Smoked Pulled Pork Butt (Smoked Pork Shoulder)

Shave hours off of your cook dinner time with this smoked pulled pork butt recipe from the champion pitmaster at Ladies Can Grill.

What makes this pulled pork recipe completely different

Pork butt is such a forgiving piece of meat that I wish to smoke it at 275F levels. This reduces the cook dinner time tremendously, and it nonetheless seems nice smoke taste.

I additionally use the Texas Crutch, which not solely hastens the cook dinner time, nevertheless it additionally helps infuse much more sweetness into the pulled pork.

This technique will cook dinner up in round 6-7 hours in comparison with cooking it at decrease temperatures like 225F.

Which pork reduce to make use of

One of the best meat for pulled pork is pork butt, which can even be referred to as Boston butt or bone-in pork shoulder. It appears complicated, however pork butt doesn’t truly come from the hog’s rear. It comes from its higher shoulder. 

You’ll find it bone-in or boneless. For this recipe, it doesn’t matter which one your select. The bone-in will improve the flavour, however it can take longer to cook dinner in comparison with the boneless butt.

When selecting by way of the meat case, learn the label intently. Pork butt is usually cased subsequent to the pork picnic roast, which can even be referred to as picnic shoulder. It’s reduce from the decrease a part of the hog’s shoulder, nearer to the leg. You may cook dinner a picnic gradual and low, too, nevertheless it gained’t prove precisely just like the pulled pork you’re used to. 

Components

• Pork Shoulder: This will likely even be labeled as pork butt. You should buy boneless or bone-in pork shoulder.
• Pork Rub: I like to recommend utilizing my award-winning Pork Rub with this recipe. It consists of kosher salt, black pepper, sugars and 5 varieties of chili powder.
• Barbecue Sauce: Select your favourite candy barbecue sauce. I’m a fan of Jessie Rae’s BBQ God Sauce. They’re based mostly in Las Vegas.
• Brown Sugar: I favor darkish brown sugar as a result of it has a richer taste.
• Butter: I normally use salted butter. You’ll want one stick, reduce into 4 vertical items.
• Honey: When you like warmth, strive utilizing scorching honey.
• Spritz: I add apple cider vinegar or apple juice to a twig bottle. You can too use water, soda and even beer.

See the total recipe card under for servings and a full listing of components.

Setup your grill with oblique warmth

You may cook dinner this recipe on a fuel grill, charcoal grill or pellet grill. The bottom line is to cook dinner it over oblique warmth. Set your grill up with a temperature of 275F levels with an oblique warmth zone.

Fuel Grill: When you’re utilizing a fuel grill, depart one burner off and switch no less than one burner on. Alter the burner temperature, till the grill temperature gauge registers between 275F levels. You’ll cook dinner the pork over the grill grate that has the burner turned off.

If you wish to add smoke taste, fill a smoke field or foil pouch with wooden chips and add it to the warmer aspect of the grill.

Charcoal Grill: When you’re utilizing a kettle-style charcoal grill, push the recent coals to at least one aspect. Place the grill grate over the coals and cook dinner the pork over the aspect the place there are not any coals. When you’re utilizing a drum smoker or ceramic cooker, use the diffuser to dam the direct warmth.

Pellet Grill: Pellet grills are robotically arrange with an oblique warmth zone as a result of they’ve a metallic diffuser plate that rests over the hearth pot. Merely, flip the grill to 275F levels and let it warmth up. Then, you’ll be able to place the pork wherever on the grill.

Wooden Flavors: When smoking pork, I like to make use of hickory wooden, pecan wooden or apple wooden chunks, chips or pellets. I sometimes add a piece of cherry wooden for sweetness and shade.

smoke pork shoulder

1. STEP ONE: Take away the pork shoulder from the packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. There isn’t a have to trim it. Cowl it liberally with pork rub.

PRO TIP: You might be welcome to slather the pork shoulder with mustard first to create a binder, however I discover the rub sticks simply high-quality with out it. 

2. STEP TWO: Place the pork butt on the smoker over oblique warmth with the fats cap down. Smoke it till the inner temperature reaches about 150F levels. As its smoking, spritz it each half-hour or so with apple cider vinegar or apple juice.

PRO TIP: You can too cook dinner it fats aspect up, however I like cooking it with the fats down so the fats layer protects the meat from charring. 

3. STEP THREE: Place two massive sheets of aluminum foil on the counter in a plus form. Add half a stick of butter, 1/4 cup of brown sugar and a big drizzle of honey.

PRO TIP: I do not advocate utilizing butcher paper with this recipe as a result of the sugar and butter create a number of liquid, which can leak out of the paper. When you do wish to use paper, place the wrapped pork in an aluminum pan. 

4. STEP FOUR: Place the partially smoked pork butt on high of the honey. Drizzle the highest with extra honey. Sprinkle with a bit of extra spice rub. Add one other 1/4 cup of sugar the remaining half a stick of butter. Wrap it up tightly within the foil.

5. STEP FIVE: Place it again on the smoker and proceed cooking it till the inner temperature reaches 195-205F levels, relying on how tender you prefer it.

PRO TIP: I take advantage of a Thermoworks Smoke or RFX meat thermometer to observe the meat temperature. I set the alarm for 195F levels. Then, I double verify the temperature with my Thermapen ONE and cook dinner it to 200F. 

6. STEP SIX: Take away the meat from the smoker and let it relaxation for no less than half-hour. If it’s good to relaxation it longer, wrap it in a towel and relaxation it in a cooler with out ice for as much as 4 hours.

7. STEP SEVEN: Unwrap the pork from the foil. Place it in a big pot or pan. Take away the bone after which shred the meat, eradicating any apparent fatty items.

PRO TIP: When pulling pork, I put on cotton glove liners beneath nitrile gloves. This enables me to really feel across the pork to select the fats. The liners will defend your fingers from the warmth. You can too use two massive forks. 

serve smoked pulled pork

Season the shredded pork with extra Pork Rub and drizzle together with your favourite BBQ sauce. Toss together with your fingers to coat.

You may serve this smoked pulled pork recipe piled excessive on a plate or as pork sandwiches on a bun.

Storage

Retailer leftover smoke pulled pork in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as every week. You can too freeze it for as much as six months.