Pulled Pork Tostadas

Pulled pork sandwich meets tostada in this tasty dish detour featuring tostadas stacked with smoked gouda cheese, tender pulled pork, coleslaw, and a quick BBQ sauce. 

Hello fellow pork lover! Pulled pork is just one of the oh-so-many reasons a favorite cut of pork is the pork butt. Pulled pork is one of those versatile preparations that allows for creativity in serving, like in these Pulled Pork Tostadas. I love the crunch of a tostada against tender pulled pork. And paired with smoked cheese and coleslaw, it’s a tasty detour from a traditional pulled pork sandwich. 

The pulled pork and suggested coleslaw are the two components of this dish that require advanced preparation before serving. Don't worry, I’ve got you covered there with suggested recipes! Read on to learn how to make delicious pulled pork tostadas.

this recipe

Jump to:

• Pulled Pork Ingredients
• Cooking Instructions
• Pulled Pork Tostada Ingredients
• Putting It All Together
• Substitutions for Pulled Pork Recipe
• Equipment
• Storage
• Save that "Juice"!
• FAQ
• Pairing
• Related
• Pulled Pork Tostadas

Pulled Pork Ingredients

This pulled pork recipe is bold yet versatile, allowing for endless possibilities for repurposing any leftovers. You will need the following ingredients:

• 3-3 ½ pound pork butt, cut into 4 large chunks 
• 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
• ½ tablespoon salt
• ½ tablespoon onion powder
• ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon paprika 
• ½ tablespoon oregano
• ½ cup chicken or beef stock
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• Click here for the full Pulled Pork recipe!

Cooking Instructions

*For full Pulled Pork instructions, click here for the full recipe!

Slow Cooker or Crock Pot

Add seasoned pork butt to your Slow Cooker. Put the lid on and set your Slow Cooker to High for 6 hours, or Low for 8-9 hours. Avoid lifting the cover during cooking as this releases heat. 

Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

Add seasoned pork butt to your Instant Pot. Put the lid on and set your Instant Pot to High Pressure for 60 minutes (I also select the Keep Warm setting). The Instant Pot will take around 10-12 minutes to come to pressure and start cooking. 

When the pork butt has finished cooking, let the pressure naturally release. If you opt for a quick release, I can’t promise the meat will be as tender as this rapid air expulsion tends to dry meat out. This will take around 20 minutes. The steam release valve will fall when the pressure has naturally dissipated.

Hint: While the Pork Butt is cooking, prep some sides!

Pulled Pork Tostada Ingredients

To put this masterpiece together, you will need the following ingredients/components. Note: This is one of those "non-recipes" that doesn't advise specific amounts of each component, though a 3-4 pork butt should feed between 6-8 people. When I make this recipe, I think about who will be enjoying this pulled pork with me. If it's for two, I prepare enough garnishes for two (coleslaw, shredded cheese, BBQ sauce) and plan another use for the leftover pulled pork. 

• Tostadas
• 3-4 pounds pulled pork
• Coleslaw, your choice (try this tangy Olive and Vinegar Coleslaw recipe!)
• Smoked gouda, shredded
• Quick BBQ sauce

Quick BBQ Sauce

Save the leftover "juice" from cooking your pulled pork to add some OOOMPH to store-purchased BBQ sauces, like in the quick recipe below.

• 3 tablespoons pork “juice” 
• 6 tablespoons of Sweet Baby Ray’s

Putting It All Together

Once you’ve gathered up and prepared all of the components, it’s assembly time!

 I like to assemble my Shredded Pork Tostada as follows:

1. Place tostada on a plate.
2. Sprinkle on shredded smoked gouda cheese.
3. Add a generous amount of pulled pork. 
4. Add desired amount of coleslaw.
5. Drizzle with the Quick BBQ Sauce and dig in.

Substitutions for Pulled Pork Recipe

Here are some substitutions you can make in a pinch to the pulled pork recipe.

• Onion powder - You can absolutely toss in some fresh onion instead, try adding 1 cup of thinly sliced onion of choice. 
• Garlic powder - Like above, you can use fresh garlic. Toss in 3-4 finely minced cloves.
• Paprika - Try using equal amounts of Smoked or Hot Hungarian. 
• Oregano - Use Mexican or Italian oregano interchangeably. 
• Chicken or beef stock - Beer or a soda like Coke or Dr. Pepper work as well.

Equipment

I have an 8-quart Instant Pot, this exact model:

This recipe also works with 6-quart models. 

Slow Cooker

Storage

As someone who cooks for two, I LOVE leftovers! Store leftover pulled pork in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze in an airtight container for 3-6 months.

FAQ

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Shredded Pork Tostadas:

Related

Looking for other lunch or dinner recipes like this? Try these:

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