Vegan Pulled Pork

Pulled pork sandwiches are a classic comfort food meal. For this recipe, we’ve duplicated those delicious flavors and textures with a vegan pulled pork sandwich made from oyster mushrooms.

Usually, pulled pork is made with… pork (duh!) smothered in BBQ sauce. Now, if you switched to a plant-based diet, it doesn’t mean that you will never crave familiar flavors. The pulled pork sandwich is a classic! So to create this vegan pulled pork, I swapped the meat for oyster mushrooms. You’d be surprised how similar the texture is!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This recipe is excellent for vegans on a budget. It uses minimal ingredients, most of which you probably already have at home.
• It comes together in just 15 minutes flat, so it’s perfect for a quick lunch or meal prep at home.
• Many recipes for vegan pulled pork use jackfruit. However, it can be difficult to find, and the taste… let’s just say it’s not for everyone. However, oyster mushrooms have this amazing meaty texture and quite a mild flavor, perfect for this dish.
• Mushrooms are extremely beneficial to your health. They’re packed with essential nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Oyster mushrooms in particular are known to have high amounts of beta-glucan, which is a form of fiber. This fiber helps you regulate blood sugar and has been linked to improved cholesterol.
• Just like vegetables, mushrooms are a whole group of produce. If you think you don’t like mushrooms, I encourage you to try different types, as the flavor and texture vary dramatically. Mushrooms are one of my favorite substitutions for meat because they are so high in nutrients and they taste amazing. If you are wanting to eat more whole-food plant-based meals, I highly suggest giving mushrooms a try! 

How to Make This Recipe

First, you’ll need to shred the oyster mushrooms using a knife and fork until you get a similar consistency to pulled pork.

Then, sauté the onions and garlic in a pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until soft.

After that, add the shredded oyster mushrooms to the pan along with the spices. Sauté until the water has fully evaporated and the mushrooms begin to crisp slightly, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

Add your preferred barbecue sauce to the pan and make sure the mushrooms are fully glazed. Finally, serve on your favorite bun with coleslaw if desired. 

Hack It!

• BBQ sauce is actually quite easy to make at home. And the result will be much healthier than the store-bought product!
• I am quite partial to heat, flavor-wise. So if you like a spicy kick in your dishes, you can add some cayenne or chili flakes into the mixture.
• Traditionally, a pulled pork sandwich is served in a bun. However, you can also enjoy this vegan pulled pork in a wrap, a loaded potato, or on top of some nachos.
• If mushrooms aren’t your style, then another plant-based option. You can make this recipe with jackfruit, tempeh, or eggplant.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Oyster Mushroom Tacos
• Dill Pickle Tofu Sandwich
• Vegan Philly Cheesesteak
• Vegan Roast Beef Recipe
• Buffalo Chickpea Wrap 

My secret to maintaining a plant-based lifestyle? Meal planning! As much as I love to cook and create whole food plant-based meals, I keep it simple when it comes to what I eat day-to-day. That’s why I created a dynamic digital meal planning program, the PlantYou Planner. When you join, you get everything you need to keep it simple and real in the kitchen, besides the actual food itself! You’ll also get an autogenerated grocery list based on your selection for the week.

Planning your meals ahead of time makes living a plant-based lifestyle so much more sustainable and attainable. If you prefer to plan your meals from a single source, check out the PlantYou Cookbook! It has tons of delicious WFPB recipes with beautiful infographics and accessible ingredients. If you’re going to invest in a vegan cookbook this year, let it be this one!