This Smoked Pulled Ham is ham is slow smoked and glazed with a tasty apricot jam/BBQ sauce combo for the most amazing bit of pork deliciousness you’ll ever have.
Pulled ham is the recipe you never knew you needed. And while you may be familiar with pulled pork, you may be wondering how to to get a similar result from a whole picnic ham.
I first heard about pulled ham from Caytlin McCleary of Cayts Meats and Meals. Cayt masterfully pulled off a pulled ham recipe, and I gotta tell ya, the results looked INCREDIBLE.
After seeing her creation, I knew I had to try this out and put my own spin on it. After all, salty ham shredded apart lends itself beautifully to eating it as-is, or sticking it in a sandwich or making some sliders for a neighborhood BBQ. Sounds like a winner in my book!
Look no further! Char-Griller Ambassador, Steven Dotson of @cookoutcoach, shares his recipe and why it is his new favorite cut of meat to use for pulled pork! Hey everyone, today we’re going to talk about my new favorite cut for making pulled pork, and that is the picnic ham.
Smoked Picnic Ham Pulled Pork
Basically, what we’re doing here is following a similar process like we used for making pulled pork (from a pork shoulder), but we’re applying this to a picnic ham.
Make sure you purchase an uncut whole ham. You do NOT want a sliced or spiralized ham, as they will not shred. Aim for 8-10 pounds of ham with the bone in.
How to Make Smoked Pulled Ham
Here’s how to make this delicious ham. If you’re a visual learner, scroll down to the recipe card and check out my step-by-step instructional video!
- Score and season the ham. Make score marks across the entire surface of the ham (a sharp paring knife makes quick work of this). Drizzle the ham with olive oil then season the ham with my Best Sweet Rub. (Save yourself time making this rub from scratch by purchasing it directly from Hey Grill Hey!)
- Smoke. Smoke the seasoned ham in a smoker preheated to 225 degrees F for 6-7 hours. Target temperature for this smoke period is 165 degrees.
- Glaze and braise! Scroll to the recipe card for instructions on preparing the apricot glaze and adding the ham to a braise. Glaze the ham and add 1 cup of water to a disposable aluminum pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Finish smoking. Increase the temperature on the smoker to 300 degrees F. Return the ham to the smoker, and continue to smoke until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 200-205 degrees F and the thermometer probe easily slides into the meat.
- Rest, shred, and serve.. Remove the ham from the smoker and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes. Next up, grab some forks or meat shredder claws and pull that ham apart. Once your ham is shredded, get to it!
Make sure to smoke this ham to temperature as well as TEXTURE. You want your ham to be extremely tender, with the thermometer sliding into it like softened butter. Remember that every meat and every smoke will be slightly different, so plan for some variation in cooking time to get this ham juuuust right.
The Ultimate Pulled Pork | Picnic Ham #pulledpork #bbq #pork
FAQ
Is pork picnic good for pulled pork?
Is picnic ham the same as pork shoulder?
What’s the best cut of pork for pulled pork?
What’s the difference between pulled pork and pulled ham?
Can you use picnic roast for pulled pork?
Picnic roast is a versatile cut that can be used for making pulled pork. It is leaner and less fatty compared to other cuts like pork shoulder or Boston butt. The flavor may be slightly less intense compared to other cuts. Using picnic roast for pulled pork is a great option for those looking for a leaner, healthier version of this classic dish.
Can you cook a smoked picnic ham in a slow cooker?
A smoked picnic ham is not a “fresh” ham, so a large slow cooker should adequately re-heat it for safe consumption or warm it up for dinner. A picnic ham that has not been cured is just a pork shoulder roast, just right for slow-cooked barbecue.
What is a picnic ham?
It’s a super economical meal, especially when you consider it feeds a family of 4 and you have leftovers, plus a ham bone for soup! Not many $17 meat purchases give you that! Okay, so technically picnic ham isn’t ham, it’s pork shoulder because it comes from the shoulder area of the pig, not the butt/leg.
How to cook a picnic ham pork shoulder?
You can use Coca-Cola to glaze your picnic ham pork shoulder. Spray the baking tray with cooking oil. Place your picnic ham in the baking tray and rub it with brown sugar. Pour 1 can of Coca-Cola over the ham. Cover the ham and bake for 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, uncover and bake for another 30 minutes.