Description
A budget-friendly, crowd-pleasing game day meal featuring slow-cooked pulled pork served over fluffy baked potatoes with customizable toppings like cheese, beans, corn, and jalapeños.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large russet potatoes (about 3 lbs / 1.4 kg)
- 2–3 lbs pork shoulder (butt)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4–5 stalks green onions, chopped
- 1 cup Cool Whip or sour cream
- ½ cup real bacon bits
- 1–2 jalapeños, sliced
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn (canned or frozen)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place pork shoulder in a slow cooker. Pour BBQ sauce over it and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until fork-tender. Remove pork and shred using two forks, discarding large fat pieces.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Scrub potatoes clean and poke holes all over with a fork. Rub with butter and sprinkle with salt. Place directly on oven rack or on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake potatoes for 60-75 minutes until soft when squeezed gently. For faster cooking, microwave for 5 minutes first, then bake for 45 minutes.
- While potatoes bake, prepare toppings: drain and rinse black beans and corn, chop green onions, shred cheese, and slice jalapeños.
- Once potatoes are done, slice them open lengthwise and fluff the inside with a fork. Add a dollop of butter.
- Serve immediately with a toppings bar allowing guests to add pulled pork, beans, corn, cheese, jalapeños, green onions, and Cool Whip or sour cream.
Notes
Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting; shred block cheese yourself. Poke holes in potatoes to prevent bursting. Keep shredded pork warm in the slow cooker on the ‘warm’ setting. Leftovers store well in the fridge for 3-5 days depending on the component.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (low) or 4 hours (high) for pork; 60-75 minutes for potatoes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 potato with toppin
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 25
Keywords: game day food, budget recipes, pulled pork, baked potatoes, slow cooker, crowd pleaser, football snacks, easy dinner