I really enjoy smoking a pork shoulder for hours; smelling the smells, tending the fire, and of course that taste at the end. But not everyone has a smoker, so this blog is all about how to cook pulled pork in the oven.
With the homemade seasoning and a few other tricks, this pork butt will take on a smoky flavor and will be very close to traditional pit barbecue. In fact, the pulled pork sandwiches you’ll get from this pulled pork recipe will have all but the most discerning of BBQ enthusiasts convinced it came off a pit.
If you enjoyed this blog, be sure to check out my recipe for smoky beef ribs in the oven as well.
How To Get Smoke Flavor in the Oven?
The keys to getting that smoky pit style bbq flavor while using the oven is threefold. Proper use of liquid smoke, using smoked spices to make the rub, and an amazing homemade smoky barbecue sauce.
Starting with the preparation of the pork, use a mixture of liquid smoke and yellow mustard as your binder. The mustard won’t provide any flavor, but it will help the liquid smoke penetrate into the meat and build the crust.
Next, a simple homemade barbecue rub made with smoked spices. You can find smoked spices in most grocery stores, and on Amazon.
Finally, making a simple smoky BBQ sauce will help with getting your pork as close to pit barbecue as possible, without actually having a smoker.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Pulled Pork in the Oven?
When cooking pork at between 225° – 250°F you should plan for about 90 minutes of cook time per pound of pork. That’s not exact of course, but it’s a good ballpark range for planning purposes.
One great benefit for cooking bbq pulled pork in the oven is that if it’s done early, it will keep well in a warm oven for a couple hours. In fact, pork is best when you allow it to “rest” for an hour or so before pulling it.
PULLED PORK SHOULDER | in the oven recipe
Do you cover pulled pork when cooking?
This recipe does not cover the meat while cooking, because we like the “bark” that forms on the outside. However, if you do not like the crispy parts, you can cover your roasting pan lightly with foil. The best internal temperature for pulled pork is 205°F degrees.
Can one eat pork?
A cooked, medium pork cutlet or steak provides 239 calories, 34 grams protein, 10 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 697 milligrams sodium, and 0 grams carbohydrate, if you eat only the lean part of the steak. Pork contains many of the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) found in beef and it is high in protein, but can be lower in fat than beef—depending on cut and preparation. Meat from any kind of mammal, including pork, can cause an allergic reaction (and some people who are allergic to mammalian meat also react to poultry).
Can you cook pulled pork in the oven?
Our oven pulled pork will need to cook in an oven-proof large cooking pan with lid or a Dutch oven. Either will work just fine. All the magic will happen in this same vessel: the stovetop searing of the meat, and then the roasting in the oven.
Should you cover pork before cooking?
Cover the pan tightly with foil for the first portion of cooking to ensure the pork stays moist. Uncovering it at the end of the baking process ensures that the outside of the pork gets a nice “crust” on it, which are all of the crunchy bits that everyone will fight over!