Enjoy all the delicious flavours of pulled pork without the long cooking time with this Spicy Stovetop Pulled Pork. Tender pieces of pork are cooked on the stovetop and coated in a smoky barbecue sauce with a fiery kick, creating a quick and tasty meal that is ready in less than 40 minutes.
Serve it with homemade chips, a crisp mixed salad and creamy coleslaw for a complete and satisfying family meal. It is also perfect for piling into rolls, wraps or baked potatoes when you want something easy and packed with flavour.
Calories in Stove Top Spicy Pulled Pork
This recipe serves 5 and is 265 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Pork shoulder blade chops: Remove the bones and any large pieces of visible fat, then slice the pork into smaller pieces. Pork shoulder contains enough fat to remain tender while cooking and works well with the rich barbecue sauce.
- Onion: Thinly sliced onion softens into the sauce and adds natural sweetness. Red onion can also be used.
- Passata: Passata creates a smooth tomato base for the barbecue sauce. Crushed tomatoes can be used instead, although the finished sauce will have a slightly chunkier texture.
- American mustard: This adds a mild tang without overpowering the other flavours. Dijon mustard can be used for a slightly sharper taste.
- Garlic: Fresh crushed garlic adds plenty of flavour to the sauce. The garlic powder used in the seasoning blend adds an extra layer of flavour.
- Apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar: The combination of vinegars adds acidity, sweetness and depth to the sauce. Red wine vinegar can replace the apple cider vinegar if needed.
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds savoury depth to the barbecue sauce. Check the label if you require a gluten-free variety.
- Maple syrup: Maple syrup balances the acidity and spice in the sauce. Honey or brown sugar can be used instead.
- Soy sauce: This adds saltiness and a rich savoury flavour. Use tamari or certified gluten-free soy sauce if required.
- Seasonings: Regular paprika adds colour and a mild pepper flavour, while smoked paprika provides the smoky barbecue taste. Cayenne pepper adds heat, and the onion and garlic powders give the sauce extra depth. Adjust the cayenne depending on how spicy you would like the finished dish.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions
Variations and Substitutes
There are several ways you can adapt this Spicy Stovetop Pulled Pork depending on the ingredients you have available and how spicy you prefer the sauce.
- Use another cut of pork: Boneless pork shoulder steaks, pork butt or boneless country-style pork ribs can all be used. Remove any large pieces of visible fat and slice the meat into smaller pieces so that it becomes tender within the cooking time. Very Lean cuts such as pork loin or pork tenderloin can also be used, but they will not have quite the same texture as pork shoulder. Take care not to overcook them, as they can become dry.
- Use chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a good alternative and remain tender when cooked in the barbecue sauce.
- Make it milder: Reduce the cayenne pepper or leave it out completely for a milder family-friendly version. Hot sauce can then be added to individual servings.
- Add more heat: Increase the cayenne pepper or add chilli flakes, chipotle paste or your few splashes of your favourite hot sauce.
- Make it sweeter: Add a little extra maple syrup, honey or brown sugar if you prefer a sweeter barbecue sauce.
- Make it smokier: Increase the smoked paprika or add a small amount of chipotle paste. Add it gradually so that it does not overpower the other flavours.
- Use a different mustard: Dijon mustard can be used instead of American mustard. Wholegrain mustard will also work, but it will give the sauce a more textured finish.
- Add vegetables: Thinly sliced peppers, mushrooms or grated carrot can be added with the onion. Keep the vegetables thinly sliced so that they soften within the cooking time.
- Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and tamari or certified gluten-free soy sauce. Check the labels of all other sauces and seasonings to ensure they are suitable.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Spicy Stovetop Pulled Pork with garlic and herb roast potatoes and a crisp mixed salad with all your favourite components (I love romaine, red onion, cucumber and tomatoes).
It also pairs well with:
- Creamy coleslaw
- homemade chips or sweet potato fries
- Corn on the cob
- Roasted or steamed vegetables
- Lime Cilantro Rice or cauliflower rice
- Baked potatoes
- Soft bread rolls
- Wraps or tortillas
- Loaded fries
- Tacos, burritos or quesadillas
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
To store: Allow the Spicy Stovetop Pulled Pork to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
To freeze: Once cooled, portion the pork and sauce into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat: Reheat gently in a saucepan over a medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until piping hot throughout. Add a small splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave until thoroughly heated.
More Pork Recipes
Looking for some more pork recipes to try? Check out these:
See more Pork Recipes →
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
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Recipe Card
Stove Top Spicy BBQ Pulled Pork
Pork shoulder cooked on the stovetop in a smoky and spicy homemade barbecue sauce for an easy meal ready in less than 40 minutes.
Ingredients
For the barbecue sauce:
- 1 cup (240g) of passata
- 2 cups (480ml) of water
- 2 teaspoons of American mustard
- 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon of paprika
- 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon of cayenne
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
For the pulled pork:
- 800g (28.2oz) of pork shoulder, raw (remove visible fat), slice into smaller pieces
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Add the pork, sliced onion and garlic to a large, deep frying pan.
- Add all the remaining barbecue sauce ingredients and mix well until the pork is thoroughly coated and submerged in the sauce.
- Place the pan over a medium-high heat and bring the sauce to a boil. Once it begins to bubble, reduce the heat to medium and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Do not stir during the early stages of cooking. Allow the sauce to reduce and thicken while the pork becomes tender. If the sauce appears to be reducing too quickly, add a small splash of water.
- Once the sauce has reduced significantly, turn the pieces of pork a few times to ensure they cook evenly and remain coated in the sauce.
- Transfer the cooked pork to a chopping board. Use a sharp knife to roughly shred the meat, then pull it apart further with two forks if needed.
- Return the shredded pork to the sauce in pan and stir until it is completely coated in the barbecue sauce.
- Season with salt and black pepper as needed, then serve with your choice of sides and enjoy.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Dairy Friendly
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see storing, freezing and reheating section
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Nutrition Information
Yield
5Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 265Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 102mgSodium 639mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 2gSugar 9gProtein 35g
Nutritional information and valuesetc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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