Perfect Oven Pulled Pork Recipe

square image of a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and no top bun.

Perfect Oven Pulled Pork Recipe

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 3 10

Total Time: 3 25

Servings: servings

Calories: 179cal

Author: Ashley Fehr

This Oven Pulled Pork is tender, juicy, and full of smoky-sweet flavor, made extra delicious with a Dr. Pepper braise and simple homemade spice rub. It’s an easy, hands-off recipe that bakes low and slow for perfectly shredded, melt-in-your-mouth pork every time!

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
4 lbs boneless pork shoulder
2 tablespoons oil
1 can Dr. Pepper (not diet)
barbecue sauce for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300℉.
In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, seasoning salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, ground mustard, onion powder, and black pepper.
Cut the pork shoulder into roughly 1 lb pieces and cover in the seasoning mix.
Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the oil. Sear the pork for 1-2 minutes per side just until golden -- be careful because the sugar can burn.
Add the Dr. Pepper to the hot Dutch oven to deglaze, cover and place in the oven. Bake for 2½-3 hours, until meat pulls apart easily (it should be at least 200℉).
Pull meat apart into shreds and serve with juices or barbecue sauce as desired.

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Pork shoulder: pork shoulder is oven called picnic shoulder or picnic roast. it's a fatty cut that makes for super juicy pulled pork! You can substitute pork loin but it may be a little less juicy.
Seasonings: feel free to swap out my homemade seasoning blend for an all-purpose one you love to save on time.
Dr. Pepper: you can swap this for cola, another soda, apple juice, broth or water.

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