We love everything about pulled pork. The versatility of the process (dry rub or wet) and the way you can cook it. Our favorite is smoking, but this easy oven method for making Pulled Pork works in a pinch!
Oven Roasted Pulled Pork
Pulled Pork means very different things to people depending on where they live and what they grew up with. For us here in Minnesota, it is a pork butt that is roasted, smoked, or grilled and usually has a dry rub. The sauces are added after cooking and are always optional. Sometimes the dry rub is so good you don’t need any!
I mentioned that our favorite way to make pulled pork in by smoking it in our Traeger Grill, but the smoker is my husband’s domain and sometimes I have a craving! This is the recipe I use when I get a craving in the afternoon and want to have pulled pork for dinner.
COOKING A PORK BUTT TO 195°F
We estimate about 1 hour per pound based on the trimmed weight of a pork butt. This is only an estimate—it may take more or even less time, depending on the thickness of the pork butt and any hot spots or inconsistencies in your oven. We often open the oven several times to check on the progress and temperature, so it’s wise to factor that in as well. For example, a 5 pound trimmed pork butt should be done in about 5 hours when cooking at 225°F. (This is the low & slow method)
How to Serve Pulled Pork
On a bun of course. 😉 We love ours piled high and with our favorite BBQ sauce. I like sweet & tangy, my husband loves spicy & hot, the kids love a combination. You can also serve the sandwich with coleslaw, raw or cooked onion, and any other ingredient that strikes your fancy.
I love to add all the sauces individually. As in, I do not add it directly to the pulled pork and create a BBQ pulled pork. The reason is that we have developed a number of recipes using pulled pork that our family LOVES. For instance, you can try this Pulled Pork Hash. We also make Pulled Pork Nachos, Pulled Pork Quesadilla’s, and Cheesy Pulled Pork Soup. (I will be sharing all of those recipes soon!)
Can You Make Pulled Pork in a Slow Cooker
Absolutely! Just a few little changes to my recipe help to make sure a slow cooker pulled pork is just as amazing as oven roasted. It’s important to brown the pork before adding to the slow cooker. Don’t skip this step, trust me!!
Start by heating your oven to 500°F. Cover a large baking sheet with foil and then place a wire rack on the baking sheet.
Make your dry rub according to the recipe below. Cover a 3-4 pound pork butt with 1/2 of the dry rub and place on the baking sheet. Cook for about 10 minutes. You don’t want the spices to burn, so keep an eye on it.
Add 2 onions that have been quartered, a can of cola, a cup of apple cider vinegar, and a couple tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce to the bottom of your slow cooker. Remove pork butt from the oven and carefully set into the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for about 6 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F.
Remove from oven and allow to cool to a temperature that you are comfortable shredding the meat at. I like the meat to be room temperature, my husband likes to shred it while it’s hot! Strain the chunks out of the liquid in your slow cooker and then spoon over the meat. OR discard and use your favorite BBQ sauce.
How to Refrigerate or Freeze Pulled Pork
Transfer the cooled pork to freezer safe plastic sealable bags, making sure to completely seal the bags to prevent leakage. Do not overfill, try to fill each bag about 3/4 full.
Write the date that the pulled pork was cooked on the outside of the bag using a permanent marker. Place the bags of pulled pork in your refrigerator for up to 1 week or in yout freezer until they are frozen solid. If you have a vacuum sealer I highly recommend using it as you can thaw the meat right in the bag in hot water.
IT IS RECOMMENDED TO eat the pulled pork within two to three months from the date written on the freezer bag. However, we have enjoyed pulled fork in frozen February here in Minnesota even though it was prepared in June.
The Best Pulled Pork Recipes
OVEN ROASTED PULLED PORK
We love everything about pulled pork. The versatility of the process (dry rub or wet) and the way you can cook it. Our favorite is smoking, but this easy oven method for making Pulled Pork works in a pinch!
Ingredients
- 4 -6 pound fresh pork butt Boston butt, or pork shoulder
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons black pepper coarse
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
OPTIONAL (ADD ONE OF THESE FOR EXTRA HEAT)
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili pepper
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon jalapeno powder
- Oil, (we like canola or olive oil) (for browning)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 225°F. Trim excess fat from pork and set aside to come to room temperature.
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, ground mustard, and chili powder. (and any additional heat you want from the OPTIONAL list)
- Rub all over pork. (This can be done the night before and I recommend wearing gloves.)
In a large dutch oven over medium heat, heat oil. Add pork, and sear on all sides. (Spices can burn quickly so just 1 minute per side)
Transfer to oven and cook until pork is beginning to turn tender, about 4 ½ to 5 hours. (Roughly 1 hour per pound of meat)
For the last 30 minutes, remove lid and cook until pork is very tender, pulls apart easily with a fork, and has reached an internal temperature of 195°F.
- Remove pork from Dutch oven and let rest until it is cool enough to work with.
- Shred pork using two forks.
