National Pulled Pork Day Date in the current year: October 12, 2024

Pulled pork is an iconic American barbecue dish that is most popular in the Southern United States. It is almost always made from a shoulder cut, which is fairly inexpensive. The meat is coated with a dry spice rub and then slow-smoked over wood. The meat may be soaked in brine before cooking to provide the extra moisture because the cooking process is long and slow.

The key is to cook the meat very slowly, typically for hours, at a low temperature. Once ready, the meat is shredded with a fork (or “pulled apart”, hence the name) and mixed with a sauce. If the pork is prepared the right way, it will be extremely tender and very easy to “pull”. Since not everyone has a wood-fired smoker, pulled pork can be made indoors using a traditional oven, a slow cooker, or a pressure cooker (note that cooking time will be much shorter with an electric pressure cooker)

Pulled pork can be eaten on its own (often with a side of baked beans or coleslaw), served on bread as a sandwich, or used in various dishes such as nachos, tacos, quesadillas, burritos, wraps, egg rolls, loaded fries, loaded baked potatoes, mac and cheese, pulled pork in a blanket, zucchini boats, stuffed peppers, pizza, and even soups, stews, and chilis.

National Pulled Pork Day was launched by the American barbecue restaurant chain Sonny’s BBQ, the National Pork Board, and the National Barbecue & Grilling Association to promote pulled pork and encourage people to indulge a little bit. You can celebrate this amazing holiday by ordering pulled pork at your favorite barbecue restaurant, making pulled pork at home, experimenting with pulled pork dishes, inviting friends and family over for a BBQ or pulled pork cook-off, and spreading the word on social media with the hashtag #NationalPulledPorkDay.

Don’t know what to cook with pulled pork? Let us offer you a couple of recipes for National Pulled Pork Day. For example, pulled pork loaded baked potatoes are a great way to utilize leftover pulled pork. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash and dry four large potatoes, poke several holes with a fork in each potato. Rub potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle them generously with kosher salt and black pepper. Bake in the oven for an hour or until tender. Once the potatoes are ready, slice each one lengthwise about three quarters of the way through and gently pull them open. Top each potato with some butter, shredded cheddar cheese, pulled pork, sour cream, chopped green onions, and jalapeño slices.

Pulled pork nachos are a delicious and simple party dish for a big company. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread an 8-10 oz bag of tortilla chips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Place 2 cups pulled pork over chips. Add some thinly sliced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese, and drizzle a couple tablespoons of BBQ sauce on top. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.