North Carolina-Style Pulled Pork Recipe
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North Carolina-Style Pulled Pork

By: Doug 
"This recipe is delicious, especially when smoked with hickory chips on a charcoal grill. A spicy rub and a zesty vinegar sauce turn pork into a North Carolina favorite."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.5 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (164)

Prep Time:
1 Hr
Cook Time:
6 Hrs
Ready In:
15 Hrs

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 10 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon mild paprika
  • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons hot paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 8 pounds pork butt roast
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 1 1/3 cups water
  • 5/8 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 5 teaspoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 2 pounds hickory wood chips, soaked

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, mix mild paprika, light brown sugar, hot paprika, celery salt, garlic salt, dry mustard, ground black pepper, onion powder, and salt. Rub spice mixture into the roast on all sides. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
  2. Prepare a grill for indirect heat.
  3. Sprinkle a handful of soaked wood over coals, or place in the smoker box of a gas grill. Place pork butt roast on the grate over a drip pan. Cover grill, and cook pork at least 6 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches a minimum of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Check hourly, adding fresh coals and hickory chips as necessary to maintain heat and smoke.
  4. Remove pork from heat and place on a cutting board. Allow the meat to cool approximately 15 minutes, then shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks. This requires patience.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together cider vinegar, water, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and white pepper. Continue whisking until brown sugar and salt have dissolved. Place shredded pork and vinegar sauce in a large roasting pan, and stir to coat pork. Serve immediately, or cover and keep warm on the grill for up to one hour until serving.

Footnotes

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 426 | Total Fat: 23.1g | Cholesterol: 135mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 25, 2004 by ADLEVINE   view full review
We love North Carolina barbeque and have been looking for a recipe for a long time. This is a...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 19, 2007 by Amber   view full review
Okay, I'm a born and raised NC girl. I've been away for 4 years and crave BBQ daily. I...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 29, 2005 by RUKLIN   view full review
This is the 3rd time I've made this and my family loves it. I decided to cook the pork in a...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 12, 2006 by Stephie   view full review
I cooked this in the crockpot on low, overnight, with the addition of some liquid smoke. It...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 14, 2005 by rachelguerrero1740   view full review
PLEASE READ THIS AND CHECK OUT ADLEVINE's 2003 REVIEW...I've been making this for almost two...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 29, 2006 by IHalliday76   view full review
This recipe is identical to the one found in 'The Barbecue Bible' by Steven Raichlen (Workman...
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 20, 2005 by DARLISS00   view full review
Unfortunately, I didn't read the reviews before I made this and used the full 2 cups of...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 2, 2006 by JillyBean   view full review
This was good. I was really looking for an Eastern NC style barbeque and it is almost there. ...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 24, 2006 by CVOORHEES   view full review
This was great. I used a 3 pound roast. Cooked it in the oven covered on 290 for 6 hours. ...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 29, 2006 by Suzy   view full review
Second time making this. I too rubbed hickory smoke all over the roast, then put the rub on...

 

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