Tag: comfort food

Gluten Free Chicken Orzo Casserole

Look at the beautiful colors in this casserole!  Would you believe it’s gluten free?  It absolutely is!  I love that we can enjoy popular orzo dishes like this one, made with gluten free Orzo pasta from DeLallo.

But what I especially love about this recipe is that it uses healthy fresh ingredients, like boneless, skinless chicken thighs, peeled and seeded butternut squash, and bagged baby spinach.  The prep work is a snap!

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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups butternut squash, cut into small cubes
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 5
  • 1 cup uncooked gluten free Orzo pasta, (I used DeLallo)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 5 oz. bag baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup white wine, divided use
  • 2 cups gluten free chicken broth, divided use
  • 2 tbsp. heavy cream
  • olive oil
  • Tuscan seasoning (I like this one)
  • paprika
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • cooking spray
  • fresh Italian parsley for garnish

Preparation:

Cut the butternut squash into small cubes.  Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.  Line a baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray.  Spread the squash cubes in an even layer, bake at 425º for 20 minutes, then set aside to cool.

Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and paprika.

Heat a nonstick skillet with olive oil and add the chicken.  Cook 7 minutes per side, turning once.  Toward the end of cooking add 1/4 cup white wine to the pan and cook several minutes more until mostly evaporated.

Transfer the chicken to a plate and wipe the skillet clean.  Set up a pot of salted water for the gluten free orzo and cook according to package directions.

In the skillet, add 1 tbsp. of olive oil, the minced garlic and pinch of red pepper flakes.  Cook just until fragrant (30 seconds) then add 1/4 cup of white wine.  Add the baby spinach and simmer until wilted.  (It looks like a lot of spinach, but don’t be afraid to add it all, it will cook down to nothing!)

Add the roasted butternut squash back to the pan.

When cooked, drain and rinse the orzo under warm water to remove some of the starch.  Use a fork to break up the orzo if it seems to be sticking together.  Gradually add it to the skillet with the spinach mixture.  Add a pinch of salt, or to taste.

Stir in 1 cup gluten free chicken broth and 2 tbsp. heavy cream.

Simmer several minutes to reduce the liquid slightly, then transfer the mixture to a casserole dish that has been coated with cooking spray.  Arrange the chicken thighs in the casserole, cover with foil and bake 20 minutes at 350º.

Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh Italian parsley.

Notes ♪♫ Some recipes add the uncooked orzo pasta right into a casserole, but for gluten free pasta I always recommend cooking it separately.  Since some gluten free pasta can be quite gummy, you are able to rinse off some of the starch before adding to your dish.

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Gluten Free Tuscan Kale Soup

Tuscan Kale Soup, also called Zuppa Toscana is a restaurant favorite.  Made with potatoes, sausage, cannellini beans and (of course) kale, it is a hearty soup that can be a meal in itself.  Most of the ingredients are naturally gluten free, just watch labels on sausage, broth and seasonings.

The recipe makes 6-8 cup size servings or 4 dinner bowl size servings.

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Ingredients:

  • 2 strips of bacon
  • 1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 oz. gluten free Italian sausage (I used Premio)
  • 3.5 cups gluten free chicken broth
  • 1 tsp. Tuscan seasoning
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 medium russet potato, peeled and diced
  • 1 bunch of Tuscan kale, ribs and stems removed
  • 15.5 oz. can cannellini beans
  • 2 tbsp. heavy cream
  • grated cheese, for serving

Preparation:

Heat a 4 qt. soup pot on medium low.  Cook the bacon and drain on paper towels.  Crumble and set aside for serving.

Next, remove sausage from casings and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula.  Drain on paper towels.

Remove all but 1 tbsp. of fat from the pot.  Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes.  Add the garlic, diced potatoes, chicken broth and seasoning.  Simmer 15 minutes.

Drain and rinse the beans.  Add the beans and sausage back to the pot and simmer 5 minutes.

Rinse the kale thoroughly, remove ribs and stems, and tear into small pieces.  Add kale to the pot and simmer 15 minutes more (don’t worry, it will cook down).

Stir the cream in just before serving.  You can leave the soup just like this, or partially puree it with a stick blender.

Ladle into bowls, garnish with crumbled bacon and grated cheese.

Notes ♪♫ Gluten free sausage is widely available today, but it is usually smoked or fully cooked.  When I spotted this fresh Italian sausage from Premio at the market, I knew exactly what I was going to make with it.  Here is a link to the sausage I used in this recipe.  Premio Sweet Italian Sausage 

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Skillet Farfalle with Diced Ham

I love easy skillet dinners like this one for busy weeknights!  You can make the whole meal beginning to end in about 30 minutes.  Honestly, if you prep the veggies the night before it can be ready in less time than that.  It’s a great way to use leftover ham, or you can purchase a ham steak which is what I did here.  Don’t forget those little finishing touches that can make a meal special, in this case it’s a sprinkle of toasted Pignoli (pine nuts), a favorite of mine!

3-4 Servings

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Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. boneless ham steak, cut into small cubes
  • 4 oz. gluten free pasta
  • 1 cup sweet onion, diced
  • 1 tbsp. garlic, minced
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp. gluten free Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. pignoli (pine nuts), toasted
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • fresh Italian parsley, for garnish
  • grated Parmesan, for serving

Preparation:

Toast the pignoli until lightly browned and fragrant.  I like to use a small saucepan, so they don’t jump all over the place.  Set aside for garnish.

Cook the pasta to 1 minute less than package directions, drain and set aside.  While the pasta cooks, heat a large, nonstick skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil and cook the ham 3 minutes.  Remove and set aside.

Add a little more olive oil and cook the onions until just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.  Add the garlic and peas, cook 2 minutes more stirring frequently.  Season with salt and pepper.

Add the tomatoes with their liquid, toss well to combine and cook until liquid almost evaporates.  If the pan is too dry add a ladle of pasta water.  Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Add back the ham.

Next add back the drained pasta and toss well.  Drizzle with olive oil, stir and toss to finish cooking the pasta, 1 minute more.  Sprinkle grated cheese.

Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with parsley and toasted pignoli, and serve with grated cheese.

Notes ♪♫ I used Jovial gluten free farfalle (bowtie pasta) in this recipe.  One of my favorites, it has great taste and chew.  The Smithfield ham steak was labeled gluten free.  Always check ingredient labels for hidden gluten, especially in processed foods and seasoning blends.

Originally published 5/16/2020        Updated 12/10/2022

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Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Turkey Meatballs

This rustic pasta dinner is perfect for a Sunday afternoon.  Making the two-color gnocchi was a fun experiment as well as a learning experience.  I found the whole process relaxing and enjoyable.

I have made potato gnocchi before, using Hannah (white) Sweet Potatoes, and they were fabulous.  My idea was to make a half batch with white sweet potato and replicate another half batch with traditional orange sweet potato.

The biggest takeaway from this was that not all potatoes are created equal in terms of moisture content.  The orange potato held many times more moisture than the white sweet potato.  So, the amount of flour needed for each batch was quite different.  In the end, I lost track of the measurements and just gradually incorporated more flour until the right consistency was achieved.

Note that this was a very small batch.  Enough for 2 servings with just a bit leftover.  You can definitely double or triple the recipe!  The flour is a 2.5/1 blend of cassava flour/arrowroot flour.  You can mix up the flour ahead of time, so you have enough for rolling and dusting.  I finished the gnocchi in a simple browned butter sage sauce and served with turkey meatballs.

Dinner for 2+ (depending on your appetite!)

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Ingredients:

For the Gnocchi

For the Meatballs

For the Sauce

  • 1/2 stick (1/4 lb.) butter
  • 8 fresh sage leaves

Preparation:

I peeled and steamed the potatoes the day before.  I weighed 2.5 oz. of each potato and set aside the rest for another meal.

The next day I began by mixing up a batch of 1-1/4 cups cassava flour + 1/2 cup arrowroot starch.  I warmed the potato for 30 seconds in the microwave and placed in 2 separate bowls, mashing with a fork.

I whisked the egg, salt, xanthan gum, then added 2.5 tbsp. of the flour mixture.  I then divided it between the two bowls of potato.

I gradually added more flour to each bowl and worked it in until I could roll the dough into a ball.  I covered each in plastic wrap and rested 15 minutes.

I floured a cutting board and started with the white sweet potato, gradually incorporating more flour until I could roll the dough into a long smooth rope, like this.

I used a bench knife to cut the rope into 1/2″ pieces.

I repeated the same process with the orange sweet potato, and here is where I lost track of the flour measurements.  The orange sweet potato dough had absorbed all of the flour and was still very wet.  It required quite a bit more flour to achieve the right consistency.  All in all, I would say I used 3-4 times more flour for the orange potato dough as was needed for the white potato.

For the final step I rolled each piece of dough over a floured gnocchi board.

I placed the formed gnocchi on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and dusted with flour.

***Note: I recommend refrigerating for at least 1 hour before cooking for firmer texture***

Here’s how to finish the meal.

Combine all of the meatball ingredients and form 6-7 meatballs.  Line a baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray.

Place the meatballs on the baking sheet, and broil 5 minutes per side on high.  Keep warm.

Boil salted water for the pasta.  In a nonstick skillet melt the butter, and as soon as the butter begins to foam, add the sage leaves.  When the white solids begin to separate, use a slotted spoon or spatula to push them to one side of the pan, skimming off as much as possible.  Remove from the heat when the butter is just beginning to turn brown.

With water at a rolling boil, add the gnocchi and cook for 3 minutes.  They will float to the top as they finish cooking.

Remove the cooked gnocchi with a slotted spoon and add to the browned butter.  Cook for 1-2 minutes longer.

Transfer to a serving platter along with the meatballs and drizzle with any remaining browned butter sauce.  Garnish with fresh sage.

Notes ♪♫ I love making pasta from scratch!  Check out this earlier recipe, for Gluten Free Potato Gnocchi with Cassava Flour that was the springboard for this meal.  You may also like this Trofie Pasta, or this one for Gluten Free Garganelli, one of my first posts.  Thanks for stopping by today and I welcome all your comments!

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Gluten Free Mushroom Soup

Homemade Mushroom Soup is always my first soup of the season.  An annual tradition signaling the end of summer, I make a pot right after Labor Day as our thoughts turn to cooler weather and comfort food.

This soup is the foundation for so many of my favorite winter stews and casseroles.  I keep some on hand in my freezer pantry, for those recipes that call for “a can of”.

Turmeric and saffron give this soup its beautiful golden color!  The recipe is so fast and easy, you can make a batch in under an hour.  I use a combination of mushrooms, such as white button, cremini and shitake. 

You can finish with cream for a Cream of Mushroom soup that is better than any canned.  Puree the soup or leave it chunky, your choice.  It freezes beautifully so make some now to have ready for the holidays!

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Ingredients: 

 Preparation: 

Whether you slice the mushrooms yourself or buy them pre-sliced, you will need to give them a good rinse.

Melt butter in a Dutch oven or 4-Quart soup pot.  Sauté the onions and celery in the butter until translucent.

Add all the mushrooms to the pot. 

Continue cooking over medium heat until the mushrooms release their liquid.

Have the chicken broth ready and stir in the flour.  It will immediately begin to thicken. 

Slowly stream in the chicken broth, stirring constantly so the flour doesn’t clump.  Add the salt, pepper, turmeric and saffron. 

Simmer 15 minutes then remove from heat.  Soup can be prepared ahead and frozen up to this point.

Here it is after cooling down for an hour or so.

I ladle the soup into freezer containers, about 1-1/2 cups each.

Notes ♪♫ If you plan to freeze the soup, I recommend not adding cream at this point.  For Cream of Mushroom Soup, drizzle in cream or half and half just before serving.

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Gluten Free BBQ Beef Short Ribs

Who doesn’t love beef short ribs!  Yes, they are pricey these days, but when they go on sale it’s time for a BBQ dinner.  In this very easy recipe, boneless beef short ribs are baked slowly at a low temperature and basted with a simple homemade barbecue sauce that will rival your favorite store brand!  It’s a meal that you can enjoy any time of year and with little effort.

The beef will shrink considerably during cooking, so start with twice as much as you think you need.  For two people I suggest 1.5 lbs. of boneless beef short ribs.  It may look like a lot to begin with, but there will be no leftovers 😉

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs. boneless beef short ribs
  • salt and pepper
  • cooking spray
  • 1 batch homemade Gluten Free BBQ Sauce
  • fresh chives for garnish

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 300º.  Cut each short rib into 3 pieces and place in a square baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Whisk together the BBQ Sauce ingredients or use your favorite store brand (I won’t tell).  Spoon 3 tbsp. of the sauce over the ribs.

Turn them over and spoon another 3-tbsp. sauce to coat.  Cover tightly with foil.

Roast for 2 hours at 300º, then use tongs to carefully remove the foil.  If there is too much liquid, you can remove some of it with a ladle.  Cook 30 minutes more, uncovered.

Warm the remaining sauce for serving.  Remove the short ribs and arrange on a serving platter.  Brush with the extra sauce and garnish with fresh chives.

This meal was so good!  I served the ribs with roasted carrots, parsnips and baby potatoes.  Use your favorite seasonal sides (sweet corn in summer for sure).

Notes ♪♫ If you prefer to buy the BBQ sauce, I recommend Stubbs.  All of their BBQ sauce flavors are delicious and gluten free.

Originally posted 05.27.2018                       Updated 08.06.2022

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Beef Guazzetto – Italian Beef Stew

Would you believe that a recipe from an Italian cooking show could be gluten free?  You might be surprised to know, that other than the pasta, there was only one ingredient swap needed to make this meal completely gluten free!

Beef Guazzetto, or Italian Beef Stew was adapted from a recent episode of Lidia’s Italy, Lidia has long been one of my favorite TV chefs!

While it’s true that some recipes require major modifications, the vast majority of meals will only need a swap of one or two ingredients to be gluten free.  Today’s recipe is a great example.

If you are thinking that you cannot enjoy your favorite meals on the gluten free diet, think again.  Or better yet, let me inspire you!

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. stew beef (chuck), cut into cubes
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • salt, to taste
  • 1/4 cup gluten free flour (you can use rice flour)
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 sweet onion, minced
  • 2 small carrots, minced or grated
  • 2 small celery stalks, minced
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 2 bay leaves
  • gluten free pasta
  • grated cheese, for serving
  • fresh Italian parsley, for garnish

Preparation:

First, make a “soffritto” by pulsing the onion, carrot and celery in a food processor or electric chopper.

Dry the beef with paper towels, this helps with browning.

Place the beef cubes in a food safe plastic bag with 1/4 cup gluten free flour and shake to coat.

Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven and begin browning the beef.  Don’t crowd the pan, brown in batches if needed.

Leave those caramelized brown bits in the bottom of the pan, they are full of flavor!  Set the beef aside and keep warm.

Add more olive oil to the pan with the onion, carrot, and celery.  Cook for several minutes, stirring frequently, then clear a space in the center for the tomato paste.

Toast the tomato paste for a minute, then stir it into the vegetables.  Add the wine, using a spatula to scrape up those browned bits at the bottom of the pan.  Reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking until the wine is reduced by half.

Add the beef cubes back to the pan, with the bay leaves.

Stir in the chicken stock, cover and simmer on lowest heat for 2 hours.  Add more stock if needed.

Stir the sauce frequently, be sure it isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan.  A simmer mat is great for keeping sauces on a low simmer.  As it cooks, you will see the stew gradually thickening.

After 2 hours, this is what it will look like.  You will still have distinct chunks of beef, but some will partially break down and become one with the sauce.  It is incredible!

A meal like this deserves an extra special pasta.  I decided to get out my KitchenAid® and make some fresh rigatoni.  Read about how I made it here! Of course, you can use any gluten free pasta you have on hand.  One of my favorites is Jovial brown rice pasta.

To plate, spoon cooked pasta into serving bowls and ladle the Beef Guazzetto over the top.  Sprinkle with grated cheese and fresh Italian parsley.

Notes ♪♫ An economical cut like beef chuck becomes melt in your mouth tender using this slow cooked, braising method.  With today’s soaring food prices, it is a great way to stretch your grocery budget.

 

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Gluten Free Venus de Milo Soup

Founded in 1959, the Venus de Milo is an iconic restaurant and banquet facility located in Swansea, Massachusetts.  For decades, it has been a venue for countless weddings, Christmas parties and other celebrations.  My high school prom was held there, over 50 years ago! 😲

Venus de Milo Soup is a beloved New England tradition, and its popularity has endured over the decades.  Copycat recipes abound for this easy to prepare soup.  My mother had one in her recipe box, and today it is all over the internet.

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Although it is made with common pantry ingredients, a couple of challenges came up as I started with the original recipe.  Two of the ingredients contained gluten, and I needed to find substitutions.

First, a packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix.  Back in the day, this was a go-to ingredient for so many recipes!  When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I could not find a gluten free replacement, so I made my own mix.  Now, just a few years later how things have changed!  A quick web search turns up more than a few alternatives.  Go ahead and add one to your shopping list or do what I did.  Stir together this easy blend that contains no flour or added salt!

Next, the original soup was made with Orzo pasta.  I wanted a gluten free soup pasta that looked like orzo, but again, when I first posted this recipe, I could not find a gluten free substitute.  Now, just a few years later I was able to order this gluten free orzo from Delallo made from corn and rice flour.  I also spotted this gluten free orzo from Jovial, made with cassava flour.  Or you can try my original choice for this recipe, RightRice.  It was brand new on the shelves in 2019 and has since become a part of my gluten free pantry.

Once I had gathered my ingredients, this soup came together in about 45 minutes.  Like any soup, it is better and thicker the next day.  You will enjoy several meals from this pot of soup, and a few great memories if you have had the pleasure of dining at the Venus de Milo!

Ingredients:

———————————————-

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 14.5 oz. canned tomatoes (whole, diced, crushed, sauce… use what you have)
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 16 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn and green beans)
  • 12 oz. beef stock
  • 2 cups beef or chicken broth (or use water)
  • 1 cup (uncooked) gluten free orzo pasta
  • 1 ladle of reserved pasta water

Preparation:

Stir together the first 7 ingredients for the onion soup mix replacement (or use a purchased mix).

In a 4 qt. soup pot or Dutch oven, brown the meat in 1 tbsp. olive oil, breaking it up with a spatula.  Season with salt and pepper.  Continue until the meat is completely browned, then stir in the onion soup mixture.

Add the celery, tomatoes and the mixed vegetables (it’s ok to throw them in frozen).

Next add the stock and all of the broth.  This recipe is very forgiving.  You can use all broth, or all water if you wish for a total of 3-1/2 cups liquid.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a low simmer.  Cover and cook for 30 minutes.

Next cook the pasta in lightly salted water.  I do not recommend adding the dry pasta directly into the soup.  Here’s why.

Some gluten free pastas, especially those made with corn flour will release a huge amount of starch into the water when cooked, and it can be a gummy mess.  Don’t worry though, it’s delicious!  Just cook the pasta separately and rinse it under warm water before adding to the soup.

If the soup needs thickening, you can reserve a bit of that starchy water and add it to the pot.  Stir it up and do a final taste, adding more salt or pepper as needed.

Let it sit for 2 hours before mealtime (soup will thicken), then just warm it up before serving.

This hearty soup is a meal in itself.  Perfect for cold winter nights, serve with grated cheese and a few slices of crusty gluten free bread.

Notes: ♪♫ Soups are notorious for containing high levels of salt.  If you are a low sodium household, always start your recipes with ingredients that have no added salt.  For example, choose unsalted broth, tomatoes, and bouillon.  It’s easy to add a little sea salt in at the end to bring out the flavor.

Original post 3/04/2019                                                           Updated 2/16/2022

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Harvest Meatballs

It’s the end of October and you’ve made all the pumpkin recipes.  The pumpkin bread, the pumpkin muffins, pumpkin waffles.  Maybe you made my Gluten Free Pumpkin Pasta, or my Harvest Pasta Sauce.  There’s a little bit of pumpkin hidden within each recipe!

And now you have that tiny little bit of pumpkin puree sitting in the fridge.  What will you do with it?  I decided to make a batch of meatballs!

Can you add pumpkin to meatballs?

I usually add a small amount of tomato sauce to my Italian Meatballs.  In this recipe I switched out the tomato for pumpkin puree.  Topped with my Harvest Pasta Sauce they were delicious!

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Whisk together the egg and pumpkin puree.

In a separate bowl, combine the rolled oats, potato flakes and seasoned breadcrumbs.

Pulse the sausage in an electric chopper to a fine mince.

Add the sausage and ground beef to the pumpkin mixture and mix well.

Add the breadcrumb mixture a little at a time, working it in with your hands.  Form 10 meatballs, and place on a foil lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray.  Set the broiler on high.  Broil the meatballs for 4-5 minutes per side, turning once.

Remove from the oven and cool slightly to set before adding them to your sauce.  Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes ♪ You won’t taste the pumpkin in these meatballs, it blends right in with the other flavors, and they are moist and delicious!

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Crock-Pot Pulled Pork

This is THE best melt in your mouth pulled pork!  Yes, it’s better than that local BBQ Restaurant you go to, and safer too because you made it at home!  The secret, don’t rush the recipe.  Twelve full hours in the crockpot on low heat will transform this tougher cut of meat into the most tender and moist BBQ dinner you have ever had!

This isn’t a new recipe, but I haven’t made it in years.  Not since my Celiac diagnosis.  So the first thing I did was to read over the ingredients, to see what I would have to change to make it gluten free.  Guess what?  I didn’t have to change a thing.  All of the ingredients were already gluten free!  Score!

The Meat:

Pork butt is a cut of pork that comes from (surprise) the upper part of the shoulder.  It’s tasty and economical, perfect in this slow cooked preparation.  If you don’t see it in the meat case, ask the butcher.  You will want 1/2 lb. per person.

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Ingredients:

  • 4 lb. pork butt (shoulder)
  • 1 onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 apple, peeled and diced
  • cooking spray

The Rub:

  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper

The Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. gluten free Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. mustard powder
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Preparation:

Rinse the meat and pat dry.

Whisk together the brown sugar, paprika, salt and pepper, and rub it into the roast.

Mist your crock-pot with cooking spray.  Peel and dice the onion and apple, and spread in a single layer.

Place the meat on top.  You want the meat to be elevated an inch or so from the bottom of the pan, to keep it out of the liquid for the first few hours of cooking.

Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour 1/4 cup of the mixture over the pork.  Don’t be tempted to add more.  The meat, onions and apples will cook down and create their own liquid.

Cover and cook 12 hours on low (time indicated is for a 4 lb. roast).

At the end of the cook time, you can set the crockpot to warm until ready to serve, up to 2 hours.  Spoon some of the pan juices over the meat.

Heat the reserved sauce on a low simmer.

Remove the meat to a serving dish and shred with 2 forks.

It should be falling apart tender.  Spoon a little of the reserved sauce over the top.  You can strain out the pepper flakes if you like.

Serve with a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce.  I also made air fryer French fries and broccoli to go with the meal.  For more serving ideas, check out my BBQ Baked Beans and this Easy Apple Sauté.

Notes ♪♫ You can make a small batch of Homemade BBQ Sauce to go with this meal or use your favorite store brand.  I love Stubbs, especially their Hickory Bourbon and Smokey Mesquite.

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