Easy & Mouthwatering Pork Shoulder Butt Roast Dinner Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best liquid for pork shoulder? ›

Apple cider vinegar: Adds a little tanginess and helps to tenderize the pork. Without it, the pork tastes flat. Adding the vinegar wakes everything up. Fish sauce or Worcestershire: Seasons our cooking liquid and adds a nice burts of umami, which makes the pulled pork even more delicious.

Try brine: Choose a wet marinade rather than a dry one. Dry rubs may work fine but brine or a wet rub will add that extra moisture along with the flavor that will penetrate deep inside the meat. Keep a spray bottle handy: Keep spraying the meat during smoking or reheating to replace the lost moisture.

It's a versatile and economical cut that takes deliciously to roasting, braising, stewing, and slow cooking. Low, moist heat turns the meat so tender and succulent, it just falls away from the bone and practically melts in the mouth. In the U.S., pork shoulder is the perfect pick for pulled pork.

Pre-heat oven to 250F (121C). Roast pork shoulder for pulled pork in the oven for approximately 8-12 HOURS. Or until internal temperature reaches 190F (91C), rested to a final 195F (94C).

Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop. Even a quick 30-minute brine (or up to four hours) makes a big difference. It's not strictly necessary — you can still use this method to make great pork chops even without brining — but if you have some extra time, I recommend it.

This could be your favorite pork shoulder rub, or you can always make your own. A simple blend of garlic powder, salt, and pepper will do the trick just fine. Moist and cold meat absorbs more smoke, so after your meat is seasoned, refrigerate it until you're ready for the smoker.

Bake the pork shoulder roast in the oven

Place the pork shoulder roast fat-side up on the rack. Pour 3 cups of water into the roasting pan, or enough to cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer.

Get Saucy or Not. The delicious defatted cooking liquid keeps the pulled pork moist, but you can replace or augment it with a finishing sauce. Barbecue sauce is a reliable and compatible choice, but don't let it limit your vision and creativity in using the meat.

Unlike the more lean tenderloin and chops, pork shoulder is an incredibly forgiving cut of meat. It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cook time, so even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long, you won't suddenly end up with something dry or rubbery.

Collagen is chewy as all get-out. And it's why those cuts are considered tough. If you cooked a hunk of pork shoulder to medium-rare—around 140℉ (60℃)—it wouldn't be pleasant to eat.

Is pork shoulder healthier than beef? ›

Both pork and beef are high in proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, beef tends to have more calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol than pork. Pork may be a better choice, then, if you're trying to manage your blood cholesterol levels.

We roasted this 3.5 – 4 pound roast at 250 degrees F. and our cooking time was about 7-8 hours or until the internal temperature reached 190-200 degrees F (the closer you get to 200 degrees F.

Both come from the shoulder of the pig, but pork butt is higher on the foreleg, while pork shoulder is farther down. As relatively tough and fatty cuts, both benefit from long, slow cooking methods such as roasting, stewing, and braising. But the cuts are different enough that we generally prefer pork butt.

I roasted two identical pork shoulders until they were both equally tender. One at 375°F (which took about 3 hours), and second at 250°F (which took about 8 hours).

Return pork to the grill (or smoker) The pork is finished cooking when it pulls apart easily and reaches an internal temperature of 190 to 195 degrees F, about another 1 to 2 hours. Let rest for 1 hour, then unwrap the pork butt and pull the bone out.

Aside from barbecue sauce, something tangy and sweet is a good go-to for slow-cooked pork. Apple cider vinegar has the right amount of acidity to break down the fattiness and is equipped with a bright flavor that pairs beautifully with pork. Using liquids you would normally drink is also a good choice.

Apple juice: I love apples and pork, so this is my favorite liquid, but you can use broth, water or soda (Dr. Pepper or Root Beer are both delicious!). Barbecue sauce: Choose your favorite barbecue sauce, or try my Homemade BBQ Sauce, this Easy Homemade Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce or this Homemade Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce.

Beer – This has multiple purposes. It's used as (1) the liquid in the pan to prevent the pan from drying out during the slow-roasting, (2) for extra flavour on the pork flesh, and (3) making tasty pan juices which are later tossed through the shredded pork and stirred into the homemade BBQ sauce.

Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine.