Pulled Pork Recipe

October 31, 2022

Pulled Pork has become a staple in our household. It's great for a party but it's also great having extra in the fridge to whip up a pulled pork taco, to jazz up some left over Mac and Cheer, or have with your sunday brunch eggs.

It takes time, but it is worth it. In fact, we often complain we don't have any leftovers when we make one for a party.

Ingredients

2-3T Pulled Pork Rub
1 Pork Shoulder Roast (2.5kg or 5-6lbs)
wood chips or pellets for smoking

Instructions

Rub Pulled Pork Rub all over your pork shoulder roast
Cover or wrap and refrigerate for 3-8 hours.
Setup barbecue for indirect cooking with a drip pan.

Using a Gas Grill

Place soaked wood chips/pellets in your smoker box
Preheat on high until the smoke starts and drop to medium

Using a Charcoal or Wood Barbecue

Preheat on medium-low to get a cooking temp of 300°F

Put roast on grill fat side up
Cover the grill and cook the pork shoulder until the meat is fall off the bone tender (and reached an internal temperature of 195°F, approximately 4-6 hours depending on the roast and your grill)
REMEMBER - if you're looking, you're not cooking!
Remove, tent and rest for 15 minutes before pulling the pork
Once the pork is pulled you can toss it in your favourite barbecue sauce or leave it as it and let people enjoy your skill (or add their own sauce at the table.)

Serve with piled on hamburger buns with coleslaw and a North Carolina Vinegar Sauce.

Maximize the Flavour with a Brine.

My favourite way to maximize the flavour involves a brining stage as well. It takes a bit more time, is a little more complex and uses more ingredients and rub, but boy-oh-boy is it great. If you have the time try brining for 8-24 hours before rubbing and smoking.

Brine/ Marinade (for 5lb Pork Butt)

3T Pulled Pork Rub
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar, or to taste
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt (kosher or sea), or to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional (because not everyone likes spice)

1 tablespoon chile flakes
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced

Note: we recommend you buy the medium or large size rub if you are going to also do the brine.

Try Something New

Rub Pulled Pork Rub into pork tenderloin and roast in your oven.
Try Pulled Pork meatballs grilled and sauced with your favourite bbq sauce on a roll or over rice.
Make Pulled Pork burgers by adding Pulled Pork Rub to ground pork, top with slaw.
Leftover Pulled Pork is great on rice, turned into eggrolls, put on poutine, used in tacos, enchiladas or burritos, on nachos, served in lettuce cups, on pizzas, used in meat pies, used in chili, added to mac and cheese or to upgrade a burger.