These days, everyone is trying their best to keep spending down when they’re at the supermarket. It’s not easy, and that’s a major understatement. In an attempt to keep the pain of emptying one’s wallet to a minimum, many shoppers have resorted to choosing cuts of meat that are more affordable. In many cases, that means buying various cuts of pork as opposed to choosing steak or even chicken. The question is, can you cook pork enough different ways to keep things interesting, even if you’re having it three or four nights a week? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is yes. In fact, here are 20 pulled pork recipes that will leave you wanting more.

20. Posole

This delicious soup is a near-perfect option, especially if you already have some leftover pulled pork that you need to use up. Aside from the pork itself, you only need a few items to make it. Start with fresh chilies and onions. Typically, you want anywhere from three to five whole chilies and one medium sized onion, all cooked together. From there, you can use standard vegetable or beef stock and a can of hominy that’s drained. Add all this together, throw in some thinly sliced green cabbage, allow it to simmer and then add the pulled pork as the last step. It’s definitely a quick and easy meal that can be a real lifesaver in the middle of a busy week.

19. Cuban Sandwich

This is another quick meal, especially if you already have the pork on hand. On a regular hamburger bun, you can place cold cuts of ham along with cheese, pickles and a rather ample amount of spicy mustard. Last but certainly not least, add some pulled pork for extra flavor. This is a take on a traditional Cuban sandwich. In those sandwiches, the pork in question is roasted. Here, you’re making do with what you have. It’s a great tasting sandwich, even if it isn’t completely traditional in the way it’s made. Better yet, it gives you a chance to make up a bunch of pulled pork when you have a day off and then use it for quick meals like this throughout the week when you’re already pressed for time.

18. BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza

Almost everybody loves pizza, right? Again, this gives you an opportunity to take a family favorite and give it a slight twist in order to do something that keeps things from getting boring with the same menu items, night after night. Here, you make everything on the pizza in exactly the same way that you would for any other pizza, with a few major exceptions. Instead of using marinara sauce, use barbecue sauce. Obviously, you’re going to use pulled pork instead of hamburger, pepperoni or some other type of meat. That being said, there is one other big difference involved here. As opposed to using mozzarella or some other type of cheese that you might expect to find on a pizza, try using pepper jack in order to spice things up. You’ll be surprised how well this particular kind of cheese works with the barbecue sauce as they offset each other.

17. Carnitas with Cornbread

How exactly do you make this dish? It’s best to have the pulled pork made in advance, just like all the other recipes on this list. Once you get past that step, the rest is as easy as it gets. Make some cornbread and then when it’s ready, take a slice of cornbread and place it on the plate. Put the pulled pork over it and then add some pico de gallo as well as some sliced radishes. If you’re really in the mood for something a little different, try crumbling some feta cheese over it. A squirt or two from a fresh lime wedge also gives it a different flavor.

16. Pork Lettuce Wraps

This is a good summertime recipe when it’s simply too hot to bother with cooking. You can use ginger-infused pulled pork, but if you don’t have that, you can also get by with the pulled pork that you already have sitting in your refrigerator. In this recipe, you’ll take sections of fresh lettuce and stuff them with the pulled pork. There are two routes that you can take from that point forward. One is to include a pickled relish for flavor. The other is to simply serve the wrapped pulled pork over a bed of rice. In case you’re wondering, it’s perfectly acceptable to do both. After all, it’s all about what works for you and how much you enjoy what you’re cooking, isn’t it?

15. Pulled Pork Migas

A lot of people have never even heard of this dish before, but it’s a great breakfast dish and it’s extremely easy to prepare. Scramble some eggs, add in some pulled pork that’s been warmed up and as a last step, throw in a dash of pico de gallo. It’s absolutely delicious and it will give you enough energy to get through the majority of your day without feeling hungry. If you’re not really someone who enjoys eating breakfast, you might want to give this one a try because it’s likely to be something you’ll want to come back to again and again.

14. Pulled Pork Tacos

Tacos are almost as popular as pizza. The thing is, you don’t have to relegate yourself to eating tacos in the same old, tired way time after time. Pulled pork tacos are a great option that helps you keep things fresh as far as your menu options are concerned. It also provides a great meal when you’re busy and you don’t have a lot of time to throw something together from scratch, especially if you’ve already prepared the pulled pork. Instead of using ground beef, use the pulled pork as the basis for the meal. You can buy taco seasoning that comes pre-packaged and simmer the leftover pulled pork in it for just a few minutes in order to give it some extra flavor. From there, you can add all of your favorites. Avocado and sour cream are especially good with this particular dish.

13. Pulled Pork Barbecue Empanadas

If you’ve never had an empanada, you owe it to yourself to have one as soon as possible. If you’re not sure what they are, think calzones without loads of marinara sauce and cheese. Instead, you have what amounts to a calzone crust with meat inside. In this particular case, it just happens to be leftover pulled pork covered in delicious barbecue sauce. If you really want to kick things up a notch or two, make some potatoes ahead of time and add them in with the meat. It gives everything a great flavor and it brings the entire meal together.

12. Pulled Pork Stew

This is definitely one of the easier meals that you can create. As a matter of fact, it’s just as easy as any other stew. The biggest difference here is that you’re using leftover pulled pork instead of traditional beef that’s been cut into stew meat. Use your preference of stew vegetables. If you prefer, the prepackaged vegetables work just fine that you can find in your local freezer case. Add them into the slow cooker with a vegetable-based broth and then add the pulled pork in as well. If you want some extra flavor, try using some smokey sauce or even adding a little barbecue sauce into the mix. The slow cooker does the rest and you get a delicious meal at the end of the day.

11. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This is one of the more obvious menu choices for leftover pulled pork. After all, it makes great sandwiches. You have the opportunity to choose the type of bun and the vegetables, as well as any additional condiments that you want on the sandwich, so each one can be different from the one next to it. Typically, you need nothing more than some standard hamburger buns, the leftover pulled pork, some barbecue sauce and a few pickles. If you’re interested, you might try adding some homemade coleslaw on top of the pulled pork. It’s a delicious take on these types of sandwiches that will definitely leave you wanting more.

10. Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Hash

This is a great one if you really enjoy a hearty breakfast, especially if you’re wondering what to do with your leftover pulled pork. Just as the name implies, you will be using that pulled pork along with some freshly cut and cooked sweet potatoes. Mix these ingredients together with copious amounts of eggs and cheese and throw it all in the same dish. The thing that really sets it off is the gravy, so if you’re adept at making homemade gravy, that’s great. Even if you’re not, there are plenty of delicious mixes out there and in some cases, even some pre-made gravies that you can use that will be almost as good as something made from scratch.

9. Pulled Pork Bratwurst

The truth is, you can use this recipe with bratwurst, hot links or standard hot dogs. It couldn’t be easier to make, either. Simply cook the bratwurst or hot dog, place it in a bun and put warmed up pulled pork over it, along with your choice of condiments. It’s a quick and easy meal that definitely adds another dimension to your standard bratwurst. As a matter of fact, you might not ever decide to eat bratwurst by itself again.

8. Pulled Pork Stuffed Avocados

Anybody who loves avocados will tell you that they’re delicious by themselves. They’re even more delicious if you stuff them with something else that is equally as delectable. In this particular case, that involves leftover pulled pork. Of course, you don’t have to stop there. You can add a dollop of sour cream or your favorite barbecue sauce, or even a spicy ranch sauce in order to make things even more interesting. It really comes down to how creative you want to get with the recipe in order to make it your own.

7. Pulled Pork Mexican Pizza

We’ve already talked about making a pizza with BBQ sauce, pulled pork and pepper jack cheese. This takes that recipe and kicks it up another level or two. Here, you’re making a full-on Mexican pizza and you’re using pulled pork as the meat. You can use traditional pizza crust or you might decide to go with a tostada. The choice is yours. From there, try using some spicy red sauce, pulled pork, cilantro, jalapenos and a spicy Mexican cheese blend. You can even throw a little fresh salsa on it after it’s done cooking for good measure.

6. Pulled Pork Taquitos

A lot of people have a tendency to steer away from making taquitos because they think they’re difficult to make, but they’re actually quite easy. All you need are some corn tortillas, leftover pulled pork, and a deep pan filled about halfway with hot oil. Take the leftover pulled pork, put some directly in the center of the corn tortilla and then roll it up, leaving both ends open. You can use a toothpick to keep the corn tortilla rolled up until you’re done frying it, then you can remove the toothpick. Fry it in the oil until it’s nice and golden brown. After that, you can take it out, give it a chance to drain some of the oil off, and enjoy with your favorite spicy sauces or dips.

5. Pulled Pork Chili

Most people really like a good, hot bowl of chili on a cold day. Traditionally, chili is made with beef but that doesn’t have to be the case. As a matter of fact, you can use leftover pulled pork to create a delicious dish. All you need to do is add chili spices and some tomato-based sauce, just as you would with any other chili. Simmer the leftover pulled pork in it and then add in some chili beans. Before you know it, you’ll have a different take on a meal you’ve probably been enjoying your whole life.

4. Pulled Pork Enchiladas

Instead of making enchiladas with ground beef or chicken, consider making them with pulled pork instead. It’s a great new take on an old favorite. It works great with traditional chili sauce or red enchilada sauce along with some pepper jack cheese that’s melted on top.

3. Barbecue Pulled Pork Macaroni and Cheese

If you’ve never thought about adding some barbecue sauce to your leftover pulled pork and then putting that mixture on top of some freshly made macaroni and cheese, you really don’t know what you’re missing. It’s a great combination that gives you the savory flavor from the pulled pork, the heat and spiciness from the barbecue sauce and the creamy, cheesy flavor from the macaroni and cheese. It all comes together to create something that’s truly magical.

2. Pulled Pork Egg Rolls

This is a great option to use your leftover pulled pork. You can even buy the dough for the egg rolls in the store, so it really doesn’t get much easier. Of course, you can serve this as an appetizer but you might be surprised to know that you can make it equally as delicious as a main dish. In that case, simply serve it with some rice or noodles and you’re good to go.

1. Pulled Pork Stuffed Baked Potatoes

This is a truly delicious dish that can end up being a complete meal in and of itself. Take a large baked potato, add butter, put the pulled pork (covered in barbecue sauce) on top, and then finish off with your choice of onions, chives, bacon bits, cheese, sour cream, or all of the above. Before you know it, you’ll be full before you even finish your plate and you’ll probably have found a new favorite menu item that will eventually become a recurring choice at your house.

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