BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders
Shredded young jackfruit simmered in sticky, smoky BBQ sauce and piled into mini buns with sharp pickled onions.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Homemade BBQ sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.69 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Drain the jackfruit and rinse it well under cold water, because the brine tastes sharp. Squeeze out the water, cut off any hard core pieces, and pull the rest apart into shreds with your fingers or two forks.
- 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then stir in the garlic and smoked paprika for 1 minute.
5 min - 3
Add the jackfruit and fry for 8 minutes, turning often, until it picks up a little colour.
8 min - 4
Pour in your ready made BBQ sauce (see the base recipe) and the water. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce is thick and clinging to the jackfruit.
15 min - 5
Mash the jackfruit lightly with a fork so it looks like pulled meat. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.
- 6
Toast the buns cut side down in a dry pan for 1 minute. Pile in the jackfruit and top with your pickled red onions. Serve straight away.
1 min
Tips
- Buy young green jackfruit in brine or water, not the ripe sweet kind in syrup. The syrup version tastes wrong in a savoury dish.
- Frying the shreds before adding the sauce dries them out a little, which gives a meatier bite and helps the sauce stick.
- Check the bun label if you need to avoid milk or egg, as some soft rolls contain them. Use gluten free buns if you need a gluten free version.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days in the fridge in a covered container. Cool within 2 hours, freeze the jackfruit mix for up to 3 months, and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use something other than jackfruit?
Yes. Shredded king oyster mushrooms or drained, mashed chickpeas also work well. Cook mushrooms until their liquid has gone before adding the sauce.
Are these sliders vegan?
Yes, as long as you use buns with no milk or egg. The BBQ sauce and pickled onions are both vegan. Check the label on the buns, as they vary by brand.
Can I make the jackfruit ahead?
Yes. Make it up to 3 days ahead, keep it chilled, and reheat in a pan with a splash of water until piping hot. Assemble the buns just before serving.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Three Bean Salad with Pickled Red Onions and Parsley
GFDFEFRainbow Hummus Bowls with Quinoa and Pickled Red Onions
VGVDFHamburguesas estilo Elote (Street Corn Burgers)
NFTortas Ahogadas de Carnitas (Drowned Pork Sandwiches)
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
