Published 4/27/2023
The Best Smoked Pork Shoulder
This delicious pork shoulder has a sweet and savory smokey flavor and an unreal tenderness after you let it rest and shred it. We love to smoke pork shoulder because it is cooked low and slow, leaving you with shredded pork that you can use in so many different ways. Plus, we used a yummy apple juice spritz to add even more flavor during the smoking time! If you’re looking for more pork shoulder recipes, try our slow roasted pork shoulder!
What is pork shoulder?
A pork shoulder comes from the shoulder of a pig. It typically has more fat than a pork loin, which makes it great for slow roasting or smoking. Call ahead to your local grocery store meat counter or butcher to see if they have a 7-lb. bone-in pork shoulder. They can be hard to come by on the spot. Make sure you have enough pellets or wood chips for the smoker. We use a Traeger smoker for smoking recipes and usually use their signature blend for pellets. If you are using wood chips, the best wood for smoking pork is usually hickory, but cherry or oak will give it a unique taste. Give your smoker or grill time to heat up. Since you have your smoker on, consider throwing A pork shoulder and a pork butt can both be used for this recipe. Both cuts of meat come from the shoulder. The main difference is that a pork butt has more fat and the pork shoulder has more muscle. In this pork shoulder recipe, we’re using a 6-7lb. bone-in pork shoulder.
Other names for pork shoulder
pork butt picnic shoulder picnic roast Boston butt
What You Need
Pork shoulder: this recipe uses a bone-in 7-lb. pork shoulder. We recommend using a bone-in shoulder for smoking because it offers a bit more flavor and fat. Dry rub: the spices for this smoked pork shoulder are a mix of sweet, savory, and salty. Make sure that you don’t skimp on the salt. The salt tenderizes the meat and enhances all of the delicious flavors of the pork and other dry rub ingredients. Try our dry rub for pork! Pellets or wood chips: though pellets and wood chips are not an ingredients, we feature them because the last thing you want to do is run out of extra pellets or wood chips part way through the smoking time.
How to Make Smoked Pork Shoulder
Top Tips
Try not to open the smoker too many times. If you open the smoker too many times throughout the smoking process, it will let out heat and will take longer to come to temperature. Have extra pellets on hand. Speaking from experience, be sure you check your pellet levels and wood chip levels multiple times throughout the cooking time. If the pellets run out or wood chips are low, the temperature will lower.
Serving Ideas
Nachos: swap the ground beef in these nachos for shredded smoked pork shoulder. Tacos: eat them similar to our carnitas tacos and top them with sour cream, minced onion, and cilantro. With veggies: make steamed broccoli or roasted sweet potatoes. In a bowl: serve this shredded pork alongside roasted potatoes, quinoa, and hummus.
Storage
Let the pork cool completely before placing it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Thermoworks Thermapen
Pork Shoulder Recipes
Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder Baked Pork Roast Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Carnitas Slow Cooker Pork Roast
Smoked Recipes
Easy Smoked Salmon Recipe Smoked Chicken Legs Smoked Chicken Thighs Smoked Whole Chicken
