BBQ Jackfruit Sliders (Printable)

Tender BBQ jackfruit layered with fresh coleslaw on soft slider buns for a satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Jackfruit Filling

01 - 2 cans (20 oz / 560 g each) young green jackfruit in brine or water, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 120 milliliters vegan barbecue sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

→ Sliders

12 - 6 small vegan slider buns
13 - 1 cup (80 grams) coleslaw mix, pre-shredded or homemade
14 - 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
15 - 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine coleslaw mix, vegan mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Using hands or two forks, shred jackfruit pieces, removing any tough cores or seeds.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Add shredded jackfruit, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and salt to the skillet. Stir well to evenly coat.
05 - Mix in tomato paste and vegan barbecue sauce. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Uncover and continue to cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to evaporate excess moisture and deepen flavors.
07 - Optionally toast slider buns. Spoon generous portions of jackfruit mixture onto each bun, then top with coleslaw.
08 - Serve immediately while warm for best texture and flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture is genuinely pulled-pork-like without any weird aftertaste or mushroom funk.
  • Total hands-on time is barely twenty minutes, making these perfect for weeknight dinners or when friends text that they're coming over.
  • Everyone eats them, whether they're vegan or not, which means you're not cooking two different meals.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining and rinsing the jackfruit—the brine adds a weird metallic taste if you leave it in.
  • The low, gentle simmer is crucial; if your heat is too high, the jackfruit breaks down to mush instead of staying in tender strands.
  • Your coleslaw mix will absorb the creamy dressing and become softer the longer it sits, which is actually perfect for making the sliders less messy if you're making them ahead.
03 -
  • If you want extra smokiness and you can find it, add a few drops of liquid smoke to the sauce—it sounds gimmicky but it genuinely deepens the flavor in a way that feels authentic.
  • Shredded oyster mushrooms work beautifully as a substitute for jackfruit if you can't find it or want to change things up; cook them the same way but watch them more carefully so they don't become mushy.
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