BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders

Can we talk about how cute these sliders are? Why are so many things so much cuter in the mini version? Whether you also find these BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders to be too cute or simply want a delicious meal for a summer weekend, game day or even just because, you need to add them to your menu planner now. Plus, this recipe can be as easy or intricate as you wish.

You may have already skipped ahead and seen what looks like a pretty intense ingredient list. Yes, there are a lot of items, but I bet you have most on hand and this recipe is three recipes in one. You get a BBQ sauce recipe, a coleslaw recipe and the jackfruit slider recipe. If all of that seems like too much, guess what, you can use store-bought BBQ sauce & pre-packaged coleslaw. As always, this website is all about showing you ways to ENJOY plant based eating and realizing you don’t have to sacrifice good food in the process. Ultimately, it is always YOU who gets to decide how to implement it, so whether you choose step by step or quick and convenient, in the end I just want you doing that happy food dance with your meals.

These BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders are ultimately all about the BBQ sauce. Many heated debates have arisen in the food world over BBQ sauce. Tomato based? Mustard Based? White Sauce? Sweet? Spicy? I’m not a BBQ connoisseur and I’m not entering this BBQ sauce in any state fair competition in search of a blue ribbon. For me this BBQ sauce hits all the key taste buds with some sweet, some smokiness, a touch of spicy (just a touch, feel free to add more spice, I do when I make it just for me) and a little tang from the vinegar. It’s also really easy to make. Throw it all in a saucepan & cook, stirring occasionally until it thickens up. Simple!

What’s even more simple is straight out of a bottle. If you have a favorite BBQ sauce then by all means grab that jar. Just make sure to read the ingredients. There are a few sneaky non-vegan ingredients used in many BBQ sauces such as Worcestershire sauce and honey. It’s actually the reason I developed this recipe. After spending 20 minutes in the condiment aisle reading every label on nearly every sauce I was left with little to no choices, got frustrated and left the store without a sauce. Ahhh, the memories of those first 6 months going vegan, haha.

Want to add more recipes like this to your backyard and game day eats? Here are some more ideas to try…

Salt & Vinegar Fries

Vegan Lobster Rolls

Vegan Hot Dogs

Print Recipe

BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders

Whether it's a summer BBQ, game day eats or simply just because, these BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders are a great addition to any celebration.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Keyword: BBQ, gameday, jackfruit, slider, summer, vegan, vegetarian

Servings: 6 sliders

Ingredients

Pulled Jackfruit Slider

• 1 14 oz can jackfruit
• 6 pretzel mini buns
• 1 1/2 – 2 cups BBQ sauce (store-bought or recipe below)
• 2 cups coleslaw (store-bought or recipe below)

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup apple honey sub maple syrup or cane/brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp crushed red chili flakes
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 1/2 tbsp liquid smoke

Tangy Apple Slaw

• 1 1/2 – 2 cups cabbage, shredded green, red or a mix
• 1/2 cup carrot, shredded
• 1/2 cup granny smith apple, diced or thin strips
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup plain unsweetened vegan yogurt
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 2 -3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp dill
• pinch of sugar to taste optional
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

• Add all the ingredients to a medium sized saucepan & whisk to combine.
• Place the saucepan over medium heat & bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce the heat to low & simmer for 30 minutes until the sauce reduces a bit & starts to thicken up.
• Remove from heat & let it cool a bit before transferring to a lidded jar. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Tangy Apple Coleslaw

• To a mixing bowl add the yogurt, vinegar, dijon mustard & seasonings. Stir to combine. Taste & adjust seasoning as needed.
• Shred the cabbage, carrot & apple. Chop the green onion. Add these to the mixing bowl.
• Toss well to combine & ensure the dressing coats the ingredients. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the sliders.

BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders

• Drain the can of jackfruit into a colander to remove the brine. Rinse the jackfruit under water.
• Using your hands or two forks, shred the jackfruit by pulling apart into thin strips, removing any of the hard seed pods. Once completely shredded, rinse thoroughly again under water & let drain.
• In a pan over medium heat, add the jackfruit & let it cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
• Add 1 cup of BBQ sauce to the pan, stir to coat the jackfruit, reduce heat to low & let it simmer for another 5 minutes. Add more sauce as needed based on your sauce preference. Remove from heat.
• Assemble the sliders. Toast buns (optional). Layer the BBQ jackfruit, then coleslaw. Serve with additional sauce & coleslaw on the side.

Notes

Pretzel Buns:  I use Pretzilla for the slider buns and I’ve found them in most grocery stores.  If you can’t find the mini slider size, you can make the full size version, just know you may need to increase the recipe for the other ingredients.

BBQ Sauce:  The BBQ sauce can be made well in advance.  Store the sauce in a lidded jar in your refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. 

Coleslaw:  Many coleslaw recipes include a bit of sugar.  Since this coleslaw is being served with the sweet BBQ sauce, I prefer to omit so that it can add that pop of tanginess to balance the sweetness of the sauce.  If you prefer a more traditional flavoring feel free to add.  The coleslaw can also be prepared in advance.  Store any remaining coleslaw in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Enjoy!