Tonight’s Dinner: Root beer pulled pork sandwiches recipe

Bottles of root beer are usually reserved for the kids and ice buckets during summer holidays. But instead of drinking the tasty beverage, why not turn it into a barbecue sauce?

Root beer is one of those classic carbonated drinks that’s delicious on a hot summer day, especially with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream in it. And since it always seems to bring a smile to the kiddies’ faces, it’s a guaranteed hit at summer holiday parties like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. But root beer doesn’t have to be reserved for drinking. It makes a pretty darn good barbecue sauce as well. Just mix a couple bottles with some Tabasco and your favorite barbecue sauce and you’ve got a tangy condiment that’s perfect over pulled pork, chicken or any other protein you might be cooking this holiday.

Root beer pulled pork sandwiches

Yields 8 sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 (2-3 pound) boneless pork loin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 purple onion sliced
• 1 yellow onion sliced
• 3 bottles of root beer, divided
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 6  garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• 8 hamburger buns

Directions:

1. Trim the fat from the pork loin and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet and brown pork on all sides, two to three minutes. Transfer pork to a four- or six-quart slow cooker. Add the onions, garlic and one bottle of root beer to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for four to five hours.
3. While the pork cooks, stir together the remaining root beer, barbecue sauce and Tabasco in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes until the sauce is reduced by half.
4. When the pork is ready, transfer to a cutting board and shred with a fork. Discard the cooking liquid but do not turn off the slow cooker.
5. Return the pork to the slow cooker and pour the root beer/barbecue sauce over the pork. Toss to coat. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
6. Using a slotted spoon, spoon the meat onto the hamburger buns and serve.

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Other barbecue recipes

Baked barbecue spareribs
Caesar barbecue kabobs
Chinese barbecued pork