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My Simple Smoked Pulled Pork Butt (AKA Smoked Pork Shoulder) is a go-to any time I am looking to feed a hungry crowd and don’t want too much fuss. With only 3 ingredients, you’re looking at some good, classic BBQ with plenty of flavor. Smoked Pulled PorkThis process for smoked pulled pork is a delicious way to cook pork butt. It’s a relatively easy process that requires a bit of time, some simple ingredients, and a trusty smoker. This post is the perfect guide for your first pulled pork. Make sure to read it to the end (lots of good info here) as well as scroll below to the printable recipe card to take in all the pork knowledge so you’ll be fully ready to take on this delicious beast. The reason I call this smoked pulled pork butt “simple” is because of how little effort it takes. This recipe doesn’t require any fancy injections, tools, spritzing concoctions, or wrapping to have it come out absolutely perfect every. single. time. All you need to make this recipe a success is a good pork shoulder, my famous homemade sweet BBQ rub, good smoke, and plenty of time. Smoked Pork Butt vs. Smoked Pork ShoulderMost smoked pork butt recipes call for a bone-in pork shoulder, sometimes also labeled a Boston butt roast or a pork butt. All of these labels are for the exact same cut of pork. None of them actually come from the butt end of the pig (which can definitely be confusing), but from the upper part of the shoulder. The pork butt, or pork shoulder, has many overlapping and hard working muscle groups that are bound together with tight connective tissue. That tight tissue makes this cut particularly well suited for smoking. It would be very difficult to simply slice and serve a pork shoulder roast that wasn’t cooked low and slow to break down those tight muscles and connective fibers. You’d end up chewing for a long time and not getting anywhere. By using the low and slow process of cooking the meat over a wood fire for a long time, those tissues begins to break down, tenderize, and create amazing strands of super succulent smoked pork shoulder. Ingredients for Smoked Pulled PorkHere’s all you’ll need to grab to make your simple smoked pulled pork butt:
Bam. That’s it. Three ingredients are all that stand between you and some sweet, sweet, smoked pulled pork. How to Smoke a Pork ButtThis simple smoked pulled pork shoulder is made using old school BBQ techniques and flavors to give you super authentic and extra tasty pulled pork. Here’s how to do it:
How Long to Smoke a Pork ButtWith your smoker running steady at 225 degrees F, you can typically plan about 2 hours of cook time per pound of pork. For example, an 8-pound pork shoulder will take about 16 hours from start to finish. Quick note! Every cut of meat is a little bit different, so plan ahead for variations in cook time! I’ve had some 8-pound smoked pork butts finish in 12 hours and some 10-pound smoked pork butts take 20 hours to finish. The StallI recommend a good instant read probe thermometer to keep track of the internal temperature of the meat, and for this one reason. You’ll notice a pattern emerge as you start to smoke pork butts more frequently. Your meat rises in temperature up to about 145 degrees F pretty quickly, then the cooking process will slow dramatically and take hours to increase in temperature from 145 degrees F to 165 degrees F. This phase is called the “Stall” and is completely normal. Don’t panic, just let everything keep cooking and eventually the temperature will start to rise again. A lot of pitmasters choose to wrap their smoked pork butt in foil or butcher paper at this point to help shorten the process and push their meat through this stall period (you can see how I utilize this technique HERE). For this simple smoked pork butt recipe, I did not wrap at all. Instead, I let the smoke continue to work on the pork shoulder and it helped to develop a really amazing exterior crust on the outside of the meat called “bark.” For those not familiar with the world of BBQ, this outer coating may appear burned, but to those in the know, that dark caramelized bark is absolutely coveted! How to Freeze Smoked Pulled PorkIf you’re like me, you often have a hankering for pulled pork when you only have your small family to feed. If you find yourself in this predicament, simply freeze the leftovers!
How to Reheat Smoked Pulled PorkReady to reheat that pork you have ready in the freezer? Here are some ways to get your pork tasting just as good as the day it came off the smoker.
More Smoked Pulled Pork RecipesHooray! You’ve mastered this simple pulled pork recipe! Ready to get a little fancy and try some other flavors and techniques? Try my other tasty recipes below! Each one is unique and simply bursting with flavor.
Smoked Pulled Pork Butt/Shoulder RecipeSimple Smoked Pulled Pork Butt/ ShoulderThis simple smoked pulled pork recipe only requires a few pantry ingredients and a smoker to achieve those melt-in-your-mouth strands of tender pulled pork. Prep Time : 15 mins Cook Time : 18 hrs Resting Time : 1 hr Total Time : 19 hrs 15 mins Servings : 16 people Calories : 257kcal
Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 153mg | Potassium: 592mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg Join The Grill Squad today! **This post was originally published in September 2017. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same. How long does it take to cook a pork shoulder on a pellet grill?Set temperature to 225°F, close lid, and preheat pellet grill 10 to 15 minutes. Place pork, fat cap side up, on grill grate, close lid, and grill, basting with apple juice mixture every hour, until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of pork registers 150°F to 155°F, 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours.
How long does it take to smoke a pork shoulder at 225?Well, then, how long does it take to smoke a pork shoulder at 225? At 225, figure roughly 2 hours per pound of meat, so the same piece of smoked pork shoulder takes from 12- 16 hours at 225.
How do you cook a pork shoulder roast on a pellet grill?Make sure the entire pork shoulder roast is completely covered with seasoning. Place the pork shoulder roast on pellet grill in the middle of the grate. Close the lid and smoke the pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 195 degrees F. You can smoke it until it reaches 201 degrees F if you like a softer pork.
What temperature do you cook pork on a pellet grill?Preheat your pellet grill to 225°F. Place a temperature probe into the thickest part of your boneless pork chop, and set the pork chop on your pellet grill. Smoke until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 100°F (about 45 minutes).
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