How to Cook Jackfruit That’s Tender, Juicy & Full of Flavor
Ever wondered how to cook jackfruit so it actually tastes amazing—like pulled pork, but plant-based? You’re in the right place. When cooked the right way, jackfruit becomes tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, with those irresistible crispy edges you get from slow-cooked BBQ.
But when cooked wrong? It can taste bland, watery, or even bitter. The secret lies in the technique and the sauce. Follow this simple guide, and you’ll never go wrong.
What Makes Jackfruit Taste Like Meat?
Jackfruit is a tropical fruit known for its meaty texture when young and green. That’s why it’s loved by vegans and vegetarians—it shreds beautifully, just like pulled pork or chicken.
The trick is to infuse it with flavor and cook it just long enough to make it tender and crispy. Let’s dive into how to do that perfectly.
Step-by-Step: How to Cook Jackfruit
1. Prep the Jackfruit
Drain your young green jackfruit in brine (not the sweet one in syrup).
Place it in a bowl and use your hands or a fork to shred it into smaller, pulled-pork-like pieces.
This helps it soak up flavor evenly when you cook it.
2. Add Flavor (The Secret Step)
Heat a nonstick skillet, then add your shredded jackfruit with your favorite sauce.
If your sauce is thick (like BBQ, teriyaki, or sweet & sour), mix: 1 part sauce + 1 part water (or beer, cider, or fruit juice).
Let it simmer until the jackfruit absorbs the sauce completely. This step is what makes it juicy, flavorful, and delicious.
3.⃣ Crisp It Up
To get that perfect BBQ-style texture, transfer the jackfruit to an oiled baking sheet.
Bake at 450°F (232°C) for 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden and crispy.
This gives it that smoky, slightly chewy bite that tastes just like pulled pork.
What You’ll Need
Nonstick skillet
Sheet pan
Tongs or spatula
Avocado oil (or any high-heat oil)
Ingredients
2 (20 oz) cans Green Jackfruit in Brine
2 cups sauce of your choice (BBQ, teriyaki, curry, or sweet & sour)
A splash of water, beer, or juice to thin the sauce
Avocado oil for baking
Quick Recipe Recap
Prep Time: 5 min Cook Time: 30 min Total Time: 35 min Serves: 4
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 450°F.
2 Drain and shred the jackfruit.
3 Add jackfruit and sauce to a skillet and simmer until most of the liquid is gone.
4 Spread jackfruit on an oiled baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until crisp.
5 Serve it in tacos, sandwiches, rice bowls, or enjoy it straight from the pan!
Delicious Ways to Use Cooked Jackfruit
Once you’ve nailed how to cook jackfruit, the possibilities are endless:
It’s healthy, flavorful, and a great plant-based protein alternative that everyone loves — even meat-eaters!
Final Thoughts
Learning how to cook jackfruit isn’t hard—it just takes the right method. Once you do it right, you’ll have a go-to recipe that’s flavorful, satisfying, and surprisingly meaty.
So next time you’re craving pulled pork or BBQ sandwiches, skip the meat and try jackfruit instead. You’ll be amazed by how good it tastes!
