Easy Pork Bowl + 10 Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas
Got leftover pulled pork? You’ll love this easy breakfast pork bowl. Savory, smoky shredded pork, creamy cottage cheese, fluffy scrambled eggs, and sautéed kale come together for a quick breakfast that’s hearty, delicious, and totally satisfying!
Everything in this dish is an ingredient that needed to be used up, which is one of my favorite ways to prevent food waste (and one of the reasons I love bowl recipes). There are no rules. Use what you’ve got and what you like. Whether you’re cooking for one person or a whole family, everyone can make their own, and it’s a great way to use up odds and ends.
If you love smoked pork as much as we do, be sure to scroll to the end where I’m sharing some of my go-to recipes with pulled pork like a killer breakfast hash, tacos, and pulled pork nachos!
Many people struggle with using leftovers, which is why it’s one of my favorite things to share on Instagram stories. Recently, I used leftovers from our favorite local BBQ spot to make this high protein pulled pork bowl, and we loved it so much that it was worthy of having a permanent place on the blog.
Savory cottage cheese bowls are my jam. Adding pulled pork? Chef’s kiss. If you love a savory breakfast, you’ll love this combination. It’s more of an idea than a recipe, but I hope it inspires you to use up those leftovers.
I’m so passionate about food waste that I’ve written several posts about it. You may like my top tips for reducing food waste and for grocery shopping on a budget.
Leftover Pulled Pork Bowl
This bowl packs a protein punch, with nearly 60 grams from the pork, cottage cheese, and eggs—a great way to start your day. It’s also versatile. If you don’t have pork, use leftover shredded chicken or beef. Don’t like kale? Leave it out and replace it with any veggies you like. This is a great opportunity to use leftover cooked vegetables from the night before.
Simple Ingredients
Leftover pulled pork shines in this recipe, adding a savory, chewy, smoky component to the bowl that pairs beautifully with the creamy cottage cheese and eggs.
- This is an excellent opportunity to use up whatever veggies you have on hand. For me today, that was some kale and tomatoes. This is a very versatile recipe. You can find exactly what I used in the recipe card below!
- To pump up the protein, I used a generous amount of pulled pork. Use as much or as little as you want. As written in the recipe card below, this pulled pork bowl provides 65 grams of protein.
Bagel Seasoning is More Than Garnish
Olde Thompson Everything Bagel Seasoning has big flakes of dried garlic and onion, adding crunch and depth of flavor. Unlike most brands, this one doesn’t list salt as the first ingredient, so you can go a little heavier without overdoing it.
Pulled Pork Bowl: Step-By-Step
Assembling the bowl is pretty self-explanatory, but I do have a tip for reheating the pork!
- Start by gently heating the pork. To do this, place a small, nonstick pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Add about 1/4 cup of water, cover, bring to a simmer, and cook until the water evaporates. The pork will be perfectly reheated without being dried out.
- The rest of the recipe moves quickly. In the same pan, wilt the kale, cook the eggs, and finish with the tomatoes, scallions, cottage cheese, and bagel seasoning, then enjoy!
Notes & Variations
- If you’re like my husband and hate the texture of cottage cheese, add it to a small blender or food processor. Blend it for 30 to 60 seconds, or until smooth, then spread it evenly over the bottom of the bowl. It becomes more of a sauce, and you’re getting a little with each bite.
- This pulled pork bowl is meant to be eaten immediately as one serving, but you can use the slider in the recipe card to increase the number of servings. As you adjust the servings, the ingredient amounts will change. It does the work for you.
- Swap any of the ingredients with odds and ends that you already have. Savory cottage cheese bowls are a fantastic way to use them up!
10 Delicious Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas
Don’t let that extra pulled pork just sit in the fridge. Its rich, smoky flavor and fall-apart texture make it a shortcut to fast, satisfying meals all week. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it!
- Smoky Pork Ragu: Cook down some mirepoix in olive oil and garlic, then add your desired amount of leftover pulled pork, along with crushed tomatoes and a little red wine if you’re feeling fancy. Cook low and slow for at least an hour and eat it over rigatoni.
- Pulled Pork Tacos: Warm up the pulled pork with a little taco seasoning or salsa, then pile it into tortillas with shredded cabbage, avocado, pickled onions, and a squeeze of lime.
- BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza: Spread barbecue sauce over pizza dough, then top with pulled pork, red onions, mozzarella cheese, and a little cilantro after baking.
- Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese: Stir leftover pulled pork into creamy homemade or boxed mac and cheese for an easy comfort-food dinner. Add crispy onions or breadcrumbs on top for extra texture and flavor.
- Pulled Pork Breakfast Hash: Cook diced potatoes in a skillet until crispy, then add onions, peppers, and pulled pork. Top everything with a fried egg for a hearty breakfast or brunch idea that feels restaurant-worthy.
- Loaded Pulled Pork Nachos: Layer tortilla chips with pulled pork, black beans, jalapeños, and shredded cheese, then bake until the cheese melts and the chips are bubbly. Finish with sour cream, salsa, and green onions.
- Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: Stuff pulled pork and cheddar cheese between slices of buttered bread, then grill until golden brown and melty. A little barbecue sauce or pickles inside takes the sandwich to the next level.
- Pulled Pork Stuffed Baked Potatoes: Fill fluffy baked potatoes with warm pulled pork, shredded cheese, and sour cream for an inexpensive and filling meal. You can also add green onions, bacon bits, or barbecue sauce on top.
- Pulled Pork Fried Rice: Use pulled pork instead of chicken in homemade fried rice with leftover rice, scrambled eggs, peas, carrots, and soy sauce. The smoky flavor works surprisingly well in this.
- Pulled Pork Sliders: Pile leftover pork onto Hawaiian-style slider buns, top with coleslaw and barbecue sauce. The perfect combo of flavors!
- Pulled Pork Quesadillas: Layer pulled pork and cheese in tortillas, then cook until golden and crispy on both sides. Slice into wedges and serve with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
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Easy Pork Bowl + Leftover Pulled Pork Ideas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 ounces shredded pulled pork
- 1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup kale, chopped
- 5 cherry tomatoes
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- Optional: Bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Reheat the pork and add it to a bowl.
- In a small skillet, wilt the kale and white part of the scallions. Add them to the bowl with the pork.
- In the same pan, cook the eggs to your liking. Add them to the serving bowl.
- Finish with the cottage cheese, tomatoes, top part of the scallions, and bagel seasoning.
