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Oven-cooked Smoked Pulled Pork served with homemade BBQ sauce

Smoked Pulled Pork (Oven Method)

A cozy and forgiving recipe for smoked pulled pork made in the oven, perfect for a BBQ vibe without the hassle of a smoker.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, BBQ
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pork
  • 4 to 6 pounds Pork shoulder or pork butt Choose a cut with enough fat for juiciness.
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon Black pepper
  • 1/4 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Paprika Use smoked paprika if available.
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon Onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper Optional, for added heat.
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons Liquid smoke Start small to avoid overwhelming flavor.
  • 3/4 cup Apple cider vinegar or apple juice Used to add moisture and flavor.
  • to taste BBQ sauce For serving.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. In a bowl, mix together salt, pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne if using.
  3. Season the pork all over and press the rub into the meat.
  4. Place the pork in a roasting pan or Dutch oven and pour apple juice or apple cider vinegar around it, not on top.
  5. Stir 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke into the liquid in the pan.
  6. Cover the pan tightly with foil or a lid.
Cooking
  1. Bake in the oven for about 3.5 to 5.5 hours, depending on size, until the pork shreds easily with a fork.
  2. Let the pork rest for 20 to 30 minutes before shredding.
  3. Shred the pork and toss it with a bit of pan juice before adding BBQ sauce to taste.

Notes

If the pork does not shred easily, it is not done yet. Cook longer if necessary. Serve with pickles and thin sliced onions for crunch and tang.