Smoked pulled pork gets brined in apple juice all day or overnight, rubbed with seasoning, and then cooks all day long on a smoker for up to 8 hours. Low and slow is the BEST way to cook your meat.
This is how all the famous BBQ places down South and Rib Festers do it. If you're wondering what Rib Fest is, they have it every year here where I live. Different BBQ vendors come out and sell their food. It's almost like a bunch of Food Trucks that sit out by the street waiting for people to come buy that are hungry.
If you like smoker recipes try my recipe for Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken, Smoked Lobster Tails, Easy Smoked Salmon, Smoked Salsa, or Smoked Queso.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
I prefer my pork slow cooked on a smoker rath than in a slow cooker. The taste is just way better when you smoke it.
You’re going to want to wake up early for this smoking process because smoking a pulled pork can take up to 8 hrs.
If you have an 8 to 5 job, I wouldn’t recommend making smoked pulled pork during the week. You need to watch the pellets or wood chips just in case the wood chips start to run out. It all depends on what your daily schedule is like but I would consider making smoked pulled pork on the weekend.
Ingredients Needed
- Pork shoulder roast - This pork roast brines in apple juice or cider overnight to help give the pork it's sweet juicy flavor.
- Unsweetened apple cider - Or 100% Pure Apple Juice (Apple Cider is sometimes not available all year long.
- Light brown sugar - This is added for sweetness. Brown sugar also has a molasses flavor to it which helps flavor the pork shoulder roast even more!
- Smoked Paprika - Smoked Paprika will give that extra added smokey flavor to it
Onion powder - Is used for a less potent onion taste.
Garlic powder - Garlic powder is a better choice than fresh minced garlic because it helps stick to the meat better.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make Smoked Pulled Pork:
Step 1: Place pork shoulder in a large pot and add enough apple cider to cover. Cover pot and refrigerate for 12 hours.
Step 2: Combine brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a bowl.
Prepare smoker to about 220 degrees F (99 degrees C). Add enough wood chips to smoker.
Spread rub over pork shoulder. Transfer pork to the center of smoker.
Smoke pork until very tender, about 8 hours. Monitor applewood chips adding more wood respectively, as needed. Transfer pork to a large platter and cool for 30 minutes before shredding with forks.
Pulled Pork Tips
Go to your local butcher and ask for a pork shoulder roast. Figure out how much pork you’re going to be serving first before deciding on how many pounds to buy.
Find a vessel large enough to cover your pork and the brine. I used my pot that my Instant Pot came with because I used a 4 pound roast.
After 8 hrs of brining in apple juice take the pork butt out and rub the seasoning all over it. Place it on the smoker at 220 degrees for up to 8 hrs. Check your wood chips every now and then to make sure they aren’t running out. On my Traeger smoker, my smoker will just go cold if I don’t have the basket fully stocked of chips. Then the pellets get dumped all over the bottom and sometimes won’t go out.
Just make sure your smoker is cleaned well before attempting to smoke anything for long periods of time. so helpful. They remind me of tinfoil for easy clean up.
What can I serve with Smoked Pulled Pork?
Smoked pulled pork is a versatile protein that can be used in a variety of dishes and recipes. Here are a few ideas for what you can make with smoked pulled pork.
Pasta Side Dishes: Italian Pasta Salad, Mexican Macaroni Salad, BLT Pasta Salad, Shrimp and Pea Orzo Salad
Slow Cooker Side Dishes: Paula Deen's Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Slow Cooker Calico Beans
Cold Salads: Aunt Carol's Potato Salad or Berry Cheesecake Salad for something sweet
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make smoked pulled pork in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Simply season the pork shoulder with your preferred dry rub or marinade, and cook it on low heat in the slow cooker for 8-10 hours or in the Instant Pot on the "meat" setting for about 90 minutes.
Some common sides to serve with smoked pulled pork include coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, and mashed potatoes.
Apple or Cherry give the pulled pork a nice sweet smoky flavor.
With a smoker operating at 225-250° Fahrenheit, it can take from one hour per pound to one and one-half hours per pound to cook, and maybe even longer depending on the size and fat content of the shoulder.
When the pork shoulder reaches about 190°F, start checking it for tenderness with a fork.
The best time to wrap pork in foil is at the 5 hour mark or when the pork is 160 degrees.
Other Smoker Recipes To Try
If you tried this Smoked Pulled Pork or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Smoked Pulled Pork
- Prep Time: 8 hours
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours
- Yield: 10 1x
Description
Smoked pulled pork gets brined in apple juice all day or overnight, rubbed with seasoning, and then cooks all day long on a smoker for up to 8 hours.
Ingredients
- 1 (4 lb pork shoulder roast)
- 1 quart of unsweetened apple cider
- 5 tablespoons of light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of chili powder
- 2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Place pork shoulder in a large pot and add enough apple cider to cover.
- Combine brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a bowl. Set aside for later use.Â
- Cover pot and refrigerate for 12 hours.
- Prepare the smoker to about 220 degrees F (99 degrees C). Add enough wood chips to smoker.
- Spread rub over pork shoulder. Transfer pork to the center of smoker.
- Smoke pork until very tender, about 8 hours. Monitor applewood chips adding more wood respectively, as needed. Transfer pork to a large platter and cool for 30 minutes before shredding with forks.
Notes
Not a WW recipe
- Category: BBQ
- Method: Smoked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 556
- Sugar: 15.1g
- Sodium: 1
- Fat: 34.4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.7g
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 16.8g
- Fiber: .2g
- Protein: 42.g
- Cholesterol: 1
Keywords: smoked pulled pork
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