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6 Different Types of Buns for Catering BBQ

Do you want to start a BBQ business and are wondering what type of buns is best to use. If YES, here are 6 different types of buns for catering BBQ.

When it comes to the best bread for BBQ, deciding is easier said than done especially when you are serving pulled pork. This American delicacy originated from the southern United States. Note that a delicious, slow-cooked pork shoulder is cooked until it pulls apart. It is shredded and slow-roasted with barbecue sauce and topped with condiments.

Some pulled pork sandwich condiments chefs use include mustard, jalapeños, extra barbecue, and crispy onions, with a bun that complements and doesn’t overpower the pulled pork mixture.

In terms of choosing the perfect bun, it is somewhat a science. The perfect BBQ buns have to be dense enough to hold the ideal ratio of pulled pork without tearing. It is expected to be enough to fill you up, without consuming your weight in yeast.

The perfect bread will not mush moments after placing the pork on the bun. Most buns will not meet all these requirements.

When deciding what bun you should use for your barbecue pulled pork sandwich, you want to think of a few factors. Most people will cook the pulled pork in a slow cooker and then lather the pork in BBQ sauce. Nonetheless, here are the best buns for catering BBQ.

6 Different Types of Buns for Catering BBQ

  1. Brioche Buns

Brioche buns are a type of enriched bread that can be made in different sizes. They are more or less the size of an average hamburger bun, but can also be found in slider sizes (mini-hamburger buns). They have a very buttery and sometimes semi-sweet flavor profile which will go perfect with any salty and meaty pulled pork filling.

These buns can also absorb a lot of juices or sauces of the filling and are very soft, making it very easy to handle and eat. Brioche buns will be best used for BBQ like:

  • Beer and bourbon pulled pork sandwich
  • Classic barbeque and coleslaw pulled pork sandwich

Brioche buns are indeed the best type of bread to use for a pulled pork sandwich due to its neutral flavor and usability factor.

  1. Potato buns

Sometimes you don’t want the bread to be the star of the show. Potato buns are nice and light and sweet and marry well with pulled pork. And just like a hamburger bun but sweeter, the potato bun is soft inside and out.

This will make for a messier pulled pork sandwich but the softness of the bread and the saucy juiciness of the pulled pork go together and become one. Some chefs prefer to add in some crunch with pickles or coleslaw so that it isn’t too mushy. Keeping it simple with a nice soft potato bun works great too.

  1. Kaiser Rolls

For people who enjoy and love crispy rolls, a Kaiser roll is the best one you can choose. This is because while it is still crispy on the outside, it is nice and fluffy on the inside, which still makes it easier to eat than a chewier roll. Kaiser rolls also have a very neutral flavor which makes them perfect for virtually any type of pulled pork filling flavor.

Owing to its crispy exterior, these rolls will work great if you are planning on stuffing them! If you were to use a softer roll, like a Portuguese roll or a brioche roll, you wouldn’t be able to grab and eat the sandwich with ease, while this Kaiser roll provides you the structure that you need.

  1. Naan

So many people tend to overlook flatbreads when it comes to sandwiches. This is surprising as flatbreads are some of the tastiest and most versatile breads you could possibly get. Naan bread is large oblong leavened bread that is used a lot in Asian countries such as India and Indonesia. Indeed, it is now very popular and often used in other cuisines as well.

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

Naan is extremely easy to make and can be made by just using self-raising flour and yogurt. Also, note that you can buy flavored naan that has tons of delicious garlic to add even more flavor to your pork. The naan bread can also be toasted to create a crispier version so you can use it for whatever you want.

  1. Sourdough

Sourdough bread is a very flavourful and sour-tasting bread that is made by naturally fermenting a flour-based batter. Note that this bread makes excellent open-faced sandwich slices as they are crispy, chewy and will only add a ton of flavor.

Experts suggest toasting 1 – 1 ½ inch slices to hold more of the filling; however untoasted slices will also work and will absorb a lot of liquids.

These slices can also be used to create a normal sandwich or you can use the whole loaf to create one massive one. Sourdough buns are also becoming more and more popular, so feel free to give them a try and let us know what you think!

  1. Ciabatta

Ciabatta is an Italian bread that comes on almost square-like loaves. This is a very unique tasting loaf that still has a lot of flavor and texture. The outside (crust) of the loaf is very crispy while the inside is very chewy but still airy and soft.

This makes a nice 1 – 1 ½ inch ciabatta slice the ideal bread to use for any open-faced pulled pork sandwich. The slice should be toasted to give even more structure to the piece of bread and be able to hold the weight of the filling. An untoasted slice of ciabatta will be able to hold much more sauce but might become very soggy and mush.

You could also use two ciabatta slices to create a normal sandwich, however, it might be difficult to bite through due to the chewiness of the bread. You could even use a whole ciabatta loaf to make a massive pulled pork sandwich for fun party meals. Ciabatta slices will be best used for sandwiches like:

  • Barbeque open-faced pulled pork sandwich with poached eggs and microgreens
  • Pulled pork and fig jam open-faced sandwich

Making use of a good sturdy bun is key to a great pulled pork sandwich. Having a tender crust whether it be crusty or tough helps hold together the sandwich well and the soft inside allows for the flavors to soak up in the bread and expand the flavors.