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–+ servings
A white plate with bbq pulled pork garnished with green onions.
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5 from 2 votes

Oven Baked Pulled Pork

You'll adore this juicy, tender pulled pork, made by slowly cooking a large pork roast in the oven. It's a wonderful meal simply shredded and a special treat tossed with honey BBQ sauce.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 226kcal
Author: Michelle Miller

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds pork shoulder roast 3-4 1/2 pound roast will work
  • 2 tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1/2 cup honey bbq sauce optional

Instructions

  •  In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, and spices.
  • Cut the pork roast into large chunks. Rub each piece of the pork roast with a thick coating of the spices.
    Chunks of pork rubbed in spices.
  • Preheat oven to 275º F.
  • 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.
    Brown the pork in avocado oil.
  • 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.
    Dutch oven shown in an oven.
  • 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!
    Pork being shredded with two forks.
  • Serve the shredded pork as is, or toss it with bbq sauce for bbq pulled pork.

Video

Notes

How to Store Pulled Pork

Once the pork has fully cooled, pack it in an air tight 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.
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.

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 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: Pile this sweet bbq pulled pork on your favorite buns (gluten free or not, depending on your family’s needs!) and a heaping scoop of apple slaw.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 1851mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 442IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg