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Monster BBQ Pulled Pork Bacon Cheese Loaded Skillet

Imagine sinking your fork into tender, smoky pulled pork, coated in tangy BBQ sauce, mingled with sweet bell peppers and onions, all topped with a generous blanket of gooey, melted cheese and crispy bacon bits. This incredibly easy and fast skillet dish is pure bliss, perfect for weeknights or feeding a crowd.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Main Course, Party Food
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Skillet
  • 2 lbs cooked and shredded pulled pork leftovers from a slow cooker pulled pork are ideal, or grab some pre-cooked from your local deli or butcher shop for ultimate ease
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce your favorite
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
For Garnish
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Grab your largest skillet and place it over medium heat on your stovetop. Cast iron works wonderfully here if you have one, holding that heat just right.
  2. Step 2: Toss your diced onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper into the hot skillet. Let them sizzle and soften for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want them tender-crisp, not mushy.
  3. Step 3: Now, add your cooked and shredded pulled pork to the skillet. Pour in that glorious BBQ sauce. Stir everything together really well, making sure every strand of pork is coated in that delicious sauce. Let it warm through for another 5 minutes, allowing those flavors to meld beautifully.
  4. Step 4: Fold in your crispy crumbled bacon, along with the garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Give it another good stir to evenly distribute all that wonderful flavor. I always taste a little bit here to see if it needs an extra pinch of anything.
  5. Step 5: Generously sprinkle both the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese evenly over the entire skillet mixture. Don't be shy!
  6. Step 6: Cover your skillet with a lid (or foil if you don't have a lid that fits) and reduce the heat to low. Let the cheese work its magic for about 5 minutes, or until it's perfectly melted, gooey, and bubbly. This is the moment when all those individual ingredients transform into one incredible dish.
  7. Step 7: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle those vibrant chopped green onions all over the top. Serve it hot, right out of the skillet for that ultimate cozy, family-style meal. You can scoop it onto plates, or if you’re feeling adventurous, let everyone dig in directly with forks – just make sure to warn them the skillet is hot!

Notes

Substitutions & Additions: No pulled pork? Cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!), ground beef, or even plant-based meat crumbles can stand in. Experiment with different BBQ sauce flavors like honey BBQ, spicy BBQ, Carolina gold, or even a homemade sauce. For veggies, add corn, black beans (drained and rinsed), diced jalapeños for a kick, or sautéed mushrooms. Any good melting cheese will do, such as Pepper Jack for heat, Monterey Jack, Colby, or a Mexican blend. Beyond green onions, consider a dollop of sour cream, a drizzle of ranch dressing, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, or crispy fried onions as toppings. To increase heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper with the other spices, or a dash of hot sauce with the BBQ sauce.
Tips for Success: The 'fast' factor relies on using pre-cooked pulled pork. If making your own, do it ahead of time. Don't overcook vegetables; aim for tender-crisp bell peppers by sautéing for about 5 minutes. Covering the skillet traps heat for perfectly melted, gooey cheese. If cheese isn't melting well, you can pop the oven-safe skillet under the broiler for a minute or two (watch closely!). Always taste and adjust seasoning, as BBQ sauces vary in sweetness and saltiness.
Storage & Reheating: Once cooled, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. It will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For best results, reheat portions in a microwave or gently warm in a skillet over low heat until heated through. You can add a tiny splash of extra BBQ sauce or a sprinkle of cheese to freshen it up. Freezing the assembled skillet is generally not recommended due to texture changes in vegetables and cheese upon thawing, but plain BBQ pulled pork freezes wonderfully on its own.
FAQs: You can use different types of cooked meat like shredded chicken, ground beef, or turkey. Serve this skillet on its own, with crusty bread for dipping, over rice, on top of baked potatoes, or alongside a simple green salad or cream cheese corn casserole. This recipe is not inherently spicy; spiciness depends on your BBQ sauce. You can always add red pepper flakes or a hotter BBQ sauce for more heat. This recipe can be made in the oven: after combining all ingredients in an oven-safe skillet, bake uncovered at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.