Pulled pork grilled cheese. (You just changed your plans for what you’re doing this weekend at the mere mention of this sandwich, didn’t you? That’s okay. Happened to us, too.)
Pulled pork grilled cheese is ridiculously easy to make, kid-friendly, crazily delicious, and a marvelous way to use up extra pulled pork leftover from that barbecue. Though if we’re being honest, we’d happily smoke a batch of pulled pork just to make this sandwich. Feel free to gussy it up with a cheese that doesn’t come in shrink-wrapped slices. Consider it a sandwich adventure.–Angie Zoobkoff
CAN I MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME?
These sandwiches are perfect for tailgating but if you don’t want to set up your smoker the night before, you’re free to start with your pork already smoked. Smoke it yourself a few days ahead or pick one up from your favorite joint. From there, just plop down your skillet on the grill and get to work.
Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 store-bought or homemade hamburger bun split
- 2 slices American cheese
- 4 ounces smoked pork butt or slow cooker pulled pork
Directions
- In a cast-iron pan or griddle set over medium heat, melt the butter. Place the bun halves, cut side up, in the skillet. Place 1 cheese slice on each bun half. Top the bottom bun half with the pulled pork. Using a spatula, place the top bun half, cheese side down, on the other side that’s topped with pulled pork. Cook, turning occasionally and gently pressing the sandwich with the spatula, until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
- Serve immediately. Don’t forget the napkins.
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Recipe Testers' Reviews
Having grown up in Memphis, pulled pork is a staple in my freezer. Thus this pulled pork grilled cheese recipe made an easy worknight dinner. The cooking was quick, the recipe was easy to follow, and the result was a satisfying sandwich. Since the recipe was developed for children, the use of American cheese was suitable; for myself, I would prefer cheese with a little more bite. Perhaps my next attempt would be with a white Cheddar. Since the pork I had in my freezer was relatively bland, I added some vinegar barbeque sauce.
Simple yet decadent. I used salt-and-pepper smoked pulled pork, plastic-wrapped American cheese, and homemade, pillowy hamburger buns. No need to sauce it, the balance is brilliant.
Originally published April 25, 2017
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
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Amy Wilschut
This pulled pork grilled cheese was a hit with my family. It was easy to take special orders for this meal—one of my guys wanted straight-up grilled cheese, one wanted all meat, and the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed the cheese and pulled pork combo. This is a fantastic way to serve a fancy grilled cheese as the hamburger bun keeps hearty ingredients, such as pulled pork, well contained.
I used a stovetop grill press to get nice grill marks on all sides. This was fantastic served with the slaw from the pulled pork tacos recipe as well as dipped in the vinegar barbecue sauce for extra zing.