4 Pulled Pork Sandwich Toppings (That Aren’t Pickles Or Coleslaw)

There’s a reason why the classics are, well, the classics. Some combinations just work. Hot dogs and mustard. Chips and dip. Peanut butter and jelly. In a world where everyone’s telling us that we have to do things differently, particularly when it comes to food, there’s comfort in sticking to what you know. 

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But having said all this…I’m about to completely contradict myself. Yes, we stick to tried-and-tested combos for a reason, but a tweak here and there can bring your food to life, people! Sure, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but playfulness is a good thing. Which brings me to pulled pork sandwiches: A food that doesn’t need toppings, but benefits from them massively – and which can act as a canvas for some cheffy impulses, without turning it into something unrecognizable. Here are a few of my favorite toppings for this dish.

Mango Salsa

We’re still all hung up on swicy food, and applying the dual flavor profile to pulled pork can be a game-changer, particularly if the pork itself isn’t too sweet. Mango salsa can bring a much-needed freshness to pulled pork sandwiches, cutting through the savoriness, saltiness, and smokiness, and giving the slow-cooked meat a burst of life. The heat is also a nice touch, giving the sandwich a vigor you might not know it needed. 

Crispy Fried Onions

One of the main problems with pulled pork sandwiches is a lack of textural variety. The first few bites are great, in all their softness, and then the chew becomes juuust a bit too much. Crispy fried onions are an easy win here: They provide immediate contrast and play into the flavor profile of pulled pork effortlessly, and they don’t distract as much as something like potato chips would (as delicious as they are).

Kimchi

I’m an advocate for kimchi on everything, so it’s no surprise that I’m making a case for it on pulled pork – but honestly, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. Kimchi’s tangy, sour, funky notes provide brightness and layers to pulled pork that round it out considerably, without taking away from the main event. Kimchi has a liveliness to it that can stop pulled pork from feeling flat and heavy – and the spice intensifies the meat in a big way. 

Maple Syrup

If your pulled pork isn’t on the sweet side, adding another source of sweetness at the end can give it a serious boost – and that’s where maple syrup comes in. A drizzle onto your sandwich just before you serve it can act as a magnifying glass for all the other flavors. Instead of being lost in the mass of meat, it’ll remain its own flavor profile, complementing while also standing out. 

It might be worth taking this one with a pinch of salt, though (quite literally – you may need to balance out the sugariness to keep its sweet-savory profile): Pulled pork can often be cloying, so make sure you taste-test the meat before adding any additional sweet elements, lest you be left with something inedible.