The Best Pulled Pork Recipes

PERFECT PULLED PORK RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix well and store in an air tight container.
• Add salt to cold water and stir very well until all the salt is completely dissolved. Then add the brown sugar, dry rub, and bay leaves and stir well to combine.
• Rinse the pork shoulder and place in a large container, pour in the brine solution until the shoulder is completely covered. Cover the container and place in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.
• Remove pork shoulder from brine solution, pat dry with paper towels, place in baking pan that is bigger than the shoulder by at least a inch in length and width and at least 3 inches deep. Sprinkle dry rub onto the surface of the shoulder and massage in such that it adheres to the surface. Coat all sides. Make sure the fat layer on the shoulder is facing up before cooking! Place baking pan uncovered in a 225 degree F oven on the middle rack. Insert a probe thermometer into the center or thickest part of the shoulder, but not touching the bone. Monitor the temperature throughout cooking (a digital thermometer with an alarm function is the easiest way to do this). Do not remove from the oven until the center of the shoulder reaches 200 degrees.
• When the shoulder has reached 200 degrees, shut off the oven and let the roast cool for a couple of hours before removing from the oven. If the bottom of the pan is dry (or crusted with dried spices) then cover the pan with foil to retain internal moisture of the meat during the cooling period. When the temperature drops to 170 degrees or slightly lower, remove from oven. Place on a large, clean work surface such as a cutting board, and remove the large sheet of crusted fat on the top. Pull apart with two forks, it will pull apart very easily. Serve for friends and family!

SLOW COOKER TEXAS PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Pour the vegetable oil into the bottom of a slow cooker. Place the pork roast into the slow cooker; pour in the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth. Stir in the brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, onion, garlic, and thyme. Cover and cook on High until the roast shreds easily with a fork, 5 to 6 hours.
• Remove the roast from the slow cooker, and shred the meat using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, and stir the meat into the juices.
• Spread the inside of both halves of hamburger buns with butter. Toast the buns, butter side down, in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Spoon pork into the toasted buns.

THE BEST PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Whisk together the chile powder, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar in a small bowl until completely combined and no lumps remain. Spread the spice rub evenly over the pork butt, pressing it into the flesh on all sides. Let the pork sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour or wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 275 degrees F.
• Whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar in large Dutch oven or other heavy large pot until combined. Transfer the pork and any accumulated juices to the pot, turning the pork to coat it with sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat. Then cover, transfer to the oven and bake until the pork is very tender and easily shreds when pulled apart with a fork, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Let the pork cool uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Reserve 1 cup of the sauce for serving, then smash the pork into the remaining sauce with a potato masher; it should fall apart and shred completely. Stir to combine the pork with the sauce. Serve on toasted potato rolls topped with coleslaw. Pass the reserved sauce.

PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Mix together 2 tsp each smoked paprika, ground cumin, pepper, and brown sugar, plus 1 tsp salt. Rub over the 2.5kg boneless shoulder of pork.
• Put the pork in a big casserole dish, skin-side up, and pour in 2 medium mugfuls of cider.
• Cover with a lid and cook in the oven at 150C/130C fan/gas 2 for anywhere between 4 and 8 hrs until falling apart. Check every few hours in case it gets dry - if it does, add another mugful of cider.
• Take it out of the oven and put the meat in a big dish, leaving the liquid in the casserole.
• Cut the skin off, then shred the meat using two forks. Ditch any fatty bits, and skim any excess fat off the surface of the sauce.
• Add a mugful of a good smoky BBQ sauce to the casserole, mix it in, then ladle some into a bowl for dipping.
• Put the pulled pork back in the casserole with the juices so it stays moist. Season to taste. Can be made one day ahead.
• Serve in soft white rolls with coleslaw and the bowl of juices on the side for 'French dipping' the sandwich while you're eating.

ULTIMATE SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Rub the pork with salt and pepper, and then set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients. (See notes below if you plan to sear the pork first).
• Heat oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic then cook, occasionally stirring, until they are sweet and browned around the edges. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook, stirring until the tomato paste turns from bright red to orange in color; about 3 minutes. Add the water, apple cider vinegar, and fish sauce and cook for about 1 minute, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
• Rest the seasoned pork in the bottom of a slow cooker then pour the onion and spice mixture on top. Wiggle the pork around the bottom of the slow cooker so that some of the onion and spice mixture slides underneath. Cover with lid and cook until the pork can be easily shredded; LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6.
• Turn off the slow cooker and transfer the pork to a cutting board. If the pork has a bone in it, remove and discard it. Use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any connective tissue, and large clumps of fat.
• Remove the cooking liquid and skim most of the fat from its surface. Discard the fat then set the cooking liquid aside.
• If using barbecue sauce, add it to the slow cooker and stir in the shredded pork. For even more flavor, add back some of the reserved cooking liquid. If you're not using barbecue sauce, add the shredded pork and the cooking liquid back to the slow cooker. Taste and season with salt, additional vinegar, or hot sauce as needed.

HOW TO MAKE PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Slow Cooker Method: Place pork in slow cooker and pour coke around it. Cover and cook on LOW (recommended) 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
• Instant Pot Method: Place pork in instant pot and pour coke around it. Cook on Manual/High pressure for 70 minutes. When timer beeps, allow the pot to naturally release pressure, about 15 minutes longer. Remove lid and shred the meat.

INSTANT POT PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Dry the pork with paper towels. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, chili powder, black pepper, onion powder, cumin, dry mustard, and cayenne. Add the pork chunks to the bowl and toss to coat them thoroughly with the spice mixture.
• Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and add the water and vinegar. Place the seasoned pork on the trivet.
• Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Select the pressure cook or manual button (high pressure) and set the timer to 45 minutes.
• When the time is up, allow a natural release for 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully turn the steam release valve to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.
• Drain and discard the liquids. Remove the pork to a bowl and shred it. Add 1 1/2 cups of barbecue sauce to the pork and stir to blend. Return the pork to the Instant Pot and select the lowest sauté setting. Cook the pork until it is thoroughly heated.
• Serve and enjoy.

LEFTOVER PULLED PORK SANDWICH (QUICK AND EASY)

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, add onion, garlic, BBQ sauce and chicken broth. Cook until the onions are soft.
• Add leftover pulled pork to the pan and toss with the sauce. Cook until it's heated through.
• Toasted the buns. Then spoon shredded pork onto one half of the toasted bun.
• Drizzle with BBQ sauce, top with coleslaw and cover with the bun tops. Serve and enjoy!