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Pulled Pork Recipe: How to Make Fork-Tender Pulled Pork

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Nov 2, 2024 • 3 min read

Learn how to make an easy recipe for sweet and tangy pulled pork with homemade bbq sauce.

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What Is Pulled Pork?

Pulled pork is an American barbecue dish that consists of slow-cooked, shredded pork with barbecue sauce. The meat is slow smoked or roasted over low heat until it’s fork-tender and easily shredded, then the shredded meat is tossed with barbecue sauce. You can serve pulled pork on sandwich buns with coleslaw, sliced onions, more barbecue sauce, and pickles. Classic American barbecue sides like baked beans, potato salad, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese pair well with pulled pork sandwiches. You can also serve pulled pork in tacos, on nachos, or on it's own, so it's easy to create a meal plan with leftovers.

How to Cook Pulled Pork

The best ways to slow cook pork is to smoke it outside over wood or slowly roast it in a Dutch oven. You can also use a slow cooker or pressure cooker, however, the meat will lack the crispy flavorful caramelization typical of pulled pork browned and slowly roasted in a Dutch oven or smoked over wood outside. This is because slow cooker pulled pork requires more liquid and skips searing the meat.

3 Best Cuts of Meat for Pulled Pork

Large, tougher cuts of pork work best for slow braised pulled pork. The high amount of connective tissue takes a while to break down, but it prevents the meat from drying out during the long roasting process. Try one of these cuts to ensure you make the best pulled pork, even if it’s your first time:

  1. 1. Pork butt roast or Boston butt: Pork butt, also known as Boston butt, is a cut from the upper portion of a pig’s front shoulder. It’s a relatively inexpensive and forgiving hunk of meat that you’ll most often see served as pulled pork in barbecue restaurants. The muscle has a lot of connective tissue that needs to be broken down through slow cooking, but it’s also extremely fatty, so it’s less prone to drying out, even at higher temperatures. The relatively forgiving nature of the cut and consistent cooking temperature make this a great cook for beginners.
  2. 2. Pork shoulder (aka picnic shoulder): An inexpensive cut of meat that is sold with the bone in or boneless. A fatty, flavorful cut with connective tissue.
  3. 3. Center-cut pork loin roast: Fattier than pork tenderloin, meaning it's juicy and tender. For better flavor, cook it with the slab of fat still attached, carve off after cooking if desired.

BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe

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9 Ratings | Rate Now

makes

prep time

15 min

total time

5 hr 45 min

cook time

5 hr 30 min

Ingredients

For the pulled pork

For the barbecue sauce

For serving

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit with a rack in the center.

  2. 2

    Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder.

  3. 3

    In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, mustard powder, and cayenne, if using. Stir to evenly distribute.

  4. 4

    Rub the spice blend all over the pork, making sure to get inside all the cracks.

  5. 5

    Heat oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or oven proof heavy-bottomed pot with a lid.

  6. 6

    Add the pork shoulder to the Dutch oven. Cook, undisturbed, to lightly sear the meat, about 1 minute per side. Remove from heat.

  7. 7

    Add the vinegar and chicken broth. Cover and transfer to the oven on the center rack. Cook until starting to soften, about 3 hours.

  8. 8

    Remove the lid from the Dutch oven and continue cooking until the pork shoulder roast is very tender and pulls apart with no resistance, 1–2 hours (the internal temperature of the pork should be at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit). If the pork is completely dry on the bottom before it’s finished cooking, add ½ cup water or chicken broth as needed. Remove from the oven.

  9. 9

    Using two forks, shred the pork as finely as desired directly in the Dutch oven. (Alternatively, you can transfer the pork to a cutting board to shred, if desired.)

  10. 10

    In a medium saucepan, combine all of the barbecue sauce ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

  11. 11

    Cook, whisking occasionally until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

  12. 12

    Remove from heat. Season with salt to taste, and add more hot sauce as desired.

  13. 13

    Serve the shredded pork with barbecue sauce, pickles, and sandwich buns.

  14. 14

    Pulled pork can be made 1–2 days ahead. Reheat leftover pulled pork with ¼ cup water to ensure the meat doesn't dry out.

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