Loaded Pulled Pork Cups

Take everything you love about classic barbecue and shrink it to bite-sized perfection with these loaded pulled pork cups. Golden, crispy hash brown nests cradle tender pulled pork, melty cheese, smoky bacon and a dollop of tangy sour cream. It’s a great way to use leftover pork, whether it came from the smoker or the Instant Pot. This crowd-pleaser makes an excellent game-day snack, potluck appetizer or easy Friday night dinner with the family anytime you’re craving comfort food with a twist.

Ingredients for Loaded Pulled Pork Cups

• Hash brown potatoes: Look for shredded hash brown potatoes in the refrigerated case at the store. If using frozen hash browns, let them thaw in the fridge first.
• Egg whites: Egg whites hold the hash brown potato cups together during baking. It’s easier to separate eggs when they’re cold. Save the yolks for these leftover egg yolk recipes.
• Parmesan cheese: Shredded Parmesan adds lots of flavor to the potato cups and acts as a binder.
• Pulled pork: The easiest option is to pick up fully cooked shredded barbecue pork at the store. But consider using leftover slow-cooker pulled pork, smoked pork butt or Instant Pot pulled pork.
• Colby Jack cheese: A little shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese is part of the flavorful filling. Grate your own cheese if possible; it has a softer texture than pre-shredded.
• Sour cream: Either full or low-fat sour cream will work, your choice.
• Bacon: Cook bacon using your oven or a skillet, then crumble it. Use regular, turkey bacon or plant-based bacon strips.
• Seasonings: To add flavor to the hash brown potato cups, use a mixture of garlic salt, onion powder and black pepper.
• Minced chives: The finishing touch on the assembled pulled pork cups is a sprinkle of minced fresh chives. Find them in the produce department or snip some from your kitchen garden.

Directions

Step 1: Make the potato cups

Preheat the oven to 450°F. In a large bowl, mix the hash browns, Parmesan cheese, egg whites, garlic salt, onion powder and black pepper until blended. Divide the potato mixture among 18 well-greased muffin cups, and press on the bottoms and up the sides to form cups.

Step 2: Bake the cups

Bake until edges are dark golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the side of each cup. Cool for five minutes before removing from the pans to a serving platter. Meanwhile, heat pulled pork according to package directions.

Editor’s Tip: If using your own leftover pulled pork, reheat it in a covered saucepan set over medium-low heat.

Step 3: Assemble the pulled pork cups

Sprinkle some of the shredded Colby Jack cheese into the bottom of each baked potato cup. Top the cheese with pulled pork, sour cream and crumbled bacon. Sprinkle each cup with minced chives, and serve the cups while warm.

Loaded Pulled Pork Cup Variations

• Try other cheeses: Give the cups more flavor with shredded sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
• Add coleslaw: Pulled pork is so delicious with crisp coleslaw. Add some to the tops of the loaded pulled pork cups.

How to Store Loaded Pulled Pork Cups

Save leftover loaded pulled pork cups in a resealable container. Cover them tightly and store in the fridge. If you can, store them without the sour cream topping; you can add it after reheating. The pulled pork cups last three to four days in the fridge.

How should you reheat loaded pulled pork cups?

Set the cold loaded pulled pork cups on a lined baking sheet and loosely drape a piece of foil over the tops. Heat them in a 350° oven until they’re warmed through.

Loaded Pulled Pork Cup Tips

What other meats can you use in loaded cups?

You can make loaded cups with any other pulled meats like barbecue pulled turkey, slow-cooker pulled chicken or slow-cooker chipotle pulled beef. Make meat-free cups using one of several vegetarian substitutes, such as jackfruit or tempeh. Season them with the same barbecue sauces you use for pulled meats.

Shredded meats with other flavor profiles, like Mississippi roast or shredded Buffalo chicken, are also fun to serve in these potato cups.

What can you serve with loaded pulled pork cups?

When making loaded pulled pork cups as an appetizer, set them out with other snack favorites like guacamole and chips, crudités and other cold finger foods. Or, make them as a light dinner with a fresh corn salad or a simple green salad served on the side.

Watch How to Make Loaded Pulled Pork Cups

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