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Home » Smoker » Smoked Pulled Pork

June 20, 2019 By Sara 25 Comments

Smoked Pulled Pork

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This smoked pulled pork is pork shoulder coated in a homemade spice rub, then smoked until tender. Serve your pulled pork butt as-is, or pile it into a roll to make pulled pork sandwiches!

I use my smoker to enjoy my favorite barbecue restaurant style food at home. I regularly make smoked chicken, smoked pork chops and this fabulous smoked pulled pork.

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Smoked pulled pork tossed with sauce in a foil pan.

There’s nothing better than a super tender pulled pork sandwich, and in my opinion, the best way to accomplish this is to smoke your pork at low temperature. This smoked pulled pork is actually quite easy to make, and it’s perfect for feeding a large crowd.

How do you make smoked pulled pork?

This recipe starts with a BBQ spice rub, which gets spread all over your pork roast. I like to use my homemade BBQ rub, but you can use your favorite store bought rub if you prefer. The pork goes into the smoker and cooks for 4-5 hours until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. At that point, the pork is wrapped and left to cook for another 3-4 hours or until tender.

You can wrap your pork in either foil or butcher paper. Foil will work just fine, but the best pork is smoked with peach butcher paper. Wrapping the pork in peach butcher paper allows the meat to hold in its juices while allowing the smoke to permeate. You’ll also get nicer, more flavorful bark with the butcher paper.

Shred your meat, then enjoy! This recipe calls for a 4 pound pork roast. You can double or triple the recipe to feed a larger crowd, just be aware that the smoking time may increase by up to 2 hours for each additional pound of pork used.

Pork butt coated in homemade spice rub.

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?

The best cut of meat for pulled pork is a pork shoulder roast, which is also sometimes referred to as pork butt or Boston butt. The shoulder is well marbled, and all of that fat will melt down during the smoking process and make your pulled pork extra juicy and tender.

A wrapped pork shoulder ready to go into the smoker.

Can you make pulled pork ahead of time?

You can smoke your pulled pork up to 3 days before you plan to serve it. Shred the meat, then store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, transfer your meat to a baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Bake the meat at 300 degrees F for about 20-25 minutes or until pork is warmed through.

When is smoked pulled pork done?

Pulled pork should reach a minimum internal temperature of 195 degrees F before you take it off the smoker. If you prefer softer pulled pork, you can cook your pork until the internal temperature reaches 205 degrees F. It’s a matter of personal preference; the pork cooked at the lower temperature will have more texture to it. I like to use a probe thermometer with a remote so that I can continually monitor the progress of the meat from inside the house.

Smoked pork butt in butcher paper.

Ways to use smoked pork shoulder

There are so many different ways to enjoy pulled pork! You can eat it plain, make sandwiches, and use the leftovers in a variety of dishes.

  • Pizza
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Chili
  • Nachos
  • Salads

This is the best pulled pork I’ve ever had; that rich, smoky flavor just cannot be beat!

A smoked pulled pork sandwich served with french fries.

More great smoker recipes

  • Smoked Turkey
  • Smoked Chicken Thighs
  • Smoked Chicken Wings
  • Smoked Chicken Breast
  • Smoked Prime Rib
Smoked pulled pork tossed with sauce in a foil pan.
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5 from 13 votes

Smoked Pulled Pork

This smoked pulled pork is pork shoulder coated in a homemade spice rub, then smoked until tender. Serve your pulled pork butt as-is, or pile it into a roll to make pulled pork sandwiches!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword smoked pork butt, smoked pork shoulder, smoked pulled pork
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 393kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup BBQ spice rub
  • 3/4 cup apple juice
  • 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat an electric smoker to 235 degrees F. Load the smoker with apple wood, cherry wood or hickory chips.
  • Evenly apply a thin layer of yellow mustard to the pork.   Then sprinkle the rub all over the meat.
  • Place the roast in a disposable foil pan or directly on the smoker rack.
  • Cook for 2 hours.  After 2 hours, brush the apple juice over the pork once per hour.
  • At the 4 hour mark, check the temperature of the meat. When the internal temperature is at 160 degrees F, brush with remaining apple juice or any drippings that have accumulated if you're cooking your meat in a pan. It can take around 5 hours to reach this temperature.
  • Wrap the meat in peach butcher paper or foil. Increase the smoker temperature to 250 degrees F.
  • Smoke the meat for another 3-4 hours or until the internal temperature registers at least 195 degrees F. Cook the meat to 205 degrees F if you prefer softer pulled pork.
  • Remove the meat from the smoker and let stand wrapped for 10 minutes and unwrapped for 5 minutes.  
  • Shred the meat. Toss with BBQ sauce, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 1010mg | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2.4mg

Filed Under: Dinner, Smoker Tagged With: Pork

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Comments

  1. Frank says

    August 30, 2020 at 7:54 am

    I’m smoking 2 2lb smoke shoulders, today should I do anything different time wise?
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      August 31, 2020 at 4:04 pm

      If you’re just 2 lbs they will likely cook quicker because the pieces of meat are smaller!

      Reply
  2. fondue123 says

    July 24, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    Your recipe sounds amazing, and I will be trying this tomorrow! I’m new to smoking meat, and have to ask a newbie question, if you can bear with me!
    In your recipe, steps 4 and 5, you say to COOK for 4 -5 hours. In step 7, you’ve wrapped the meat, and you say to SMOKE for an additional 3-4 hours. Do you have the smoke going for the whole time (7 – 9 hours), or do you start with no smoke, just heat, then start smoking the meat for the last 3-4 hours? Like I said, I’m a novice, just wondering if that’s too much smoke!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 26, 2020 at 3:14 pm

      You have the smoke going the entire time!

      Reply
    • Shayla Johnson says

      December 29, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      It depends on the size of the meat

      Reply
  3. Christian says

    July 7, 2020 at 7:37 am

    5 stars
    Simple and delicious. I used my own rub (because I already had it on hand) and your sauce and it was great!

    Reply
  4. Bob says

    May 12, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this for the first time on my new Weber Smokey Mountain today and it came out tremendous. I followed your instructions exactly and was so ecstatic at the final results and that your cooking times were spot on which is wonderful. Eight hours almost exactly. The whole family loved it and my wife who doesn’t usually eat pulled pork went back for seconds. Amazing! Thank you

    Reply
  5. James S says

    December 22, 2019 at 10:59 am

    Instead of basting with apple juice, do you think basting with orange juice would be good? I will be putting the pork in tacos.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 22, 2019 at 3:36 pm

      Yes that should work fine!

      Reply
    • Steve says

      April 15, 2020 at 6:58 pm

      How often should you add new wood chips

      Reply
      • Sara says

        April 16, 2020 at 8:47 pm

        Check every hour to see if they need to be replenished!

        Reply
    • SammyMakesomenoise says

      April 23, 2020 at 10:12 pm

      5 stars
      Anything wet works…whatever you’re drinking! Vodka and ginger ale is going on mine😉 Best pulled pork recipe out there!

      Reply
  6. Cynthia says

    September 17, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    Can you make this in the oven or a crockpot.? I don’t have an electric smoker. 🙁

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 17, 2019 at 8:46 pm

      Here is a crock pot version: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/pulled-pork-sandwiches-with-rainbow-slaw/

      Reply
  7. Travis says

    June 25, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    5 stars
    This was exactly what I was looking for when searching for a pulled pork recipe! Such an awesome flavor and perfect for sandwiches!

    Reply
  8. Andrea Metlika says

    June 25, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    What a fantastic recipe for the summer. My whole family is going to love this.

    Reply
  9. Tina says

    June 25, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    Pulled pork definitely takes patience. At first I never started it early enough but then I learned you can’t rush it. The shoulder is my favorite part also to smoke. I love your recipe!

    Reply
  10. Tawnie Kroll says

    June 25, 2019 at 4:34 pm

    5 stars
    This was so perfect for my summer bbq over the weekend – thank you!

    Reply
  11. Noelle says

    June 25, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is the best for grill outs and weekend get togethers! I tried it last weekend and it was a crowd pleaser to say the least! Thank you

    Reply
  12. Jade Manning says

    June 24, 2019 at 3:06 am

    5 stars
    This looks delicious, the possibility with this dish is endless, in a roll, with rice or Salad, I’m trying them all!

    Reply
  13. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    June 23, 2019 at 4:50 pm

    5 stars
    This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!

    Reply
  14. Beth Pierce says

    June 22, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    5 stars
    This was the BEST recipe for our Friday night cookout last night! Definitely going to make this easy recipe again for the 4th, for sure!

    Reply
  15. Jacque Hooper says

    June 22, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! Not only was this easy, but it was so flavorful and juicy, too! My whole family fell in love with this dish; excited to make it again!

    Reply
  16. Stephanie says

    June 21, 2019 at 9:02 pm

    5 stars
    This pulled pork was phenomenal! Such a great flavor!

    Reply
  17. Shannon Graham says

    June 21, 2019 at 8:04 pm

    5 stars
    That looks absolutely perfect. Seriously the most delicious pork I’ve ever seen.

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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