How to Cook Oven Baked Pulled Pork (+ BBQ Pulled Pork!)

This Oven Baked Pulled Pork recipe is hands down my favorite way to cook a pork roast. It’s delicious whether you leave the pork simply seasoned, or choose to add a homemade Honey BBQ Sauce. Layer this on salads, on rice bowls, or use for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches!

Fall Apart Tender Pork Roast

A couple of years ago I added a pork shoulder roast to my Butcher Box, not really sure how I would end up cooking it.

This method has been refined over the years, as I learned the simplest is really the best! This easy pulled pork recipe let’s the flavor of a high quality pork should roast shine.

If you’ve never cooked a pork shoulder roast, do not be intimidated! All you need is a cast iron dutch oven, some avocado oil, and some spices. It takes about 20 minutes to get the roast ready to go in the oven, and then the rest of the process is totally hands off.

I’ve made pulled pork in the crockpot and in the Instant pot, and will provide those variations down below. However, if you have a dutch oven, cooking it in the oven is my favorite method. It yields the most developed flavor and renders the fat and breaks down the connective tissue the best, so the meat falls apart by pressing it with a fork. It’s so juicy, so tender, and so flavorful!

If you’re looking for a BBQ Pulled Pork recipe, this is the perfect place to start. As you’re shredding the pork, drizzle it with this homemade Honey BBQ Sauce or your favorite bbq sauce.

I highly recommend you skip the bottled bbq sauces – they often have high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient! This simple, nourishing recipe uses just 5 ingredients – honey, sugar free ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard.

This is a delicious meal however you’d like to serve it! Over rice, on a salad, or in a sandwich, it’s a meal that will feed a crowd.

What You’ll Need

• 3-4 1/2 pound pork shoulder roast (pork butt or Boston butt. A bone-in pork shoulder roast works too, but requires extra cooking time.)
• Kosher salt (or other coarse salt, like Celtic sea salt)
• Paprika (optionally, add a dash of cayenne pepper to add a kick to the spice blend0
• Garlic Powder
• Cumin
• Onion Powder
• Black Pepper
• Avocado Oil or Olive Oil (ghee or tallow also have a high smoke point!)

How to Bake Pulled Pork

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, and spices.

Step 2: Cut the pork roast into large chunks. Coat each piece of the pork roast with a thick coating of the spice rub. Preheat oven to 275º F.

Step 3: Add avocado oil to the dutch oven and heat it over medium high heat. Add chunks of pork into the pan, and allow them to brown on all sides. Remove the browned chunks of pork from the pan, and repeat with all pieces.

Step 4: Add the pork back into the pan, and cover with the lid. Place the dutch oven in the oven and bake for 2-3 hours, until the pork falls apart easily when pierced with a fork.

Step 5: Remove the pork from the pan and place in a shallow bowl or on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the pork. If desired, place back into the pot with the braising liquid. Tip: When I am shredding the pork, I separate out any large chunks of fat. This is a personal preference – some people enjoy the fattier pieces!

Step 6: Serve the shredded pork as is, or toss it with bbq sauce for bbq pulled pork.

How to Store Pulled Pork

Once the pork has fully cooled, pack it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to a week.

To reheat the pork, put it back in the dutch oven or other dish with a lid, and reheat it in a 400º F oven for 15-20 minutes. It can also be reheated in a skillet. Add a few tablespoons of water to keep the pork moist.

Crisp up Pulled Pork: Carnitas is a style of Mexican seasoned pulled pork that gets baked or broiled after its shredded to make crispy edges on the chunks of pork. Preheat the oven to 450º F and spread the pulled pork out over a sheet pan. Bake the pork for about 10 minutes, until the pork begins to brown and crisp around the edges.

To freeze leftover pork: Add the pork to freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the defrost at room temperature prior to reheating.

Other Methods of Cooking Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: Prepare the pork roast as directed in this recipe, through step 5. Instead of putting browned pork chunks back into the dutch oven, place them in a slow cooker. Slow cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork: Sear the seasoned pork directly in the Instant Pot. For the best flavor, sear it and brown it well in a skillet on the stovetop since the Instant Pot does not brown well. Place the browned chunks of pork in the Instant Pot and set to Manual at High Pressure for 40 minutes. If the pork does not easily pull apart with a fork, put it back in the Instant pot for another 20-30 minutes.

Make with Boneless Pork Loin Roast: To make a leaner pulled pork, use pork loin roasts. These will cook faster. so reduce baking time to 2 hours.

How to Serve Oven Baked Pulled Pork

• On a Salad: Serve shredded pork over a simple green salad with tomatoes, carrots, avocado, and peppers. The pork is rich so it’s great with simple and fresh veggies!
• Over Apple Slaw: I developed this sweet and tangy cabbage salad recipe to pair with this pork. Apples and pork are great together, and this is a fresh, crunchy, tangy salad that goes great with pulled pork.
• Pork Tacos: Opt to not add the bbq sauce, and add the flavorful and tender meat to tacos with salsa and guac. Pork tacos are especially delicious with Mango Salsa and Avocado Salsa Verde.
• Pork Rice Bowls: Use white rice or cauliflower rice, and add pulled pork, avocado, and other veggies like sauteed broccoli, peppers, or zucchini.
• BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches: Toss pulled pork in barbecue sauce and pile it on your favorite buns (gluten free or not, depending on your family’s needs!) with a heaping scoop of apple slaw.

Other Oven Baked Meat Recipes

• One Pan Greek Chicken and Rice
• Oven Baked Barbacoa
• Slow Roasted Salmon

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