Indulge in tender and flavorful pulled pork with this mouthwatering Dutch Oven Pulled Pork recipe. Slow-cooked to perfection in a Dutch oven, this dish boasts melt-in-your-mouth pork infused with smoky and savory flavors, making it an irresistible crowd-pleaser for any barbecue or gathering.
Take your sandwiches, nachos, and tacos to the next level with this mouthwatering Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Recipe. With a perfect kick of flavor, it will impress your friends and family and will be great to use for leftovers and other dishes. This is the ultimate pulled pork recipe that is beyond easy you won’t believe it.
Ingredients for the Pulled Pork
To create the ultimate Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Recipe, you’ll need a few essential ingredients to create a mouthwatering flavor.
- Pork shoulder or pork butt, preferably bone-in
- A lot of seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, seasoned salt)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Brown sugar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Apple Juice
- Smoked Bacon
- Liquid Smoke
These ingredients work together to create a balance of sweet and savory flavors that will make your taste buds dance. Additionally, you’ll need a Dutch oven, an essential tool for creating melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork. With these ingredients, you’ll be on your way to creating a crowd-pleasing dish that will leave everyone wanting more. Now, let’s move on to the preparation.
Preparing the Pork
Preparing the best-pulled pork recipe requires patience, but it’s worth it in the end. Here are the steps:
- Trim off excess fat from the top of the pork shoulder.
- Thoroughly season the meat with the seasonings and let it rest for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat. I recommend letting the pork roast sit overnight in the refrigerator.
- Mix the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke in a separate bowl. This will be the braising liquid that will keep the meat moist and flavorful throughout the cooking process.
- Next, add the bacon to the cast iron Dutch oven and add the seasoned pork along with the braising liquid. The pork will baste in this liquid, and the pork juices make the pulled pork delicious and juicy.
- Cover the Dutch oven with a lid, transfer it to a preheated oven set at 325°F, and cook for 6 hours or until the meat is fork-tender.
Slow-Cooking the Pork Shoulder
The beauty of slow-cooking is that it allows the meat to become incredibly tender and juicy. The pork will have ample time to absorb the flavors of the braising liquid, resulting in a rich and flavorful dish. The aroma of the pork slowly cooking in the oven will make it nearly impossible to resist sneaking a taste before it’s done.
Once the pork is fall-apart tender, it’s time to move on to the assembly process to make delicious Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Keep your fork handy because you’ll want to taste this delicious pulled pork before it’s nestled into your favorite sandwich, nachos, or tacos.
Assembling the sandwiches
Once the pork is done, it’s time to assemble the perfect sandwich using the best pulled pork or meal using tender and juicy pulled pork. First, skim off any excess fat or liquid from the pork before pulling it apart using a pair of forks. If you prefer a saucier dish, mix in some of the remaining braising liquid to your taste.
Place a generous amount of pulled pork onto a soft bun for a classic pulled pork sandwich. Top it with my coleslaw recipe made with sliced Granny Smith apples, pickles, and bbq sauce.
Alternatively, for a Tex-Mex-inspired meal, pile the pulled pork onto crispy tortilla chips, sprinkle some shredded cheese, and bake until the cheese is melted. Finish with fresh salsa, jalapeños, and sliced avocado. Season the pork with chili powder, cumin, and a little cayenne.
For a healthier option, serve the pulled pork on a bed of greens with roasted vegetables. Mix it into a pasta dish or use it as a topping for baked potatoes. The possibilities are endless!
Whatever you choose, enjoy the mouth-watering flavors of the slow-cooked pulled pork. And if you have any leftovers, don’t worry. They make a delicious meal the next day stored in an airtight container or can be frozen for later.
Commonly Asked Questions
Both slow cookers and Dutch ovens can produce delicious pulled pork, but it depends on personal preference and desired texture.
Yes, overcooking pork in a Dutch oven can result in dry and tough meat. Monitor cooking time and internal temperature to avoid this.
How long does a Dutch oven take compared to a Crockpot?
Similar Recipes
If you like recipes using pork tenderloin or dutch oven recipes, you will like the ones below:
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Crockpot Pork Ribs
- Beer Braised Chicken Thighs
- Easy Slow Cooker Pork Recipe
Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Recipe
- Total Time: 10 hours hours 30 mins
- Yield: 16 1x
Description
Try making your pulled pork in a Dutch oven for even cooking! Make this Dutch oven Pulled Pork recipe and top with BBQ sauce and coleslaw!
Ingredients
- 8 lb. Pork Shoulder Butt
- 1 lb. Smoked Bacon, diced
- 1/2 tbsp. Kosher salt
- 2 tbsp. Seasoned salt
- 1 tbsp. Coarse pepper
- 2 tsp. Smoked paprika
- 1/2 tbsp. Onion powder
- 1/2 tbsp. Garlic powder
- 3 tbsp. Light brown sugar
- 1/4 c. liquid smoke, divided
- 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 c. apple juice
- 16 oz. Coleslaw Mix
- 2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and finely sliced
- 1 c. mayo
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Honey
- 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp. Salt
- 1/4 tsp. Pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine both salts, coarse black pepper, smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, and light brown sugar and stir using a fork. Set aside.
- Take the pork shoulder and rub with half of the liquid smoke all over. Next, take the dry rub and season the entire shoulder all over. Wrap in plastic wrap and allow to set for, at least, 2 hours but preferably overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 325 Degrees.
- Heat the dutch oven on the stove top on medium-high heat. Take half of the diced bacon and cook until it begins to brown. Unwrap the pork shoulder butt and place in the dutch oven and sear on both sides for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar and apple juice around the pork. Place the rest of the uncooked bacon on top of the pork shoulder. Place the lid on top of the Dutch oven and cook in a preheated oven for 6 hours.
- Once the pork has cooked it should be fork tender. Pour the rest of the liquid smoke over the pork shoulder butt. Allow to sit covered for, at least, 30 minutes before shredding.
- Use your hands, if you wish, or two forks and begin to shred the pork. Season with an extra salt and pepper, if desired. Once the pork is shredded, leave in the oven with the remaining juices.
- To make the coleslaw, add the coleslaw mix to a mixing bowl, add the apple, mayo, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper and stir until well mixed. Serve on top or on the side of the pulled pork. Serve as sandwiches using the buns and your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Entree
- Method: Roast
- Cuisine: American
Taught my g-daughter this recipe to teach her how to read a recipe and cook it. Came out delicious.
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Seriously awesome!
Grilled Cornbread With Jalapeno Honey Butter is great! I just finished it last night and the result was unexpected, my wife and daughter both liked it, which made me happy. Thanks for your recipe!!!
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Hi there, thank you for sharing this delicious recipe with us. Keep posting!
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Thank you Susan!
This recipe is fantastic, never tasted pulled pork this good before. Freezes nicely if you make too much, and goes great on quesadillas, which I wasn’t expecting.
Oh yay!!!!!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
It looks really tasty, and the recipe is not hard as well. Your recipes are truly amazing.
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Thank you Mike!
Hello! It is a wonderful dutch oven pulled pork recipe! Is any type of dutch oven is ok for this recipe? Hope to get more wonderful recipe from you!
May God bless you!
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Yes as long as it is a heavy-duty cast-iron skillet.