You know when you always try to make your food from scratch, then some days you’re tired, you’ve had a long day, and you just want dinner in front of you like an hour ago?
Jack.Fruit.
The answer to your problems. Er…my problems.
Upton’s
I got to visit Upton’s Breakroom back in October for dinner. I ordered:
- the korean tacos
- the fried bacon mac and cheese (as amazing as it sounds)
- spicy pumpkin soup
- and I ate some of husband’s “Chicago Style” Italian sandwich
Holy cow, it was delicious. Everything on the menu: vegan. It was a dream come true.
As we were leaving, I noticed they had a display of the other products they have available in stores.
Upton’s has a whole line of seitan products, all on display. (You probably recognize the mustache guy. Also, I used their Chick Seitan in the Thanksgiving Casserole this year.)
ANNNNND, they had their new Jackfruit products on display. Whatttt??
I thought it sounded weird, and I promised myself I would research jackfruit and check it out later.
Soon after, I found the BBQ Jackfruit at my local Whole Foods, and grabbed a few boxes on sale. Wheee!
What the heck is jackfruit?
I’m glad you asked.
Turns out jackfruit trees are in the mulberry family…but one fruit can reach up to 100 pounds?! If you want to read more about them, NPR had this quick article with some jackfruit information.
You can buy jackfruit flavored and packaged like Upton’s.
You can get canned jackfruit at asian grocery stores and mix up your own BBQ Jackfruit using your favorite BBQ sauce, like Dana at Minimalist Baker does it here.
You can get jackfruit plain, organic, and dried in your next Thrive Market order. (Great snack.)
In short, it’s a delicious, fleshy fruit that absorbs the flavors you cook it with.
I’ve made Upton’s BBQ Jackfruit a few different ways, but my hands-down favorite is on a toasted pretzel roll.
And with toppings.
Lots of delicious, sloppy toppings.
Pretzel Buns
Pretzilla! Pretzel. Burger. Buns.
Stop everything.
Pretzilla makes VEGAN pretzel buns in different shapes: burger buns, mini burger buns (great for appetizer-sized sandwiches), and sausage buns.
And they are a perfect toasted and stuffed with BBQ Jackfruit. I found Pretzillas at Whole Foods.
Make sweet potato fries
If you have energy for putting a little more effort into this meal, a side of home-made sweet potato fries really makes this the best.
Cutting up some sweet potatoes, tossing them in some oil & spices, and baking them = worth it.
Garlic Aioli Dipping & Pouring Sauce
Apparently, mayonnaise and aioli are very similar.
So after reading some definitions of aioli, I mixed up some garlic aioli to dip the fries in.
I started with the vegan mayo I made the other week and went by taste slowly adding more garlic powder, lemon juice, and olive oil until it seemed perfect to me.
To pour on on the sandwich, I just added a splash of water to give it a little more movement, so it would drizzle down the sides and get all sloppy-good.
I sautéed up some onions and mushrooms for the bottom layer, tossed the jackfruit in a pan to heat, and finally, piled the sandwich high with sautéed homemade sauerkraut.
Load it up with garlic aioli and you’ve got a drool-worthy dinner in 10 minutes.
This sandwich is the proud recipient of the Carnivore-Stamp-of-Approval.
All carnivores I’ve fed it to rave about the amazing flavors, textures, and belly-feel (how it sits after you mow it down, of course).
Not a sponsored post
Also, I’d like to mention that this isn’t a sponsored post. No one paid me to write this post, compensated me for my time, or gave me free products.
I just find myself making this sandwich over and over for guests, for husbands, for probably Super Bowls, and for those days I’m just so tired and can’t even. And I thought it was a good one to share because you would probably really enjoy it too.
I’m grateful that companies like Upton’s and Pretzilla keep coming up with awesome, delicious products that make our collective vegan hearts sing.
- splash of olive oil
- 1 sweet onion, sliced thin
- 1 cup baby bella mushrooms, sliced thin
- 1 cup homemade sauerkraut
- 1 box of Upton's BBQ Jackfruit
- 1 package pretzel rolls
- 1 cup vegan mayo
- garlic powder, to taste
- fresh lemon juice, to taste
- splash of olive oil
- Heat up a splash of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté onions, stirring often, until onions are nice and see-through with little carmely edges, or however you like them.
- Add the mushrooms and continue stirring and sautéing until mushrooms release their moisture and break down.
- Pour onions and mushrooms into a bowl on the side.
- If you need, splash a little more olive oil in your hot pan.
- Add sauerkraut to pan and sauté for a few minutes to heat through.
- Pour sauerkraut into a separate bowl and move to the side.
- Add BBQ Jackfruit to pan and heat through.
- While Jackfruit is heating, cut the Pretzilla buns and toast them lightly in the toaster oven or regular oven.
- Put vegan mayo in a bowl
- Sprinkle in a few dashes of garlic powder, stir and taste
- Repeat with lemon juice and olive oil until you reach a flavor of your liking. Mine was really garlicky and pure heaven.
- Assemble sandwich, top with a tomato on a toothpick, and enjoy.

Made this tonight (replaced sauerkraut with arugula & watermelon radish) and both my husband & I were a little wary. I mean, how can this mysterious “jackfruit” come even close to being as good as bbq pork? But these sammies & their sweet potato counterparts were absolutely delicious. The hubby even had a second sandwich; it was that good. So for anyone out there concerned that the meat eaters in their life won’t like this, have no fear. Eat up. You will have no regrets! Thanks Kelly!!!
I’m so glad you guys got a chance to try it! Thank you for sending the picture too, it was so beautiful I thought you guys were at some fancy restaurant. Haha! Gorgeous presentation, you! 😀 So happy you gave it a taste.