Turn your leftover cranberry sauce into a delicious pulled pork Christmas sandwich that will become your new holiday favourite. This unique recipe combines the rich and savoury flavours of pulled pork with the sweet and tart cranberry sauce for a festive and satisfying meal. Follow my easy instructions to create a sandwich that will make your taste buds sing this holiday season.
Tired of the same old leftover cranberry sauce? Unlock the hidden potential of your leftover cranberry sauce by incorporating it into your pulled pork.
This unlikely pairing creates a symphony of flavours that will take your taste buds on a festive ride. Dive into the world of pulled pork with cranberry sauce and discover the delightful combination of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavours. Get ready to impress your guests with this unexpected twist.
Top Questions
What to do with leftover cranberry sauce?
What can I do with a jar of cranberry sauce?
Can you add liquid to pulled pork?
What can I add to a can of cranberry sauce?
What can I add to pulled pork to make it juicy?
In January I’m always looking for recipes that will help me use up my leftover cranberry sauce. I love pulled pork so making a leftover cranberry sauce pulled pork was a no-brainer! It’s easy to make and tastes wonderful, with juicy pork and tart cranberry sauce. Perfection!
Why you’ll love this Leftover Cranberry Sauce Pulled Pork recipe
- You can leave the pork shoulder in the slow cooker overnight, you don’t need to turn the meat or adjust the settings once it’s started.
- It uses up your leftover cranberry sauce from Christmas, I always end up having so much cranberry sauce left in January and I hate seeing it going to waste.
- The pulled pork joint can be frozen into portion pieces and then defrosted when you need it. It’s a great backup meal to have in the freezer.
Ingredients
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
PORK SHOULDER
A pork shoulder joint is perfect for slow cooking and roasting low in the oven, the fat drips through and makes the meat juicy. It stays moist when cooked in the stock and pulls apart easily once it’s fully cooked.
LEFTOVER CRANBERRY SAUCE
Any cranberry sauce will work for the cranberry sauce salsa to have with your leftover pulled pork. I used a jelly cranberry sauce for this recipe as that’s what I had leftover after Christmas. When making the cranberry salsa you mix this with the sweet chilli, lime and seasoning and it creates a lovely slightly spicy sauce.
Leftover cranberry sauce pork
Taking that leftover cranberry sauce from the back of your fridge and turning it into something extraordinary is a triumph in itself. Especially when it tastes as good as this leftover cranberry sauce pork.
It’s not just about the flavours, it’s also about the satisfaction of transforming a leftover jar of cranberry sauce into a star ingredient.
With the holidays in full swing, the last thing you want is for leftover cranberry sauce to go to waste. Instead, let’s repurpose it into a delightful addition to your pulled pork Christmas sandwich.
This unexpected combination of sweet and tangy cranberry sauce with tender, savoury pulled pork will deliver a taste sensation that will leave your taste buds tingling. Plus your family and friends will be very happy!
How to make Leftover Cranberry Sauce Pulled Pork – step by step
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Cooking the pulled pork in the air fryer or oven
This is my preferred way to cook pulled pork especially after Christmas when you really want something easy. Shop bought pulled pork will usually cook very quickly – normally about 20-30 minutes.
Cooking the slow cooker
Start by placing your pork shoulder joint in the slow cooker with your seasonings and herbs. Be sure to place it fat side facing up.
Cover the joint with either apple juice or cider and get ready to cook! Place the slow cooker on low for 10 hours.
Once the pork is done, lift it out of the cider and shred it with two forks or an electric whisk.
Making the leftover Cranberry Sauce Salsa
For the cranberry salsa, you’ll want to mix together the leftover cranberry sauce, sweet chilli, lime and salt and pepper together and then leave to one side until you’re ready to plate and serve.
To serve this leftover cranberry sauce recipe I layered the cranberry salsa onto a warmed baguette and added the pulled pork on top.
You can add some salad to your sandwich if you like, I think peppery rocket worked best with this recipe but red onion is good too.
leftover cranberry sauce recipes Top Tips
Freeze the pulled pork once you’ve cooked and pulled it, you can then have shredded cranberry pork every night of the week and only have to cook once.
If you love BBQ sauce you can add 2 tablespoons to the salsa to give it a smokier flavour.
Gather your favourite bread or buns, such as crusty rolls or soft brioche, to hold your mouthwatering creation together.
You could also experiment with adding some pickles or thinly sliced onions for an added kick of flavour.
Make this extra special by putting the sandwich in the toastie maker to make it a hot sandwich.
Pulled pork Christmas sandwich
Discover your own unique pulled pork Christmas sandwich, one that will become a new favourite tradition at your festive table.
The key is to keep the essence of the cranberry sauce and pulled pork while adding a touch of Christmas magic. Get ready to impress your guests with a sandwich that captures the spirit of the season in every bite.
Adding a little squeeze of orange juice to the cranberry sauce and really help boost the Christmas flavours in this epic Christmas sandwich.
Serving Suggestions
To serve your leftover cranberry sauce pulled pork I recommend layering the pulled pork with the cranberry sauce salsa in a toasted baguette. The crispy bread with the juicy pork and the spiced cranberry salsa is a perfect combo for picnic lunches.
You can also put your leftover pulled pork in a burger bun with salsa and maybe some mayo. I have tried the shredded cranberry pork in a wrap too with cranberry sauce salsa, and some veggies (bell peppers fried with onion worked wonderfully!).
Equipment
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Substitutions and Variations
BEER PULLED PORK
If you want to really level up your slow cooker pulled pork, try adding some beer to your cider before pouring over the pork joint. The tannins from the beer help to tenderise the pork & makes it taste wonderful!
You can cook this leftover cranberry sauce recipe in a slow cooker for 10 overnight or in the oven at low heat for about 6 hours.
Melting Cheese – Brie
The slow-cooked pulled pork and tangy cranberry sauce pair exquisitely with the rich creaminess of melted brie. The combination of flavours and textures in each bite will leave you very happy.
Fresh Apple
For those seeking a delightful contrast to the sweet cranberry sauce, consider adding crispy apple slices to your Christmas sandwich. The natural sweetness and crunch of the apple slices complement the savoury pulled pork and tangy cranberry sauce beautifully. It adds a refreshing element to this delicious meal.
Make it spicy
If you’re a fan of some heat, why not spice things up with a few slices of spicy jalapenos or Scotch bonnet chillies? The spicy kick of the chilli peppers adds a thrilling element to the sandwich, balancing out the sweetness of the cranberry sauce and the richness of the pork.
Make a Vegan Christmas sandwich
For those following a vegetarian or vegan diet, you can easily swap out the pulled pork with a plant-based alternative. Consider using jackfruit, a tropical fruit that has a pulled pork-like texture when cooked and seasoned. Combine it with your leftover cranberry sauce and other festive ingredients, and you’ll have a mouthwatering sandwich that even meat-eaters will love.
Storing / Making ahead of time options
The cranberry pulled pork can be frozen once cooked and pulled and then defrosts very quickly so you can use it not long after getting it out of the freezer. I cooked the pulled pork on Sunday and then used it throughout the week. I love meals that are easy to make and require minimal cleanup!
If you don’t want to freeze your leftover cranberry sauce pulled pork, it will store in the fridge for about 3 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Pulled Pork FAQS
What to do with leftover cranberry sauce?
With leftover cranberry sauce you could make a cranberry sauce cheesecake, drizzle the cranberry sauce over the top of your cheesecake once it’s set. You could make cranberry cocktail sausages or Cranberry sausage rolls.
What can I do with a jar of cranberry sauce?
With a jar of cranberry sauce, you can make a wonderful pulled pork wrap with a cranberry sauce salsa. It’s sweet, spicy and makes the perfect summer side dish.
Can you add liquid to pulled pork?
For pulled pork, I recommend using stock as your liquid to slow-cook the pork joint. It adds flavour and keeps the pulled pork nice and juicy. If you want to level up your pulled pork, add beer to the stock mix as this will add some hoppy flavour and help to tenderise the meat, beer pulled pork is so delicious.
What can I add to a can of cranberry sauce?
If you want to make your cranberry sauce sweeter to drizzle it onto a vanilla cheesecake then add some sugar and orange juice.
If you want to make your cranberry sauce slightly spicy for a sweet yet savoury dish then add some sweet chilli sauce and lime juice. It is perfect for being drizzled over chipolatas or cocktail sausages. Check out my cranberry cocktail sausages for more ideas.
What can I add to pulled pork to make it juicy?
You can add beer to your pulled pork to tenderise the meat, this mixed with the stock in your slow cooker will help make the pulled pork juicy. You’ll want to make sure the meat doesn’t dry out so keeping an eye on the liquid levels will help too.
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Recipe
Cranberry Sauce Pulled Pork – Slow Cooker and Oven Recipe
Ingredients
Pork from scratch (or you can use supermarket ready or leftover pulled pork and add the cranberry salsa)
- 1 kg (4 ⅓ cups) pork shoulder
- 1 litre (1 litre) cider (or apple juice)
- 200 ml (200 ml) water
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) dark brown sugar
Cranberry Salsa
- 4 tablespoons (4 tablespoons) cranberry sauce
- ½ juice (½ juice) lime
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) sweet chilli sauce
- 1 small pinch (1 small pinch) salt and pepper
- 400 g (2 ⅔ cups) tomatoes
- 1 (1) red onion
- 1 fresh (1 fresh) chilli (optional/ to taste)
- 1 small bunch (1 small bunch) fresh parsley
To serve
- 100 g rocket (or lettuce)
- 4 small baguettes (or your favourite bread/wrap)
Instructions
Cooking the pulled pork option 1 – shop bought and cooked in the oven or air fryer
- Follow the instructions on the packet. It usually takes about 30 minutes in the oven or 20-25 in the air fryer.
Cooking the pulled pork option 2 – Slow cooker or slow cooked in the oven
- Add the pork shoulder into the slow cooker pot fat side up and add the apple juice and water. (For the oven add the pork to an oven-safe pot that has a lid.) Sprinkle the pork with the sugar and spices.
- Put the slow cooker on low for 10 hours or overnight, or medium for 6 hours. Cook in the oven at 125ºC for 6 hours.
- When the pork is cooked drain off the liquid and shred the meat with two forks. Leave in the slow cooker to keep warm while you make the salsa.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Salsa
- Add 4 tablespoons of cranberry sauce, juice of half a lime, sweet chilli sauce and salt and pepper in a bowl. Give it a good mix.
- Thinly chop the tomatoes, parsley and red onion and stir them into the cranberry mixture. (Chop the fresh chilli and add it if you would like).
Serve the leftover cranberry sauce pulled pork
- Slice open the baguettes.
- Add a layer of fresh rocket, top with the pulled pork and then drizzle the cranberry salsa over the top. (optional – I added some extra fresh red onion to my taste).
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- You can slow-cook your own pork shoulder but to save time you can also add the cranberry salsa to leftover pulled pork or purchase a quicker-to-cook pulled pork from the supermarket.
- The salsa will last 1-2 days.
- Store in the fridge.
- You can use smooth, chunky or homemade cranberry sauce for this recipe.
- If you love BBQ sauce you can add 2 tablespoons to the salsa to give it a smokier flavour.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Cranberry and protein are such a great combination, and that’s true outside of the holidays. I really love this combo.
I couldn’t agree more!
This is exactly what I need this week. I am going to have a lot of pork leftover, so could use it even though it not the end of the year yet.
I love when that happens!
Love this recipe, and am looking forward to making it over the holidays! I love that it elevates pulled pork to a festive level. The sweetness works so well with the pork, too.
Festive food is the best I swear.
I love the idea of mixing some cranberry sauce in with the salsa to make a nice sweet-savory topping in this sandwich. Yum!
I hope you enjoy it.
I’ve got to save this recipe for this fall. I will definitely need it when the time comes.
I hope you enjoy it.
What a gorgeous combination this is! The sharpness of the cranberries cuts through the richness of the pork perfectly, we loved it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Forget the pork, I could eat that sauce as a full meal, it was so delicious!
I love that!
Fabulous combination of flavours. Using up cranberry sauce in the salsa was both genius and delicious.
I completely agree!
Oh my goodness, this was one epic sandwich! My husband is sandwich obsessed and absolutely loved this, he’ll be asking me to make it all the time now.
That sounds great.