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    Home » Recipes » Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder

    Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder

    Published: Oct 18, 2022 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Collage with smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder on the Traeger grill and shredded with text overlay.

    It’s seriously the best BBQ Traeger smoked pulled pork shoulder recipe you’ll try. Cooked to fork-tender on the pellet grill, this is the easiest way I’ve found to make game day smoker pulled pork sandwiches for a crowd. Let’s smoke pork…

    Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder Traeger Demo
    Smoked BBQ pulled pork is comfort food at its finest, and will soothe all your cravings! Plus, pork shoulder is a great cut of meat for feeding a crowd.

    Table of Contents

    • Why this is the best smoked pulled pork recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to smoke pulled pork on the Traeger
    • Try Traeger pulled pork sandwiches THIS way
    • More delicious pulled pork recipes
    • FAQs
    • More Tasty Grill + Smoker Recipes
    • Meat thermometer recommendations
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Easy BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder (Traeger Demo) | Sip Bite Go

    Why this is the best smoked pulled pork recipe

    • It’s so tender it melts in your mouth.
    • Easy, fast prep.
    • Easy football party food recipe you can make ahead.
    • Learn exactly what temp to smoke pulled pork so it’s super tender.
    • See how it takes to smoke pulled pork, and how to keep it moist and juicy.
    • Beginners at smoking food, see the video with steps at the bottom of the post.
    Traeger BBQ rub Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder resting on a plate before shredding into pulled pork
    This pulled pork smoker recipe turns out like a big piece of meat candy!

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need to make pulled pork in the smoker grill.

    Infographic chart with ingredients for Smoked Pulled Pork with captions
    • 3 LB pork shoulder (substitute pork butt / boston butt)
    • BBQ seasoning (any dry rub for pork or bbq rub blend)
    • Brown sugar (optional)
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Water (for adding moisture as it cooks)
    Smoking Pulled Pork Shoulder in the Traeger pellet grill with water
    Look at that… yum! Pellet smoker pulled pork can be customized with your favorite BBQ seasoning or any pork dry rub.

    Another recipe to try here is this smoked bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. It’s so tasty!

    How to smoke pulled pork on the Traeger

    Now I’ll walk you through it…

    Infographic chart with recipe steps for smoking Pulled Pork with captions
    1. Season. Ideally 2-24 hours before smoking pulled pork, season pork shoulder with any smoked pulled pork rub you have on hand and brown sugar if desired. In this demo, Traeger Pork and Poultry Seasoning was used. Refrigerate until it’s time to preheat the pellet grill to smoke pork shoulder.
    2. Preheat pellet smoker grill to 225 degrees F. 
    3. Prepare a metal loaf pan with 1.5 cups of water. This pan will be smoked with the pork. It adds moisture to the air and keeps the smoked pulled pork juicy while it cooks.
    4. Prepare a spray bottle (optional, but suggested) with a mixture of the apple cider vinegar and the remaining ½ cup of water. You’ll want this on hand to spray pork shoulder while it cooks. If you don’t have a spray bottle you can try brushing on the mixture.
    5. Add pork to Traeger. Once preheated, place pork shoulder directly on the pellet grill grates, fat side up. Add the loaf pan with water to the smoker, leaving space between the pan and the pork butt or shoulder. 
    6. Smoke pulled pork shoulder until pork reaches an internal temperature of 205 degrees F, as measured with a meat thermometer. The collagen breaks down at this temperature, resulting in very tender meat. Spritz the pulled pork (about once an hour or two) with the apple cider vinegar and water mixture while it cooks. The Traeger smoker pulled pork in this Sip Bite Go demonstration had a cook time of about 6 hours.
    7. Rest smoked pulled pork if desired in aluminum foil to keep it warm. Shred it with two forks or shredding tools and serve as is or on sandwich rolls with classic BBQ sauce or Carolina BBQ (made with yellow mustard).
    Shredded Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder for sandwiches on a serving platter
    Use your smoked pulled pork shoulder leftovers for tacos, quesadillas, or pulled pork sandwiches next day.

    Check out this recipe for smoked ham.

    Try Traeger pulled pork sandwiches THIS way

    This combination of flavors is so good… regular pickles on tender Traeger pork butt sandwiches taste pretty good.

    But when you add some spicy pickled red onions, that’s when things get really flavorful…

    Make them top your smoked sandwiches, or find them in the pickle section of the grocery store. Sometimes you’ll find a jar with jalapenos in them, too.

    More delicious pulled pork recipes

    See other modern ways to cook pork. And how to reheat smoked pulled pork with creative homemade pizza and pasta dishes:

    • Leftover pulled pork pizza
    • Pulled pork pasta
    • Pulled pork quesadillas
    • Sous vide pulled pork
    • Sous vide BBQ pork tacos
    • Add leftover smoked pulled pork to smoked nachos or smoked pizza.

    This jalapeno ranch goes well with pork.

    FAQs

    What flavor pellets should I use for smoked pulled pork?

    The final flavor of your smoked BBQ pulled pork will depend on the flavor pellets you use, so experiment and find your favorite! Hickory will give your meat a full-bodied flavor, and apple wood gives a fruity, mildly sweet flavor. Using a blend gives you the best of both worlds—a mixture of fruit woods and hearty hard woods is ideal.

    What seasonings do you use for smoked pulled pork? 

    Featured in this recipe is Traeger Pork and Poultry Seasonings. I also recommend Meat Church Honey Hog BBQ Rub and Rub with Love Pork Rub.

    Do you need apple cider vinegar for smoking pork?

    You don’t need apple cider vinegar to smoke a pork shoulder, but it does add a great amount of flavor. You can substitute apple juice or apple cider if needed.

    Do you have to trim the fat from the pork shoulder? 

    I usually don’t bother, but you can trim off any excess fat from the pork shoulder or pork butt if desired before smoking it. 

    Do you need to wrap pork in butcher paper to smoke it?

    Using butcher paper for wrapping the pork while it smokes isn’t necessary, in my opinion. Because there is plenty of moisture from the water and vinegar being infused as the pork cooks.

    Why do you smoke pulled pork fat side up? 

    This is so it insulates the pork as it cooks and adds flavor.

    How long should pork rest before shredding?

    Ideally, you want to let your pellet smoker pulled pork rest 15-20 minutes before shredding; this allows it to ‘relax’ and the juices to be distributed within the meat fibers.

    How long do you cook a pork shoulder at 225℉?

    At 225 F, I originally planned on cooking my first smoker pulled pork shoulder for 60-90 minutes per pound—so I thought that a three pound shoulder would cook for around 3 hours, maybe 4 hours. Well, after numerous trials, I now expect about 6 hours of cooking time. You want to cook till the inner temperature of the smoked pulled pork shoulder reaches 205℉.

    How long does it take to smoke a 12 LB pork shoulder?

    You’ll be able to do the math to figure out how long to smoke pork butt or pork shoulder of various weights. Assume 90 minutes to 2 hours per pound for your 8, 10, 12 lb pork shoulder smoke time estimates.

    Smoker Pulled Pork
    This smoker recipe turns out looking like candied pork, with a beautiful, rich, mahogany color.

    More Tasty Grill + Smoker Recipes

    • Smoked mac and cheese
    • Smoked cream cheese
    • Smoked brisket flat
    • 321 ribs
    • Beer can chicken on the smoker
    • Smoked wings
    • Smoked tomahawk steak
    • Traeger tri tip
    • Smoked turkey breast
    • Smoked turkey legs
    • Whole smoked turkey
    • Smoked Traeger pizza
    • Smoked onion rings
    • Traeger smoked ham
    • Smoked whole chicken
    • Smoked jalapeno poppers
    • Smoked corn on the cob
    • Traeger beef ribs
    • Smoked leg of lamb
    • Smoked shrimp
    • Grilled chicken wings
    • Grilled skirt steak
    • Flank steak marinade
    • Grilled potato wedges
    • Smoked pulled pork
    • Want more? See my lineup of easy smoker recipes

    See this Traeger Flatrock grill review.

    See my favorite smoker tools and seasonings in my Amazon Storefront.

    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Hey home chefs, hope that answers all your questions about making this Traeger pulled pork recipe. Other recipes we love for game day include this tri tip in the oven, baked wings, and homemade hamburger patties.

    If you don’t follow me on instagram you totally should @sipbitego. And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel and see the Sip Bite Go recipe collection. 

    Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder Traeger Demo

    Easy BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder (Traeger Demo) | Sip Bite Go

    This Easy Traeger BBQ smoked pulled pork shoulder (or butt) recipe is cooked low and slow and is melt-in-your-mouth tender. Great for pellet grill smoking beginners and making pulled pork sandwiches. Let’s smoke pork…
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Main Dish
    Cuisine: BBQ
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Resting time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 274kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Equipment

    • Smoker
    • Loaf pan
    • Spray Bottle

    Ingredients

    • 3 LB pork shoulder substitute pork butt / boston butt
    • ½ cup BBQ seasoning use any dry rub for pork or bbq rub blend
    • 1 tbsp brown sugar optional
    • 3 tbsp vinegar apple cider
    • 2 cups water divided

    Instructions

    • Season. Ideally 2-24 hours before smoking pulled pork, season pork shoulder with any smoked pulled pork rub you have on hand and brown sugar if desired. In this demo, Traeger pulled pork seasoning was used. Refrigerate until it’s time to preheat the pellet grill to smoke pork shoulder.
    • Preheat pellet smoker grill to 225 degrees F.
    • Prepare a metal loaf pan with 1.5 cups of water. This pan will be smoked with the pork. It adds moisture to the air and keeps the smoked pulled pork juicy while it cooks.
    • Prepare a spray bottle (optional, but suggested) with a mixture of the apple cider vinegar and the remaining ½ cup of water. You’ll want this on hand to spray pork shoulder while it cooks. If you don’t have a spray bottle you can try brushing on the mixture.
    • Add pork to Traeger. Once preheated, place pork shoulder directly on the pellet grill grates, fat side up. Add the loaf pan with water to the smoker, leaving space between the pan and the pork butt or shoulder.
    • Smoke pulled pork shoulder until pork reaches an internal temperature of 205 degrees, as measured with a meat thermometer. The collagen breaks down at this temperature, resulting in very tender meat. Spritz the pulled pork (about once an hour or two) with the apple cider vinegar and water mixture while it cooks. The Traeger smoker pulled pork in this Sip Bite Go demonstration had a cook time of about 6 hours.
    • Rest smoked pulled pork if desired in aluminum foil to keep it warm. Shred it with two forks or shredding tools and serve as is or on sandwich rolls with classic BBQ sauce or Carolina BBQ (made with yellow mustard).

    Video

    Notes

    • You don’t need apple cider vinegar to smoke a pork shoulder, but it does add a great amount of flavor. You can substitute apple juice or apple cider if needed.
    • Trim off any excess fat from the pork shoulder or pork butt if desired before smoking it. Though I usually don’t bother as it easily falls off once smoked.
    • Using butcher paper for wrapping the pork while it smokes isn’t necessary, in my opinion. Because there is plenty of moisture from the water and vinegar being infused as the pork cooks.
    • Why do you smoke pulled pork fat side up? This is so it insulates the pork as it cooks and adds flavor.
     
    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/smoked-pulled-pork

    See the recipe video for smoker pulled pork on Sip Bite Go’s YouTube.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 115mg | Potassium: 609mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 527IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 9mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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