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We discovered BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos at one of our favorite ski resort restaurants. Crispy tortilla chips, topped with pulled pork, a simple homemade bbq sauce, black beans, melted cheddar cheese, and sour cream. You’ll reach for these pulled pork nachos again and again!
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I’m so excited to share one of my favorite meals ever with you: pulled pork nachos! These nachos are loaded with smoked pulled pork drizzled in a simple (and delicious) homemade BBQ sauce along with several other delicious toppings. This is a perfect appetizer for parties; it can definitely feed a crowd. Or if you are like us, you can make up a tray of these nachos and have them for dinner.
Ingredients in Pulled Pork Nachos
- Tortilla chips – use any brand you like! I like a good, sturdy chip that can handle the weight of the pork and toppings.
- Pre-cooked or leftover pulled pork – you can use leftover pork roast or smoke your own. See below for easy instructions.
- Black beans – you can also substitute for pinto beans or any of your favorite beans.
- Shredded cheese – I like to use Cheddar, Pepper Jack, or Monterey Jack cheese. Make sure to shred it from the block and not use pre-shredded cheese. It just melts better and more evenly.
- Sour cream
- Guacamole – see our BEST Guacamole recipe
- Pico de Gallo
Pulled Pork Nacho Toppings
Nachos are so easy to customize thanks to the addition of toppings. There are countless options, but some of my favorite toppings for pulled pork nachos include:
- Salsa
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced red onion or sliced green onions
- Avocado
- Black olives
- Corn
- Feta cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Jalapeño peppers
- Fresh cilantro
Homemade BBQ Sauce
The pulled pork nachos wouldn’t be the same without this incredible homemade bbq sauce. It’s so easy and way more delicious than anything store bought. Give it a try and let us know what you think.
You can find the full instructions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version. To make the bbq sauce, all you need to do is heat a pan to medium-high heat, add some oil and minced garlic and cook until the garlic is golden. Then, add the rest of your ingredients, boil it, then simmer for about 15 minutes. Once it cools, it’s ready!
How to Smoke Pulled Pork
Making smoked pulled pork is not as difficult as you might think, but it does take a bit of time. It’s totally worth the effort—this takes pulled pork nachos up a whole new level! I highly recommend smoking your pork if you have the time. Here’s how to do it.
We use our outdoor grill to smoke the meat over indirect heat. If you have no idea what that means, I’ll explain. If you have a grill with four burners, turn the two outside burners on medium-high heat, and turn the inner two (back) burners off.
To get the smokey flavor, soak some hickory wood chips in water for an hour before cooking, then scoop the soaked chips out of the water and wrap 2 large piles up into aluminum foil, like a potato and poke holes all over the foil. Put your wood chip foil packs directly over the outside burners that are turned on.
Leave your pork out at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to cooking and rub in kosher salt and pepper. Then you place the roast right in the center, over the burners that are off and cook for 3 to 4 hours (depending on the size of your roast). You want to keep the grill lid shut at all times, you don’t want to let out the heat and smoking that is going on inside.
If smoking pulled pork sounds a bit complicated, you have another option. We have a fantastic pulled pork recipe that works beautifully for pulled pork: Kalua Pork. The only adjustment I would make if you are going to use it for nachos is removing the pork from the juices before you shred it. Normally you shred it into the juices, but that makes it a little too wet for nachos.
Questions about Pulled Pork Nachos
Tortilla chips are the best with pulled pork. They are sturdy enough to hold the pulled pork and toppings without breaking. Tostitos, Santitos, and the Kirkland Signature Organic Tortilla Chips you can find at Costco all work great with pulled pork.
Once you’ve loaded your nachos with your favorite meats (pulled pork, shredded chicken, shredded beef) and cheeses, top them with diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, olives, and fresh cilantro.
Shredded cheddar cheese is our #1 choice for nachos. It melts beautifully and the flavor complements pork, chicken, and beef. Take the time to shred the cheese yourself from a block. Pre-shredded cheese that comes in a bag has a coating on it that prevents it from sticking, but also prevents the cheese from melting well.
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Pulled Pork Recipes
You can use one of these recipes for preparing your pulled pork. Follow the instructions for preparing the pork, then shred it using meat claws or two forks.
How to Make Pulled Pork Nachos
Pulled Pork Nachos (Restaurant-Style)
Ingredients
Homemade BBQ Sauce (optional)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/3 cup Worcetershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Tabasco sauce to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On an oven safe baking sheet, layer tortilla chips with pulled pork, black beans, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake just until cheese melts, it only takes a few minutes.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle the nachos all over with the BBQ sauce, and add fresh toppings. Serve with a side of guacamole, sour cream, and pico de Gallo.
For the Homemade BBQ Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the vegetable oil. Add the minced garlic and cook until it begins to turn golden. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes. Remove from heat to cool.
Notes
Additional Topping Ideas
Nachos are so easy to customize thanks to the addition of toppings. There are countless options, but some of my favorite toppings for pulled pork nachos include:-
- Salsa
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced red onion or sliced green onions
- Avocado
- Black olives
- Feta cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Fresh cilantro
Love this! So much better than with taco meat!
My husband smokes pulled pork all of the time and only makes sandwiches with his creations and I get so bored. I saw this recipe for a KState football game and loved the idea to switch up football food with some nachos! It was the hit of the party and gone over the other dishes! Wahoo!!!! Thank you!!!!
And 5 stars!!! I’m on my way to school and my husband, who’s driving to school with me, asked Did you rate it? 🤦🏼♀️ I don’t have my readers on!!!! Always 5 stars…haven’t cooked anything yucky yet from this little gal!!!! 😂
So much yes. These nachos. That pulled pork. AND the homemade BBQ sauce? Amazing.
I love this! I’m thinking this would be a great meal for entertaining by offering a variety of toppings like you suggested.
I’ve always been intimidated by smoking my own meat, but you make it sound easy. What better recipe to start with than pulled pork. Thanks so much!
Pulled pork isn’t just for sandwiches and these bachos prove it!
A fabulous BBQ pulled pork recipe! So delicious (and simple to boot) … thanks!