These vegetarian BBQ jackfruit nachos are topped with shredded cheese, pickled jalapeños and cilantro are so delicious and made easily on a sheet pan!
Going into 2020 I decided I wanted to create more vegetarian and plant-based meals for my blog. That doesn’t mean I am cutting out meat. I just want to eat a little less of it and substitute a few plant-based meals here and there.
What is jackfruit?
Jackfruit is an exotic fruit grown in tropical parts of the world. When it’s ripe is supposedly tastes like a combination of fruits, such as apples, pineapples, and mangoes. When you get it in a can it isn’t ripe. Therefore, it has minimal flavor and can be substituted for meat.
I thought these BBQ jackfruit nachos would be a good place to start. I’ve heard about jackfruit for a while now. It looks exactly like pulled chicken when you shred it apart. I was intrigued. So, I grabbed a can from Trader Joe’s and experimented with this recipe.
All of the ingredients for this recipe can be found at Trader Joe’s!
Other recipes using Trader Joe’s Ingredients:
Sheet pan frozen sweet potato gnocchi dinner
Shrimp scampi cauliflower gnocchi
Dairy free “cheesy” baked cauliflower
Shrimp scampi cauliflower crust pizza
“Everything but the bagel” stuffed chicken
If you’re a Trader Joe’s fan like me also check out my cauliflower gnocchi 101 blog post. As well as my list of favorite products.
I drained the can of jackfruit and cut the core/hard pieces. They kind of reminded me of pineapple chunks. Then I used my hands and shredded it all apart. I first cooked up some onion and garlic in a skillet. Then I added the jackfruit with some seasonings. Then I added some BBQ sauce. It looked exactly like some pulled pork or chicken.
I had my husband try the jackfruit on the nachos and he couldn’t believe it wasn’t real meat! I feel like as long as you cook the jackfruit in a good sauce and seasonings, it takes over the taste of whatever you cook it with.
Needless to say, we’ll be eating lots of jackfruit from now on. It’s affordable, healthy and delicious! I’m thinking some sliders or tacos next?
BBQ Jackfruit Nachos
Ingredients
BBQ Jackfruit
1 (20 oz.) can of jackfruit, drained
1/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
salt and pepper
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
Nachos
8–9 oz. tortilla chips of choice
pickled jalapeños to taste, I used Trader Joe’s hot & sweet jalapeños
2 tbsp BBQ sauce for drizzling
1 cup shredded pepper-jack, or cheddar if you want a more mild cheese – I did a combo of both
3 tbsp cilantro, chopped
Guacamole or diced avocado
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a small baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Prepare the jackfruit by shredding the pieces with your hands. Remove any hard pieces/the core.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
Add onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes.
Add garlic and let cook for a minute, stirring around frequently.
Add jackfruit with salt, pepper, cumin and smoked paprika. Let cook for two minutes, tossing everything frequently.
Add BBQ sauce and let cook 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. You may need to add 2-3 tbsp water to keep it from sticking. Remove from heat when done cooking.
Spread tortilla chips evenly over prepared baking sheet.
Next evenly distribute the BBQ jackfruit over the chips.
Then add the cheese and pickled jalapeños.
Drizzle on BBQ sauce.
Bake for 6-9 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Add cilantro and guacamole or diced avocado and enjoy!
