Pulled pork sandwiches are a classic barbecue staple. The tender, juicy pork is packed with flavor, but the right condiments can take it to the next level. So what are the best condiments to serve with pulled pork sandwiches? Here’s a look at some of the most popular options.
BBQ Sauce
BBQ sauce is hands down one of the most common condiments for pulled pork sandwiches. As the name suggests, barbecue sauce was made for barbecue. The sweet, tangy, and often smoky flavors complement the seasoning of the smoked pork. There are countless varieties of barbecue sauce to choose from. Regional styles like Kansas City, Memphis, Carolina, and Texas each have their own unique barbecue sauces. Some sauces have a tomato base while others use mustard. You can keep it simple with just barbecue sauce, or layer on multiple sauces for more complexity of flavor.
Types of BBQ Sauce
Here are some of the most popular types of barbecue sauce for pulled pork sandwiches:
- Kansas City – Sweet, smoky, and tangy tomato-based sauce
- Memphis – Tomato-based with spicy and vinegar notes
- Carolina – Vinegar-based with varying sweetness and spice
- Alabama White – Mayonnaise-based sauce without tomatoes
- Texas – Tomato-free sauce often with chili pepper flavor
- South Carolina Mustard – Mustard-based sauce flavored with vinegar, spices, and brown sugar
Cole Slaw
Creamy, tangy cole slaw is another quintessential topper for pulled pork sandwiches. The cooling slaw provides a crunchy texture contrast and helps cut through the richness of the pork. Traditional cole slaws are made from shredded cabbage tossed in a mayonnaise or vinegar-based dressing. Creative versions might include extra veggies like carrots or onion. The tang of the slaw pairs perfectly with sweet and smoky barbecue flavors.
Types of Cole Slaw
There are a few main varieties of cole slaw to consider:
- Creamy Mayo-Based – Shredded cabbage in a mayo, sour cream, or buttermilk dressing.
- Vinegar-Based – Shredded cabbage tossed in a vinaigrette of cider vinegar, oil, and seasonings.
- Asian – Cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and other veggies in a light rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing.
- Fruited – Dried fruits like cranberries or raisins added to cole slaw.
Pickles
For an extra hit of acidity and crunch, you can’t go wrong topping a pulled pork sandwich with pickles. The vinegary tanginess helps cut through the richness of the pork. Dill pickle chips or spears are classic choices with their salty, sour flavor. But bread and butter pickles, sweet gherkins, and hot and spicy options also pair well. Pickled vegetables like jalapeños, onions, or okra can provide texture and flavor too. A pile of pickles contributes acid, spice, and crunch to balance a barbecue sandwich.
Types of Pickles
Some favorite pickle choices for pulled pork include:
- Dill – Brined cucumbers with a sour, tangy flavor
- Bread & Butter – Sweet, often slightly spicy pickle slices
- Gherkin – Small, firm, brined cucumbers with a crunchy texture
- Jalapeño – Spicy sliced or whole pickled jalapeños
- Onion – Pickled red or white onion slices
- Okra – Brined and pickled whole okra pods
Hot Sauce
For folks who like things spicy, hot sauce is the perfect way to jazz up a pulled pork sandwich. A dash of hot sauce mixes with the pork juices and barbecue sauce to add an addicting heat. Vinegar-based hot sauces like Tabasco, Crystal, or Texas Pete work nicely. But you can also play with flavorful chili-based hot sauces like sriracha. Drizzle it on directly or add to a sauce blend for a touch of heat.
Popular Hot Sauces
Some great hot sauce options for pulled pork include:
- Tabasco – Classic red pepper vinegar hot sauce
- Frank’s RedHot – Aged red pepper and vinegar sauce
- Crystal – Similar to Tabasco but with more black pepper flavor
- Texas Pete – Robust vinegary hot sauce
- Sriracha – Thick chili and garlic flavored hot sauce
- Cholula – Chili pepper and vinegar blend
Onions
Raw white or red onions add a refreshing bite to pulled pork sandwiches. Thin slices or diced onions contribute a sharp, pungent flavor that cuts through the rich pork. Caramelized onions can also be nice, adding sweetness instead of just acidity. Quick pickled red onions are another tasty option, giving you tangy, spicy onions with just a short brine time. Onions add texture and flavor balance in each bite.
Ways to Add Onion
Some of the best ways to include onions are:
- Thin Sliced Raw – Sharp fresh onion flavor
- Diced Raw – More mild onion taste in small pieces
- Caramelized – Sweet, softened onions
- Pickled Red Onions – Tangy, acidic pickled onion slivers
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut might not seem like an obvious choice, but its acidic and pungent qualities make it an excellent pulled pork sandwich topping. The salty, sour tang of the fermented cabbage brightens up the rich pork. Choose refrigerated fresh sauerkraut over canned for the best flavor. If you want something spicier, try kimchi instead for its chili pepper kick. The crunchy cabbage texture also helps cut through the tender juicy pork.
Types of Sauerkraut and Kimchi
Look for these sauerkraut and kimchi varieties:
- Plain Sauerkraut – Traditional tangy fermented cabbage
- Caraway Sauerkraut – With caraway seeds for added earthy flavor
- Kimchi – Spicy and sour fermented cabbage and radish
Mustard
For folks who like a little spicy zip, mustard is a nice way to add flavor dimension to pulled pork sandwiches. Yellow mustard delivers a mild tanginess, while Dijon and stone ground mustards offer an extra kick. The subtle heat pairs well with the rich unctuousness of the pork. You can drizzle it directly on the meat, swirl it into slaws and sauce blends, or just add a schmear to your bun. Mustard’s acidity helps cut through the fat for great flavor balance.
Types of Mustard
Some top mustard choices include:
- Yellow – Classic American mustard with mild tang
- Dijon – Heartier French mustard with robust flavor
- Stone Ground – Coarser textured mustard with spicy notes
- Honey – Sweet honey mellows out mustard’s bite
- Creole – Spicy blend perfect for Southern BBQ
Mayonnaise
Slathering the bun with mayo might seem boring, but it can be the perfect subtle complement to let the pork shine. The rich creaminess helps balance the acidity of the other toppings. Duke’s and Kewpie mayonnaise offer bolder flavor than plain old Hellman’s if you want to kick it up. Flavored mayos like sriracha, chipotle, or garlic mix things up more. Just a smear of mayo on each bun provides moisture and richness.
Types of Mayonnaise
Basic mayo choices include:
- Regular – Hellman’s, Kraft
- Duke’s – Bolder, eggier flavor
- Kewpie – Ultra rich Japanese mayonnaise
- Olive Oil Mayo – Made with olive oil instead of vegetable oil
- Garlic Mayo – With pureed garlic
- Chipotle Mayo – With smoky chipotle peppers
- Sriracha Mayo – With chili and garlic hot sauce
Cheese
Melty cheese takes a pulled pork sandwich up a notch. Especially when the cheese gets all gooey and mixes with the barbecue sauce on the pork. Sharp cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss, and American classics all work nicely. Soft cheeses like queso fresco or gouda melt especially well. For an extra creamy factor stir in some cheese sauce or cheese whiz. The savoriness of the cheese balances the sweet and tangy flavors.
Melting Cheese Options
Some excellent melting cheeses for pulled pork include:
- Cheddar – Sharp, nutty flavor
- Pepper Jack – Spicy with jalapeños
- Swiss – Mild, slightly sweet
- American – Classic melting cheese
- Queso Fresco – Mild and creamy
- Gouda – Smooth and rich when melted
- Provolone – Ooey, gooey melty texture
- Velveeta – Ultra creamy cheese sauce
Relish
Relish adds a sweet and tangy crunch to pulled pork sandwiches. Both sweet pickle relish and chili pepper relish pair well with the barbecue flavors. The relish bits help cut through the unctuousness of the juicy pork. Mixing some into the slaw ramps up the flavor even more. Green or red tomato-based relishes also make a nice change from sweet pickle relish. A spoonful of relish on top keeps each bite interesting.
Types of Relish
Some top options for relish include:
- Sweet Pickle Relish – Classic sweet, sour, crunch
- Hot Chile Relish – Spicy chopped peppers
- Corn Relish – Sweet corn, bell peppers, onion
- Tomato Relish – Diced tomatoes in vinaigrette
- Pineapple Relish – Sweet, fruity, spicy
Jalapeños
For extra heat and crunch, sliced or chopped jalapeños can be the perfect pulled pork sandwich topping. You get fresh spicy flavor contrasting with the sweet tanginess of the barbecue sauce. Other hot peppers like serranos, habaneros, or banana peppers also work if you want more heat. Pickled jalapeños offer great acidic crunch too. Mix in diced raw jalapeños or jalapeño relish if you like things fiery.
Ways to Add Jalapeños
- Raw sliced
- Chopped
- Quick pickled
- Jalapeño relish
- Jalapeño jam
Conclusion
Pulled pork sandwiches are already packed with flavor, but the right condiments can take them to a whole new level. There are endless ways to customize with toppings like barbecue sauce, cole slaw, pickles, onions, hot sauce, cheese, relish, and more. The best options provide acidity, texture contrast, spice, and flavor balance. Start with the classics like barbecue sauce and cole slaw, then mix and match other crunchy, tangy, spicy, cooling, and creamy condiments. The possibilities are endless for customizing incredible pulled pork sandwiches.