruit has a tougher texture that better resembles meat. If you use jackfruit in brine, be sure to thoroughly rinse it to remove any of the brine’s flavors.
  • Brown Sugar: Helps balance acidity and encourages caramelization on the pan.
  • Spices: I use a combination of smoked paprika (crucial for good barbecue), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and chili pepper because you can never have enough spice!
  • BBQ Sauce: You can use any barbecue sauce you like. I like to use ones with a little heat, like chipotle or habanero.

Using fresh jackfruit?

If you are using fresh jackfruit, aim to find one that is underripe and not sweet. You should be able to tell this by how pungent the smell is. The less it smells, the more underripe it is. Cutting this beast isn’t for the faint of heart – here’s how to cut jackfruit.

Ingredients for a jackfruit BBQ sandwich laid out on a blue surface: burger buns, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, oil, coleslaw mix, young green jackfruit, seasonings, and dressing.
Close-up of shredded jackfruit in barbecue sauce with a metal fork.
A pulled pork sandwich with barbecue sauce, shredded pork, and coleslaw on a soft bun, resting on white parchment paper.
A pulled pork sandwich on a bun with barbecue sauce and coleslaw, served on a white surface with extra pulled pork and sauce in the background.
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Easy Shredded BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches

5 from 1 rating
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ready in just 30 minutes, you can enjoy delicious vegetarian BBQ jackfruit pulled "pork" with just a handful of ingredients

Ingredients 

BBQ Jackfruit

  • 2 20-oz cans young green jackfruit*, in water or brine, NOT in syrup, 566g cans
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp each smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
  • ½ tsp each salt, pepper, chili pepper
  • 1 Tbsp oil, 15 mL
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce, 120 g

To Make Sliders

  • 4 to 6 slider buns
  • 1 cup coleslaw, 30 g
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing, 60 g
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Instructions 

  • Dry: Drain 2 20-oz cans young green jackfruit* then rinse it well. Transfer to a clean dishcloth. Roll it up and wring tightly to squeeze as much moisture out of the jackfruit as possible.
    Trim off the touch center core portions of the jackfruit if desired.
    Chunks of jackfruit placed on a white cloth, with the cloth gathered inside a metal strainer, set against a blue textured background.
  • Flavor: In a large bowl stir together jackfruit, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp each smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ½ tsp each salt, pepper, chili pepper
    A glass bowl contains shredded jackfruit, brown sugar, and assorted spices, set on a blue surface.
  • Cook: Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the jackfruit mixture, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the edges are crispy and brown, about 20 minutes. Add a dash of water to the pan, as needed, to prevent it from burning.
    Cooked shredded jackfruit in a white skillet with a wooden spoon, set on a blue countertop.
  • BBQ: Stir in ½ cup BBQ sauce then let cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes to create some crispy pieces.
    Shredded jackfruit cooked in a skillet with a wooden spoon, coated in a reddish-brown sauce on a blue background.
  • Slaw: In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup coleslaw and ¼ cup ranch dressing.
    A clear bowl of coleslaw with shredded cabbage and carrots in creamy dressing, with a spoon inside, on a bright blue surface.
  • Serve: Serve warm on 4 to 6 slider buns, topping each with slaw.
    A sandwich bun filled with shredded barbecue chicken and coleslaw, with extra barbecue sauce dripping down the sides.

Notes

*Canned young green jackfruit is the most reliable, as compared to fresh jackfruit (which can be much sweeter). Look for it in some organic groceries, or at any Asian supermarket.
To make this BBQ jackfruit with fresh jackfruit, use 6 cups of shredded fruit, aiming to find one that is underripe and not very sweet
Storage: If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, this pulled jackfruit will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet to bring back crisp edges rather than microwaving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (no bun or slaw) | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1.1g | Fat: 3.6g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 702mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 7.4g | Sugar: 12.6g | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

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5 from 1 vote

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2 Comments

  1. Abbie says:

    5 stars
    This was great, thank you! Added pickles and caramelized onions 🙂

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      YUM! So glad you liked it, Abbie! 😀