Pulled Pork Recipe
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
3 hrs
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Total Time
3 hrs 15 mins
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Servings
12 Servings
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Calories
329 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Pulled Pork Recipe
Description
The Pulled Pork Recipe coats a pork shoulder with a complex seasoning blend including brown sugar and a mix of ground and smoked spices such as paprika, cayenne, cumin, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. After seasoning and optional overnight refrigeration for deeper flavor infusion, the pork is seared on all sides in canola oil in a Dutch oven. Then it's cooked covered at a moderate oven temperature for 3 to 3.5 hours until tender enough to shred. The careful balance of spices provides a sweet, smoky, and mildly spicy flavor profile that complements the rich pork.
This dish is typically shredded before serving, allowing the meat to be tender and pull apart easily. Draining and reserving the cooking juices—after skimming fat—can enhance moisture and flavor when served over the shredded pork. It works well as a main dish or filling for sandwiches or tacos.
The recipe emphasizes the benefit of using smoked salt to boost the smoky depth affordably and recommends the optional step of refrigerating the seasoned pork overnight for best results.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup salt *
- 1/4 cup black pepper coarse ground
- 1/4 cup paprika sweet
- 1/3 cup smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons cumin ground
- 5 pounds pork shoulder
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
Instructions
- Mix everything but the pork shoulder and the oil together in a large metal bowl.
- Add in the pork shoulder and roll it in the seasoning well, packing on all the seasoning as best as you can.
- Wrap the top with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight (optional but very highly recommended).
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Using a large dutch oven add the canola oil over medium high heat.
- Brown the pork on all sides then turn off the stovetop.
- Add in a small rack under the pork into the dutch oven (in the absence of this use foil).
- Place the pork on top then cover.
- Cook for 3-3 1/2 hours (if the meat is longer rather than thicker 3 should be long enough).
- Shred before serving.
- If you want to keep the juices, skim the fat off then pour over the pork before serving.
Notes
- Using smoked salt enriches the overall smoky flavor without added cost.
- Refrigerating the pork overnight after seasoning deepens the flavor.
- Skim fat from cooking juices to keep the sauce flavorful but not greasy, then pour over shredded pork before serving.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 329 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 329kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 44g | 88% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.04g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 113mg | 38% |
| Sodium | 2469mg | 103% |
| Potassium | 939mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 2799IU | 56% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 66mg | 7% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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