The BBQ Blog

How do you feel about pulled pork? Do you find its savory goodness mouthwateringly delicious, yet are bored with barbecued sandwiches? Don’t despair! Pulled pork is a wonderfully versatile food, delicious in a variety of dishes. Try swapping it out for other meats in just about any recipe - here are a few to get you started.

• Let’s talk about those sandwiches. Who says a pulled pork sandwich should be limited to meat, sauce and a bun? With this recipe for Grilled Onion BBQ Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese, French bread, Vidalia onions and Gruyere cheese come together for a very grown-up spin on the traditional grilled cheese.

• Why not make it a taco instead? One of the easiest things to do with pulled pork is put it in a taco shell or tortilla. Try these Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa for the perfect combination of savory and sweet.

• Macaroni and Cheese with BBQ Pulled Pork puts a new spin on the ultimate comfort food. Homemade, with real milk and cheese, this dish is also an expression of love to warm your family members’ hearts as well as their bellies.

• Need some more inspiration? This list has you covered, with everything from pulled pork pizza to glorious pulled pork sweet potatoes, to fresh and healthy Cobb salad or fresh rolls with pulled pork, mango and avocado.

Pulled pork is delicious and versatile, and when it comes from Tony Roma’s, it’s also convenient. Our succulent, precooked barbecue is easy to prepare and can be on your table in about 20 minutes. To find Tony Roma’s at a grocery store near you, visit the store locator on our website. To connect with the online community, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our mouthwatering Pinterest boards.

Our take on a grilled cheese was featured in a roundup on Bustle in honor of National Grilled Cheese Day this weekend. And good news – April is National Grilled Cheese MONTH, so you still have time to enjoy a Grilled Onion BBQ Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese. Share your pictures and tag us on Twitter (@TonyRomaRibs) and use the hashtag #NationalGrilledCheeseDay. We’d love to see your creations!

Grilled Onion BBQ Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

Doubly grilled, the sweet taste of Vidalia onions lightly charred combined with sweet hickory pulled pork between two slices of toasted French bread is the grown-up grilled cheese of your dreams.

Ingredients:

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 slices French bread
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/3 cup Tony Roma’s sweet hickory BBQ pulled pork
• 1/4 cup onions, sliced
• 2 slices Gruyère cheese

Directions:

1. Place sliced onions into a 6-inch square piece of tin foil, drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Close foil around onion slices.
2. Set foil packets on lower rack of a gas grill or directly on top of hot coals on a charcoal grill. Cook for 30 to 35 minutes.
3. Butter both sides of 1 slice of French bread and place in a medium skillet set to medium-low heat.
4. Add one slice of cheese onto one piece of bread. Top with pulled pork, onions and another slice of cheese. Butter both sides of second slice of bread while waiting.
5. Cover the pan for 5 minutes to help melt the top layer of cheese. Take off the lid, top with second slice of bread and let cook until the bottom slice of bread is toasty and brown.
6. Gently flip the sandwich and cook until brown on the other side.
7. Cut in half and enjoy!

We’re taking over the Greater Phoenix area with our BBQ Adventure Truck! We’ll be serving our mouth watering, slow cooked, naturally hardwood smoked ribs and homemade pulled pork sliders to hungry visitors from January 28-30!

We’re even giving away tickets to the Celebrity Flag Football Challenge on Saturday January 31, and two VIP tickets to the VIP Players Bash on January 30th.

The Tony Roma’s #BBQAdventure Truck will visit the following locations over the next few days (All Times Arizona time):

• 1/28 - Wal Mart 4915 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 — 1:30-7:00PM
• 1/29 - SafeWay 4811 North 83rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85033 - 11:00AM - 6:30PM
• 1/30 - 201 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004- 11:30AM - 7:00PM

If you take a photo with the truck, be sure to use the hashtag #BBQAdventure and tag Tony Roma’s Ribs on Twitter to be entered into the drawing.

See you in Phoenix!!

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Tony Roma’s Pulled Pork
• 6-8 slices texas toast (any variety)
• 2 cups macaroni
• Quick Cheese Sauce *recipe follows

Quick mac-n-cheese sauce:

• 4 Tablespoons Butter (unsalted)
• 4 Tablespoons Flour
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• Black pepper to taste
• 1 to 2 dashes of hot sauce (optional)
• 16 oz Velveeta cheese (cubed)
• 1 cup fresh grated cheddar cheese

To make the mac-n-cheese, bring 4 to 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 2 cups macaroni and then simmer on medium-high heat until al dente (a little less than fully cooked). Drain pasta and immediately rinse with cold water and set side.

Pour milk into small saucepot on medium high, when milk starts to boil or becomes frothy turn heat down to low.

In the same pot used for the macaroni, melt butter and add flour on medium heat. Cook and whisk until mixture looks like a paste and is light tan in color. Slowly pour warm milk into pot while whisking, and continue until fully incorporated. Add Salt simmer and stir occasionally for another 15 minutes so flour can fully cook out.  Add cubed Velveeta and Cheddar Cheeses, stirring continuously until cheeses have melted and have fully incorporated.  Add pepper to taste and remove from heat. Mix in cooked macaroni.

Sandwich Build:

Preheat griddle to 325 degrees. Butter both sides of Texas Toast, place bread on griddle browning for 2 to 3 minutes and flip. Top toasted side with a 1/2 cup warm pulled pork, followed by 1Ž2 cup of prepared mac-n-cheese.

If you’d like, add some chopped bacon to really WOW your guests. (This is a great step for the kids!)

Serve with pickle chips or cole slaw.