Pulled Pork Loaded Fries with BBQ Sauce & Pickles

Leftover pulled pork? NO PROBLEM! I got you. These loaded fries with pulled pork start with a baked of crispy fries, smothered with melted cheese, pulled pork, pickles, and my favorite seasoning rub. One batch make enough to feed a small army (or a really hungry person), but plan on making a couple of extra batches because they go quickly!

A tray of waffle fries topped with shredded pulled pork, chopped pickles, red onions, melted cheese, and a drizzle of barbecue sauce. The fries are spread over a foil-lined baking sheet.

These loaded fries have a ton of flavors that work incredibly well together. When I come up with my recipes, I’m always looking for familiar flavors that are used in new ways.

This is the perfect example of that! This is a like a delicious pulled pork sandwich that’s on fries instead of a bun!

This is a simple recipe but before we can get going, we need pulled pork. It's the star of the show. For this recipe I used my Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork recipe. It’s an absolutely delicious way to cook pulled pork by first marinating the meat in Cherry Dr. Pepper overnight then seasoning, and smoking until falling-apart tender.

You'll want to do this well before you make the fries.

But that's just one option. You can make your pulled pork however you like! We're a big fan of this Hawaiian Punch Pulled Pork. For a more classic flavor profile, this Smoked Pulled Pork is perfection.

Why you've got to try these Loaded Fries with Pulled Pork

These pulled pork cheese fries are a finger-licking good option for the entire family
Great way to use up leftover pulled pork
Makes a great appetizer or snack for watching the game, tailgating, or backyard parties
Can be made in the oven, so no smoker required (recommended, but not required)
Ready in a flash!

Equipment

You can either make this recipe in the oven or smoker. You basically just need to bake the fries, heat up the pulled pork, then warm everything until the cheese melts.

The smoker adds extra smoky flavor you won't get in the oven, but I promise, these fries will turn out great even if you just the oven.

close up view of dr. pepper infused pork on a smoker to make pulled pork for loaded fries and more.

Ingredients

Pulled Pork - You can use any kind of leftover pulled pork, but I like to use this cherry pulled pork for extra flavor.
BBQ Sauce - Use whichever brand of barbecue sauce you prefer. This should be mixed with the leftover pork, although you can also drizzle some extra on top for garnish.
Dill Pickles - Pickles go great with pulled pork since they cut through the sweet, meaty flavor. They're a great topping for these fries.
Frozen Waffle Fries - Technically you can use any type of fries, but waffle fries have more surface area to hold the toppings and more crunch.
Cheddar cheese - This will melt and stretch similar to making regular nachos.
Cheez Whiz - For that classic nacho cheese sauce flavor.
Red Onion
BBQ Rub or seasoning - I love this Queen Bee seasoning and tend to use it on everything.

Watch on YouTube

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How to Make Pulled Pork Loaded Fries

Preheat the oven to the temperature recommended on the frozen fries.
Place fries on a sheet pan. Season and bake fries until crispy per the package instructions.
Remove from oven and add both cheeses, the onions, and pulled pork.
Bake at 350 for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted to your liking.
Remove from oven and finish with diced pickles on top.
Serve hot.

I like to cook the red onions with the cheeses and pulled pork. If you prefer a bit more of a bite, add them raw at the end.

Close-up of loaded fries topped with shredded cheese, pulled pork, and diced red onions, served on aluminum foil. The dish is set on a grill, showcasing its colorful and hearty toppings.

Storing Suggestions

Like regular nachos, these pulled pork fries are best enjoyed hot. The cheese will begin to congeal after a few minutes, and it can be tricky to crisp the fries up again once they're dressed.

Tips & Variations

Smoke or bake: Time, temperature and technique will be the same no matter whether you use an oven or a smoker for this. The only real difference is the smoke flavor. It’s hard to replicate that in this recipe, but if you really wanted to, you could add liquid smoke to your favorite BBQ Sauce to emulate some of the flavor. Go slow with the liquid smoke though – it’s strong!
Spice it up: If you prefer spicy cheesy fries, use a spicy BBQ sauce or add some hot sauce to your favorite sauce.

overhead view of a sheet pan with loaded fries topped with pulled pork, bbq sauce, pickles, red onion, and cheese.

How to Serve

When it’s time to eat, you have a few options for serving these loaded fries with pulled pork. They can be served for a meal, appetizer, or snack. When I’ve made this for family and friends, it’s been all of the above. This is a great recipe to put for guests and you won’t even have to worry about getting plates out.

This is a finger-licking, “off the board” sort of food that crowds don’t mind sharing. Be prepared to make more!

Just remember that you can make this recipe with any of your favorite toppings. If you have something on hand that sounds it would go well with the flavors, give it a try!

blue and white plate with loaded pulled pork fries with pickles, cheese, onion, and bbq sauce.

FAQs

Can you make pulled pork fries in an air fryer?

Technically, these loaded fries can be made in any oven, including an air fryer. You'll want to crisp up the frozen french fries first, then add the toppings to heat them up as well. If you're using an air fryer, it would be easiest to either use some sort of liner to make it easy to remove the fries to serve or cook the fries in the air fryer, spread them on a baking sheet, then heat everything else under a broiler.

What toppings go well with loaded pulled pork fries?

I like to keep it pretty classic with melted cheese, pickles, and red onion. You can also add a little sour cream, green onions, or even some crushed chips for extra crunch. Feel free to mix and match different flavors to find a new combination (and then leave a comment to tell me how it went).

Which fries are best for loaded fries?

Waffle fries are the best. Steak fries are a good option since they're wider, but regular French fries are way too skinny and can't hold onto much. You end up needing to eat them with a fork, which defeats the purpose of fries, if you ask me.

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