Make the proper Carolina pulled pork with this simple and scrumptious recipe. Impress your family and friends with this mouth-watering dish, full with a step-by-step video tutorial.
Wish to make the greatest pulled pork from your individual kitchen? The important thing to creating this Carolina pulled pork recipe is the brine. You’re truly going to begin this recipe two days forward of time with the brine, and it takes time to make tender, juicy pulled pork within the oven. So plan your schedule accordingly, and prepare for the greatest pulled pork of your life!
Make a batch of our best possible macaroni salad and toss collectively a recent fruit salad, and it’s occasion time!!
Watch How This Pulled Pork Recipe is Made…
Creating the Finest Pulled Pork Recipe
Once I consider BBQ, I can’t assist however consider gradual and low type, the Carolina approach. So as to cook dinner one of the best pulled pork, it’s important that you just plan forward and spend a while prepping and cooking that scrumptious meat at these decrease temperatures. This helps deliver out all these flavors that soften in your mouth and permits that pork to actually collapse. I do know, we’re all lazy and don’t wish to, however belief me, this Carolina pulled pork recipe is really easy your canine may do it.
This recipe might seem to be a course of, however right here’s the deal: you actually simply plop the pork within the fridge to marinate, after which switch it to the oven. Though it takes a very long time, you’re simply going about your on a regular basis life so it’s actually not additional work in your half.
These thought for this pulled pork recipe come from watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Shout out to Man, who will get to eat for a residing! We often watch his present on Netflix at night time, and to begin with, it makes us so hungry, however we additionally really feel like we are able to completely guess when he doesn’t actually take pleasure in one thing. We want we may discover out what he actually thinks are one of the best and the worst of the locations he has tried.
Anyway, I received a bit off matter. Listed below are the secrets and techniques to the world’s greatest Carolina pulled pork.
Carolina Pulled Pork Substances
There are three fundamental parts to this pulled pork recipe: the brine, pulled pork rub, and the home made BBQ sauce. Here’s what you will want for every part:
- 5-8 Pound Pork Shoulder (or Butt)
Pulled Pork Brine
- Water
- Apple Cider
- Word that you just’ll be utilizing apple cider, NOT cider vinegar, within the pork shoulder brine. However a lot of our readers have missed that and added pure vinegar and so we had no alternative however to strive it since so a lot of you really liked the outcomes. Certain sufficient, it was nice! So we want the juice however hey, vinegar is enjoyable too! Apple cider provides a bit extra taste with out ever tasting like apple, and all it’s a must to do is dump it in.
- Kosher Salt
- Darkish Brown Sugar
- Dry Rub (see under)
- Bay Leaves
- Purple Pepper Flakes
Pulled Pork Dry Rub
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Chili Powder
- Okosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
- Dry Mustard
- Cumin
- Brown Sugar
Selfmade BBQ Sauce
In fact, you’re welcome to make use of a store-bought sauce, however in the event you’re on the lookout for one of the best pulled pork recipe ever, properly, you might want to use home made barbecue sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Brown Sugar
- Chili Powder
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt
The measurements for all of the substances might be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the publish.
What’s the Finest Pork for Pulled Pork?
To make one of the best pulled pork, you’ve received to begin with one of the best reduce of meat. Most barbecue eating places use entire bone-in pork shoulders, however they’re not often obtainable in grocery shops. Should you discover a entire shoulder, use it. In any other case, we advocate a Boston butt, which is half of the shoulder, the opposite half being the picnic shoulder.
The way to Make Pulled Pork within the Oven
This pulled pork recipe seems prolonged, however every step of this recipe is extremely simple. Right here’s a fast overview of the way to make pulled pork within the oven:
- Combine all of the substances for the dry rub in a small bowl.
- Stir collectively the pork shoulder brine and let the pork soak in it for 12 to 24 hours.
- Take away the pork from the brine and place it in a big baking dish, then pat it dry with paper towels.
- Rub the pulled pork seasoning all around the meat, saving just a bit of the dry rub for later.
- With the fats going through up, bake the pork at a low temperature till it registers 200ºF on the thickest half.
- Flip off the oven and let the pork relaxation for a pair hours.
- Take the pork out of the oven and take away the fats from the highest. Then, shred the meat with two forks.
- Drain half the juices from the pork, then add the remaining dry rub and toss within the home made bbq sauce.
- Serve with buns or hoagies to make pork sandwiches or simply serve the meat plain with some coleslaw and all of your favourite sides.
How Lengthy to Prepare dinner Pulled Pork
Should you’re southern, this isn’t only a secret however virtually a regulation within the south — LOW AND SLOW. I at all times snicker when individuals inform me they’ll’t make bbq, “I let it cook dinner for over an hour and it was dry and arduous as a rock!”
BBQ may be very relaxed, similar to southerners. It needs to hang around all day, and whilst you might imagine you’re overcooking it, you’re not! Our pork cooks for no less than 12 hours, generally extra if it’s a much bigger butt (I really feel like there must be a joke in there). Don’t rush it.
Can I Make Pulled Pork on a Smoker?
Should you’d moderately make smoked pulled pork as an alternative of oven pulled pork, we advocate following our Smoked Pulled Pork Recipe. It provides step-by-step directions on smoking pulled pork on a Traeger.
Can I Make This Pulled Pork Recipe within the Sluggish Cooker?
Sure this may be finished within the gradual cooker, however we’ve discovered that it doesn’t do it justice. It’s also arduous to suit the dimensions of pork butt you want right into a crock pot. Should you determine to strive it, it would cook dinner for a similar period of time on low. Observe the brining directions as written, and no want so as to add any liquid to the gradual cooker. There’s sufficient juice within the pork to maintain cooking correctly.
The way to Prep Carolina Pulled Pork in Advance
Reader Kate says:
“I’m heading as much as my cabin and wish a dinner for a big crowd just a few hours after we arrive, questioning if I can cook dinner the pork after which end it off within the grill after we arrive? Or if it’s higher to do all steps after which reheat it on arrival? Appears delish.”
Nice query! We do that ALLLLLLL the time. Go forward and make this pulled pork recipe, after which you may have two selections. Pull it out of the oven and put it straight into the automotive and it’ll relaxation on the way in which to the cabin and be able to eat two hours later.
Or make it, relaxation it, cool it and place in freezer luggage, or to be trustworthy, we use this Foodsaver and simply suck the air out and freeze pork to be used over the subsequent three months. It’s tremendous simple, and tastes completely recent after we reheat. We simply place it within the fridge to defrost after which reheat in a big pan with foil in a low oven or range high with a bit oil within the pan and a lid to maintain the steam in so it’s juicy.
Tricks to Making the Finest Pulled Pork
The important thing factor to recollect when making this pulled pork recipe is to let the meat relaxation after it’s completed cooking. I advised you, it’s lazy. Letting it relaxation redistributes the juices, and since it’s large and cooked for a very long time you’re going to wish to let it relaxation longer — like an hour and even two — earlier than shredding.
Maybe the largest secret of all, and one which I can not declare as my very own as that is the place Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) is available in, is to sprinkle a bit extra of the rub onto the meat earlier than serving. We seen many bbq joints weren’t simply slathering on the sauce, however truly sprinkling that dry rub all around the shredded meat and tossing to let it sink it. You received’t consider what a distinction it makes!
You may also use one other sort of bbq sauce on this pulled pork recipe! Carrian likes a thick, candy sauce or a Carolina vinegar bbq, and I like this Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce on my home made pulled pork.
What to Serve with Carolina Pulled Pork
We advocate firing up the grill and making grilled corn to go along with this Carolina pulled pork. It’s so dang good each time! And only for pure consolation, add a aspect of Southern mac and cheese. Just a few different pulled pork sides we love are:
Storing and Reheating
Leftover pulled pork must be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. It is going to maintain for as much as 3-4 days. This meat additionally shops nice within the freezer. Let it cool utterly after which place in ziploc luggage (or higher but, use a Food Saver!). It is going to maintain within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
Use leftovers in pulled pork pizza or pulled pork nachos! If you wish to simply reheat it, flip in your oven and set the temperature to 250°F. Then, cowl your meat with foil and put it into the oven when it’s prepared. After you set it into your oven, let it warmth for half-hour or till reaching an inner temperature of 165 °F.
Prepare for the juiciest and most flavorful pulled pork you’ll ever strive! This recipe for Carolina pulled pork is a crowd-pleaser!
Extra PORK DINNER RECIPES You Should Attempt:
Description
Wish to make one of the best pulled pork from your individual kitchen? This recipe for the world’s greatest Carolina pulled pork all begins with a brine.
For the BBQ Sauce (Non-compulsory)
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Put together the Dry Rub:
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Combine all the substances collectively in a ziploc bag. Put aside.
1 Tablespoon Onion Powder, 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika, 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder, 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder, 1 ½ Tablespoon Kosher Salt, 1 Tablespoon Pepper, 2 teaspoons Cayenne Powder, 2 teaspoons Dry Mustard, 1 Tablespoon Cumin, 1/2 Cup Darkish Brown Sugar
For the Brine:
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In a big inventory pot, add the water, apple cider, salt, sugar, 3 tablespoons dry rub, pepper flakes and bay leaves.
4 Cups Water, 4 Cups Apple Cider, 1/2 Cup Kosher Salt, 1/2 Cup Darkish Brown Sugar, 3 Tablespoons Dry Rub, 2 Bay Leaves, 1 Pinch Purple Pepper Flakes
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Rinse off the pork and add to the pot ensuring it’s utterly lined within the brine and add the lid.
5-8 pound Pork Butt
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Place within the fridge for 12 to 24 hours.
For the Sauce:
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In a glass jar, add the substances and place the lid on then shake to mix. Put aside.
1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 Cup White Vinegar, 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar, 1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder, 2 Pinches Purple Pepper Flakes, Salt
To Prepare dinner:
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Warmth the oven to 225 levels F.
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Take away the pork from the brine and place in a roasting dish or 9×13″ baking pan so long as the edges do not contact the pan.
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Pat very dry with paper towels.
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Take away 2 tablespoons of the dry rub to a different ziploc and put aside for after it’s cooked.
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Rub the remaining seasoning all around the pork and in any cracks or flaps.
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With the fats going through up, place the pork within the oven with a meat thermometer.
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Bake for 12-14 hours or till 200 levels F registers on the thickest a part of the pork with a meat thermometer. *Bear in mind to look at your oven, ours turns off mechanically at 12 hours so I’ve to show it again on.
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At this level you’ll be able to flip off the oven and depart the pork in there to relaxation for 2 hours or when you have extra baking to do place foil over the meat and permit to relaxation on the range.
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As soon as the meat has rested, take away the fats from the highest and utilizing two forks, shred the meat and take away the bone.
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Drain half of the juices out and add the remaining dry rub to style, toss to coat and drizzle a bit vinegar sauce over the whole lot.
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Serve instantly as is or on buns.
You may freeze pulled pork. Let it cool utterly and freeze in freezer luggage to make use of later.
Energy: 473kcal
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