Southwestern Shredded Pork Salad

Southwestern Pulled Pork Salad

There are two glorious things about making pulled pork: First, a crock pot does all the work for you, so it’s really a no-fuss meal, and second, one slow cooker full is enough to last you well over a week! (Unless you have ravenous roommates who believe that anything that smells good is instantly “community” food and fair game to devour. Then you’ve got about 12 hours to enjoy it.)

Pulled pork sandwiches slathered in BBQ sauce never get old for me, but this time, I decided I might as well explore the many other delicious ways you can prepare this dish.

Just like that, my new favorite salad was invented.

Utensils required: crock pot (for preparing pulled pork), knife, cutting board, microwave, microwave-safe dish, bowl for serving

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • Pulled pork (about 1/4 pound per person is fine, but you can just eyeball it; Click here to learn how to make it)
  • 3-4 tablespoons BBQ sauce (depending on how much you like)
  • 1/2 can black beans
  • 8-10 baby carrots (or two full-sized ones)
  • 1/2 bag of prewashed romaine lettuce
  • 8-10 cherry tomatoes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons feta cheese

Time commitment: 5-7 minutes

Steps:

1. If you haven’t already done so, click this link to learn how to make pulled pork. (Just to warn you, this step takes a few hours, so I recommend tossing everything in the crock pot the night before!) However, if you’re working with leftovers like I was, place the pulled pork in a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Next, drain most of the excess juices from the black beans and add them in with the pulled pork. Then, stir in the BBQ sauce, using as much (or as little) as you like. Pop that into the microwave for 45 seconds, then take it out, stir thoroughly, and put it in for another 30 seconds. Repeat this process until it’s thoroughly heated.

3. While the pork and beans heat, wash all of the vegetables before chopping up the carrots.

4. Shred the lettuce if it didn’t come prepackaged that way (I like shortcuts, so I go for the premade stuff!). Then pour it into the serving bowl. Add it in the carrots and tomatoes, then top it with the pulled pork and beans.

5. Sprinkle on the feta for some added flavor, and bam! It’s a fiesta in your mouth. (Yeah, I can’t believe I just typed something so cheesy either, but it IS delicious.)