If you like pulled pork then you’re going to love this BBQ pulled pork recipe! And the best part? It has nothing to do with an oven or a crock pot so it is truly the real deal.

The pork butt is one of those cuts like our SMOKED BEEF BRISKET or BEEF RIBS WITH SOGHUM GLAZE that can seem like a challenge at first but is relatively easy and oh-so-good when properly cooked low and slow. 

Here’s my “go to” recipe for smoked pork butt, using a flavorful injection and dry rub seasoning to really take your BBQ pulled pork to a new level.  When preparing this recipe, be sure that the pork butt you purchase hasn’t been enhanced (sometimes labeled as “moist and tender") as it has already been injected with a salty mixture at the factory.

Once prepared, be sure to check out some of our amazing grilled sides like GRILLED COLESLAW, GRILLED SWEET POTATO PLANKS, GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES WITH SHAVED PARMESAN, CHARRED CORN AND RED PEPPER SALSA, and GRILLED MEXICAN STREET CORN!

EASY BBQ PULLED PORK RECIPE

Ingredients

1 8-10 pound bone-in pork butt

1/4 cup yellow mustard

BBQ dry rub seasoning (recipe follows)

Pork injection (recipe follows)

Instructions

Preheat smoker to 225-250 degrees.  Trim excess fat from the pork butt.  Use a seasoning injector to inject the pork butt evenly with as much of the injection liquid as the butt will hold.  Rub the outside of the pork butt with yellow mustard then completely coat the butt with dry rub seasoning.  Place the seasoned pork butt on the smoker, cover, and allow it to cook for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes per pound until it reaches an internal temperature of 190 degrees (note: it is worth investing in a high quality instant read thermometer such as the Super Fast Thermapen from ThermoWorks) and/or the shoulder blade bone pulls away cleanly from the meat.  Remove pork butt from the smoker, pull or chop the meat, and serve with or without your favorite barbecue sauce.

PORK INJECTION

Ingredients

32 ounces chicken stock

2 cups apple juice

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

2 tbsp. BBQ dry rub seasoning (recipe follows)

2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and warm over medium heatuntil the dry rub seasoning has completely dissolved.  Remove the injection liquid from the heat and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until completely cooled.

PORK DRY RUB

Ingredients

1/4 cup Domino pourable light brown sugar

1/4 cup Kosher salt

3 tbsp. smoked paprika

3 tbsp. onion powder

3 tbsp. garlic powder

1 tbsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. ancho chile powder

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and set it aside until ready to use.