Oven Roasted Pulled Pork

Written by
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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John Mitzewich
Updated 02/04/20
Pulled pork sandwich

James And James / Stockbyte / Getty Images
  • Total: 12 hrs 20 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 12 hrs
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings

The term "fork-tender" was invented for slow-roasted pork shoulder. Sure it takes half a day, but the building anticipation makes that first bite into the sticky, succulent pulled pork meat even better.

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 to 4-pound pork shoulder roast (also called pork butt or Boston butt)
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • For the Dry Rub:
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper (freshly ground)
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pat the meat dry with paper towels. Trim off any large pieces of excess fat.

  3. Mix the rub ingredients together, and thoroughly coat all sides of the pork, and into any folds in the meat

  4. Preheat oven to 215 F.

  5. Place the pork, fattier side up, in a large Dutch oven.

  6. Pour 1/3 cup water into a small, ovenproof ramekin, and add the liquid smoke.

  7. Place this ramekin in the Dutch oven next to the meat. As the pork roasts, this will introduce moisture to the cooking environment, as well as add a subtle smokiness to the meat.

  8. Cover tightly with the lid, and place in the center of the preheated oven.

  9. Roast pork for 12 hours, or until fork tender. If you're using a thermometer, the internal temperature will be around 200 degrees F. Turn off the oven and allow the pork to rest for 1 hour before removing.

  10. Place the pork on a cutting board and use forks to pull it apart into small pieces.

  11. Taste for salt and spice level, and adjust the seasoning.

  12. Serve warm or room temperature on soft rolls splashed with some of your favorite barbecue sauce.

  13. Enjoy!