Pulled Pork | The Modern Proper (original) (raw)

September 4, 2024

Cooked low and slow, our classic, easy pulled pork recipe yields tender, juicy meat with a classic BBQ flavor. Make it in the oven, slow-cooker, or Instant Pot — either way, it’s the best.

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a pot of pulled pork made with boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock drizzled with bbq sauce

Photography by Gayle McLeod

Succulent, juicy, and bursting with flavor, our pulled pork recipe is a lot easier to make than you might think! Plus, It can be made in the oven, slow-cooker or an Instant Pot — whatever feels easy to you. Which ever method you choose, know that you’ll need time. Even Instant Pot pulled pork takes 90 minutes. Once it’s made, though, you’re set! Serve it on a bun, in our Pineapple Pulled Pork Sandwich, in heavenly pulled pork tacos, or even on a salad. If you want to branch out a little, try our sweet-spicy honey chipotle pulled pork recipe.

pork shoulder, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar and spices in prep bowls to make pulled pork

What Is The Best Cut Of Meat for Pulled Pork?

The best pork for pulled pork is boneless pork shoulder. Pork shoulder is a term that can be vague, because it refers to a “primal cut” of pork, meaning a large piece of the pig that is cut off during butchering and then typically broken down into smaller, “sub-primal” cuts, each with a different name (though all coming from the pork shoulder). The best piece of shoulder meat for making pulled pork is the “pork butt.”

Sometimes, pork butt is labeled “Boston butt” or even “pork shoulder roast.” Worth noting: In our pulled pork recipe, we ask you to cut the pork butt into quarters, but you can very nicely ask your butcher to do it for you and save yourself some work. Why? We think it cooks better that way, especially in a slow-cooker or Instant Pot. You’ll get more crispy edges—thanks, surface area!—and it’s just one of those little things that makes our recipe the very best pulled pork recipe ever.

boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock being added to a pot

boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock cooking in a pot

pork shoulder cooking in a pot

cooked pork shoulder being shredded into pulled pork with 2 forks

Our Pulled Pork Seasoning Mix

a pot of pulled pork made with boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock drizzled with bbq sauce

How To Make Pulled Pork In The Oven, Crock-Pot Or Instant Pot

  1. Combine stock and cider vinegar in your vessel of choice. The cider vinegar will help to break down the pork and ensure that that tough pork shoulder becomes totally juicy and tender.
  2. Put the pork butt pieces into the Dutch oven, slow-cooker or Instant Pot.
  3. Time for the pulled pork seasonings! Rub that quartered pork butt with a whole mess of slightly smoky, spicy, sharp and sweet spices.
  4. Cover and cook! Cooked in the oven, pulled pork takes four hours. Instant Pot pulled pork will take a little over an hour. Crock-Pot pulled pork will take 8-10 hours on low, or 4-6 hours on high.
  5. Now, watch for doneness! The official pulled pork done temp is 205°F on an instant read thermometer, and you’ll know that it’s done when the pulled pork is fork-tender, meaning just a hint of pressure from the tines of a fork causes it to absolutely fall apart.
  6. Serve! Get some really good-quality buns. You can douse the pulled pork with either BBQ Sauce or Teriyaki Sauce (homemade or store-bought), depending on your mood, and squish all that goodness between the buns.

a pot of pulled pork made with boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock drizzled with bbq sauce

a pot of pulled pork made with boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock drizzled with bbq sauce

How To Freeze + Store Leftover Pulled Pork

a bbq pulled pork sandwich made with homemade pulled pork

More Essential Pork Recipes

Even More Delicious Ideas Ahead

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Pulled Pork

Updated on September 4, 2024

Ingredients

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position.
    pork shoulder, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar and spices in prep bowls to make pulled pork
  2. In a large Dutch oven, combine the chicken stock and vinegar. Nestle in the pork and sprinkle with the brown sugar, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
    boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock being added to a pot
  3. Cover and roast in the oven for about 3 hours. Uncover and roast 1 to 2 hours more, or until the pork is tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork.
    pork shoulder cooking in a pot
  4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl or baking dish, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces.
    cooked pork shoulder being shredded into pulled pork with 2 forks
  5. Serve the pulled pork on the rolls and top with as much bbq sauce as you like. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
    a pot of pulled pork made with boneless pork shoulder, spices, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock drizzled with bbq sauce

Notes

To cook the pork in an Instant Pot:

  1. To the bowl of an Instant Pot, add the chicken stock and vinegar. Nestle in the pork and sprinkle with the brown sugar, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Lock the lid in place, close the vent valve, and cook on high pressure for 1 hour. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, then quick release if needed.
  2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl or baking dish, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces.
  3. Serve the pulled pork on the rolls and top with as much bbq sauce as you like. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To cook the pork in a slow cooker:

  1. To the bowl of a slow cooker, add the chicken stock and vinegar. Nestle in the pork and sprinkle with the brown sugar, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6 hours, or until the pork is tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork.
  2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large bowl or baking dish, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces.
  3. Serve the pulled pork on the rolls and top with as much bbq sauce as you like.

Note: Want to make this teriyaki? Skip the chili powder and swap in teriyaki sauce for the BBQ!