Costco Smoked Pulled Pork - Cooking Instructions + Calories
Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork at Costco
I was walking through Costco the other day, and I noticed the bright blue packaging of this smoked pulled pork. I have never seen this label before, but I have had Costco smoked pulled pork before, so this really caught my eye.Â
It turns out, this is a new iteration and recipe of Costco Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork.
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What's New With The Costco Pulled Pork
There are a couple of significant differences between this new recipe of the Kirkland Signature smoked pulled pork and the previous version. This latest iteration uses a different recipe that includes more seasonings than the previous one, such as paprika, red pepper, and garlic powder.
The new recipe also does not use any added nitrates or nitrites, which is a great improvement. In exchange, though, it seems this new recipe isn’t hand-pulled like the previous version.Â
Not the most significant change, but you always like to see more human-produced work than machine produced.
Costco Cost Comparison
Costco sells the 2-pound package of smoked pulled pork for $13.99 or $7 per pound. At first glance, this is quite pricey and even an increase in price over the previous recipe of this pulled pork, but the dish still brings some value to the table.
When looking at price, yes, it’s hard to justify $7 for a store-bought pulled pork, but here are a few reasons why this Costco pulled pork is worth it.
Plain and simple, this meal will save you time and a lot of it. The meal is fully cooked and ready to go with 10 minutes of prep and cook time.Â
If you were to smoke a pork butt yourself, it would take you 8 hours or even more! Paying a few dollars premium per pound is worth the hours saved.
Smoked Pulled Pork Taste Test
If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll remember that I haven’t had much luck lately with any of the heat and eat meals from Costco.Â
I didn’t have high hopes for the pulled pork either, but thankfully, the pork was rather tasty, and I was pretty impressed with the quality and deliciousness of the food.
I’m really not a big fan of heating plastic, but that is required with this Kirkland Signature smoked pulled pork. The only cooking instructions they provide are to microwave the pork while it’s inside the bag or to boil the entire bag of smoked pulled pork.Â
I chose the microwave option, hoping it was the lesser of two evils.
Looking past the plastic, I found the pork to be quite delicious. The pork meat had a moderate amount of hickory smoke flavor, and the overall flavor and taste of the pulled pork was great.Â
I did think the pulled pork wasn’t as tender as it could have been. I had to shred some of the pork myself, and some pieces were just so tough that I had to use my hands instead of a fork.Â
It got to a point where I didn’t even both to shred some of the pieces at the end. They were still delicious, but I would have liked the meat to be a little more tender and shreddable.
Overall, I was impressed. It’s not perfect pulled pork, but it’s definitely not bad. It’s much better than I could have done and better than I’ve done at pulled pork in the past.Â
The 2 pounds of pulled pork lasted me about 3-4 meals, and while pricey, I could see myself purchasing this one again.
How to Cook Costco's Smoked Pulled Pork
Costco only lists two heating methods for this pulled pork because it’s already fully cooked and just needs to be reheated. The smoked pulled pork can be heated in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Microwave Oven
- Remove outer sleeve
- Puncture 4 small holes in the plastic pouch.
- Put the plastic pouch inside the tray and place it in the microwave.
- Heat on high for approximately 7 minutes or until hot.Â
- Let stand for 2 minutes. Cut open the pouch and pour into the tray. Stir contents. Serve and Enjoy.Â
- Reminder: All Microwave ovens vary. The times given are approximate.
Stovetop
- Place the pouch in boiling water for 12 to 15 minutes.Â
- Carefully remove the product from the water and towel dry.Â
- Open the bag and place the contents in a tray or suitable container.
Use Caution as Contents Are Hot
Both of these cooking options aren’t my favorite. I try to avoid the microwave as much as possible, and I am never a fan of boiling a plastic bag, no matter how safe they claim it to be, so I’m a bit disappointed here.
I personally went with the microwave option, and the pork came out juicy, tender, and delicious, but these just aren’t the ideal options for me.
Serving Suggestions
Costco shows a couple of serving suggestions for their smoked pulled pork, and they are:Â
- Smoked pulled pork or carnitas tacos
- Pulled pork salad
- Bbq pulled pork sandwiches.
A couple of other great serving ideas or side dishes for the pulled pork are:Â
- Mac and cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Baked Beans
- Pasta
- Sweet Potato Fries
Costco's Smoked Pulled Pork Nutritional Information and Calories
One serving of Costco pulled pork is 3 ounces and has 160 calories. The 160 calories come from 11 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbohydrates, and 16 grams of protein. The full nutritional information is listed below:
- Calories: 160
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 780mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 16g
This is a typical nutritional information label for pulled pork and pork in general. There is going to be a high amount of fat and protein, as expected, and the carbohydrates are kept to a bare minimum. This is a great option for those on a keto diet.
User Ratings and Reviews
Costco Smoked Pulled Pork - New Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tray Costco Smoked Pulled Pork
- 2 Med Avocados
Instructions
- Microwave Oven: Remove outer sleevePuncture 4 small holes in the plastic pouch.Put the plastic pouch inside the tray and place it in the microwave.Heat on high for approximately 7 minutes or until hot. Let stand for 2 minutes. Cut open the pouch and pour into the tray. Stir contents. Serve and Enjoy. Reminder: All Microwave ovens vary. The times given are approximate.
- StovetopPlace the pouch in boiling water for 12 to 15 minutes. Carefully remove the product from the water and towel dry. Open the bag and place the contents in a tray or suitable container.
- Serve with avocado
Nutrition
Greg Larkin is the founder and managing editor of Costco Food Database, the premiere site for honest takes on all things Costco food. A self-proclaimed Costco super-fan since childhood, Greg turned his obsession in a mission to properly rate and review all of Costco’s delicious buys. When he’s not busy navigating Costco aisles, you can find Greg smoking Kirkland Signature meats, meal prepping, or perfecting his homemade jerky recipes.