Pulled Pork

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Prepare to dazzle your family with our delectable pulled pork recipe. Flavourfully seasoned and slow-cooked to perfection, this scrumptious delight will have everyone requesting seconds!

We adore pulled pork. It’s one of those dishes that I don’t prepare frequently enough because I assume it’s labor-intensive. However, when I do prepare it, I recall how straightforward it is and vow that I’ll cook it more regularly!

Slow-cooked pork effortlessly falls apart and is incredibly flavorful.

This is my preferred recipe for ideal oven-baked pulled pork. It’s an incredibly kid-friendly dish that consistently tastes fantastic and surprisingly requires very little effort!

Ingredients for Pulled Pork

When I prepare this recipe, I create a simple rub for the pork using pantry spices, but you don’t require anything elaborate.

I utilize:

Pork Shoulder– Some pulled pork recipes incorporate pork butt, but shoulder is more accessible here.

Paprika

Cumin

Salt and Black Pepper

Dark Brown Sugar

Cider

BBQ Sauce

Which BBQ Sauce Should You Select?

I utilize my homemade BBQ sauce composed of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and honey (and a few other ingredients!) which I enjoy.

This BBQ sauce recipe yields a quantity sufficient for likely 2 batches of pulled pork and stores well in the refrigerator.

You can also opt for any commercial BBQ sauce or another recipe that you fancy for this oven pulled pork.

I would estimate you need about 100ml, but you can adjust more or less depending on your preference for the sauce’s potency.

What Do You Require to Prepare Pulled Pork?

I cook my pulled pork in a large Dutch oven, inside the oven.

Anything sizable, heatproof, and covered will suffice.

How to Make Pulled Pork – Step-by-Step

This is such an uncomplicated pulled pork recipe.

You can find the complete instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the end of this post too.

Step One

Locate a large, heatproof, covered dish that can accommodate your pork comfortably.

I utilize a large Dutch Oven.

Step Two

In a small bowl combine the paprika, cumin, black pepper, salt, and dark brown sugar.

Step Three

Position the Pork Shoulder in the cooking vessel, and generously…

Massage the spice blend all over. You can perform this on a platter, although it will be less tidy this way.

Step Four

Pour around 300 ml of cider, directing it onto the base of the dish, avoiding the pork.

Step Five

Cover and position in the oven. Preheating isn’t necessary, so switch it on to 120 degrees C (fan-assisted) now.

Step Six

Cook for about 4 hours (a bit more or less is acceptable, but I don’t believe it requires excessively long!) checking periodically and adding more cider if necessary.

I spoon a bit of liquid over the top of the pork every time I check as well.

If you’re crafting your own BBQ sauce, now is the time to do it.

Step Seven

Take it out of the oven and remove the lid.

Gently lift the pork from the cooking dish and set it on a plate to rest. It might start to disintegrate as soon as you lift it, so be cautious.

Re-cover the dish and set it aside.

Step Eight

Loosely cover the meat with foil (this isn’t mandatory; you can simply leave it on the plate) and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.

Step Nine

Use your fingers to peel away the excess fat layer on top of the cut. Discard this.

Step Ten

Utilize two forks to shred the pork, breaking it down into fine, pulled strips. Place on a platter or large plate.

Step Eleven

Spoon a generous amount of the liquid from the bottom of the cooking dish over the shredded pork and drizzle with BBQ sauce.

Combine thoroughly.

What Happens if You Overcook Pulled Pork?

You really can’t overcook pulled pork.

The liquid might evaporate, but you can always add more, and the exterior of the pork where you applied the spice blend might turn a bit crispy. Regardless, it will still taste delicious.

Even if the pork itself is a bit dry, adding the sauce will bring it back to life.

How Do You Pull Pork?

I literally insert two forks and shred it apart. Sometimes I pull the forks apart, and at other times, I rub them against each other, based on the direction of the meat’s grain.

Why Won’t My Pork Pull?

If only a small section of pork won’t shred, you may have encountered some fat, or a tough edge. Remove it with your fingers and continue.

You might also consider rotating it and pulling from a different angle to work with the grain of the meat.

If the entire cut isn’t coming apart, it may require a little more cooking. Baste with some of the liquid and allow for another hour at a lower temperature.

It could also indicate that your oven temperature was too high; try a lower setting for longer next time.

How Do You Serve Pulled Pork?

I presented pulled pork shoulder on burger buns with some grated mozzarella and additional BBQ sauce.

You can also serve it on a plate accompanied by chips or something like mac and cheese.

You could simply place it on some bread for sandwiches.

What to Serve with Pulled Pork?

I typically serve my pulled pork burgers with corn on the cob and salad, perhaps with some mac and cheese, but there’s really no right or wrong.

What Do You Do with Leftover Pulled Pork?

Leftover pulled pork can be reheated and used for pulled pork sandwiches the following day, or even accompanied by pasta and vegetables.

Another alternative is to make pulled pork flatbread pizzas, which are fantastic!

Reheating Pulled Pork

How you reheat pulled pork will depend on the amount you have.

However, first ensure that you are storing it appropriately if you plan to keep it. Place in an airtight container, allow it to cool completely, then seal and place in the refrigerator.

Disclaimer: While I strive to be as precise as possible, any recommendations in this post, including but not limited to, cooking durations, quantities, nutritional details, and storage and freezing advice is based on my personal experience. Please apply your own skills, knowledge, and judgment, and consult up-to-date food safety information.

I would only retain it for a day and never leave it out on the counter. You shouldn’t keep it if the pork was nearing its expiration that day. You can find more tips on storing leftovers here.

Then, if you have a significant amount of leftover pulled pork, I would spread it in a thin layer on a baking tray, drizzle with a bit of water, and bake for 15-20 minutes at 180 degrees, until the meat is piping hot.

If you have much less, I would likely place it in a pan with a little water and heat it slowly on the stovetop until it’s piping hot.

If you have one, you could also use a microwave.

Can You Freeze Pulled Pork?

Yes, as long as the meat is still fresh, you can freeze cooked pulled pork in an airtight container for up to two months.

Thaw completely in the refrigerator when you are ready, then reheat as mentioned above.

Save this recipe for future use!