The Best Rolls for Pulled Pork Sandwiches

The sandwich is possibly the best culinary invention in history. There are so many different options, from flavor profile to construction to cooking; endless possibilities and there is never enough time to try them all.

One of our all-time favorite sandwiches is pulled pork, but pulled pork isn’t just pulled pork anymore. There have been many debates surrounding pulled pork sandwiches, such as “Which flavor combinations are the best?”, “Which meat will make the best sandwich?”, however, with these questions came a much more important one;

What bread or buns are best for pulled pork sandwiches? For traditional pulled pork sandwiches, we recommend using brioche or kaiser buns, as they are soft and fluffy, making them perfect for biting into. If you’re making open-face pulled pork sandwiches, opt for ciabatta or sourdough, as these are thicker and chewier, so a single slice can hold a lot of pulled pork without falling apart or going mushy. 

In this article, we’ll talk about the different factors to consider when choosing a type of bread and why some work better than others for pulled pork sandwiches.

Classic Toppings for Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Before we look at which bread or buns are best for pulled pork sandwiches, it’s important to understand why this is such an important issue.

As with many classic dishes, the pulled pork sandwich has evolved into much more than just a sandwich. Global trends and the rise of fusion cuisine and artisan foods have made it possible to create culinary masterpieces from previously humble dishes.

In the last couple of years, there has been a massive increase in new flavor combinations being used outside of the world of fine dining. New ingredients have been used and old ingredients have been used in new ways.

When you change one thing in a classic dish, the other ingredients are affected as well.

For example, when you start using thicker pieces of pulled pork, you may not want to use a thick, chewy piece of bread to serve it with.

Another example is that as soon as you use spicier flavors for your pulled pork, you will want to go for a bun that is very easy to eat. The same is true when you use a very neutral-tasting pork filling, and you should use a tastier bread.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best type of bread or bun to create the best pulled pork sandwich.

Another big factor to consider is the function of the bread. If you are making a heavily sauced pork filling, you need to choose a bread that will soak up all the sauces without falling apart.

If you’re making an open-face pulled pork sandwich, you also need a thick bread that will hold the full weight of the filling without breaking down and mushy.

What kind of bread is used for pulled pork sandwiches?

As we briefly mentioned before, the type of bread or roll you need depends on the type of filling you use and how you plan to serve the sandwich.

In general, if you’re making a sandwich (not an open sandwich), you should choose a softer bun that can hold a good amount of filling and sauce without falling apart.

For open sandwiches, you’ll want to use a slice of toast with a lot of structure to support the weight of the filling.

We’re going to look at the best bread options to use for pulled pork sandwiches and the best way to use each one.

brioche buns

Brioche buns are a type of enriched bread that can be made in many different sizes.

They are usually the size of a medium hamburger bun, but can also be found in slider sizes (mini-hamburger buns).

They have a very buttery and sometimes semi-sweet flavor profile that will pair perfectly with any savory and meaty pulled pork stuffing.

These buns can also absorb a lot of juices or sauces from the filling and are very soft, making them very easy to handle and eat.

Brioche buns are best suited for pulled pork sandwiches such as

• Pulled pork sandwich with beer and bourbon
• BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cole Slaw

Brioche buns are arguably the best type of bread for a pulled pork sandwich, because of their neutral flavor and ease of use.

Kaiser rolls

For those who love crusty rolls, a Kaiser roll is the best you can go for.

The reason is that while it’s still crunchy on the outside, it’s nice and fluffy on the inside, making it easier to eat than a chewier bun.

Kaiser buns are also very neutral in flavor which makes them perfect for virtually any type of pulled pork stuffing flavor.

Due to their crispy exterior, these rolls will work great if you plan to stuff them. If you were to use a softer bun, like a Portuguese bun or a brioche bun, you wouldn’t be able to easily pick up and eat the sandwich, while this Kaiser bun gives you the structure you need.

Kaiser rolls are best used for sandwiches as

• The Best Honey Mustard BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado
• Pulled Pork Breakfast Sandwich with Bacon, Eggs, and Mature Cheddar Cheese

Ciabatta

Ciabatta is an Italian bread that usually comes in almost square loaves.

This is a very unique flavored bread that still has a lot of flavor and texture.

The outside (crust) of the loaf is very crunchy, while the inside is very chewy, but still airy and soft.

This makes a nice 1 - 1 ½ inch slice of ciabatta the perfect bread to use on any open-faced pulled pork sandwich. The slice must be toasted to give the piece of bread even more structure and to be able to support the weight of the filling.

However, a slice of unroasted ciabatta will hold up to a lot more sauce, but it could end up very soggy and mushy.

You can also use two slices of ciabatta to create a normal sandwich, but it might be hard to bite due to the chewing of the bread.

You can even use a whole ciabatta bread to make a huge pulled pork sandwich for fun party foods.

Ciabatta slices will be best suited for sandwiches like

• BBQ Pulled Pork Open Sandwich with Poached Eggs and Microgreens
• Pulled pork and fig jam open sandwich

sourdough

Sourdough bread is a very tasty and sour-tasting bread that is made by naturally fermenting a flour-based dough.

This bread makes great slices for open-face sandwiches, as they’re crisp, chewy, and just add a ton of flavor.

We again recommend toasting the 1 to 1 1/2-inch slices to help them hold more of the filling, although untoasted slices will also work and absorb a lot of liquid.

These slices can also be used to create a regular sandwich or you can use the whole bread to create a huge one.

Sourdough rolls are also becoming more and more popular, so feel free to give them a try and let us know what you think.

Sourdough slices are best used for sandwiches like

• Pulled Pork and Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cole Slaw and Microgreens

naans

Many people overlook flatbreads when it comes to sandwiches.

This is surprising, as flatbreads are some of the tastiest and most versatile breads you can get your hands on.

Naan bread, in particular, is a large oblong leavened bread that is widely used in Asian countries such as India and Indonesia.

Of course, it is now very popular and is often used in other kitchens as well.

The Naan can be used to create an open sandwich, pizza, wrap, or pulled pork sandwich. All these options from a single type of bread.

Naan is extremely easy to make and can be made simply with self-rising flour and yogurt.

You can also buy flavored naan that has tons of delicious garlic to add even more flavor to your pork. Naan bread can also be toasted to create a crispier version so you can use it for whatever you want.

Using naan bread for pulled pork is obviously not a traditional pulled pork sandwich, although a couple of years ago neither was the open version. We are here to push the limits and imagination to discover amazing culinary creations.

The naan will be best used for sandwiches like

• Naan stuffed with pulled pork with delicious cream cheese and sauce
• Naan stuffed with classic pulled pork and onion fries
• Chipotle Southwest Pulled Pork Open Naan Sandwich

Best Breads for Pulled Pork [Table]

Related question

Should I toast the bread for the pulled pork?

We believe that if you make a pulled pork sandwich with buns (i.e. a pulled pork burger), the buns should always be toasted.

Toasted buns prevent the crumb (the inside of the bun) from absorbing too much moisture from the sauce and juices from the filling. It also creates a nice soft crunch, and by toasting the buns in butter, it also adds additional richness and flavor.

Whether you make an open sandwich is totally up to your preferences. For one, if you use untoasted buns, they could absorb too much liquid depending on the filling and become mushy. They also may not be able to support the weight of the padding if they are lifted up.

On the other hand, a toasted bun could be hard to bite into and make the crumb very chewy, all together creating an unpleasant experience.

Examine the filling and the way you intend to eat the open sandwich (by hand or with cutlery) and make a decision; even if your decision didn’t work out, you can only learn from it and move on.