Slow Roasted Pulled Pork
and A Fun Family “Staycation”
April 3rd, 2018 / By KellyLiken
Jump to RecipeWe had a super fun family staycation with my sister and brother in law and their kids last week. We made our favorite pulled pork recipe, perfect for a hungry crowd after a day of skiing with the kiddos.
Pulled Pork is always a good idea for a crowd, so when my sister and her family came to visit last week I slow roasted a pork shoulder to get ready for the masses. We are really fortunate to live in the mountains so close to the ski hill, and that is never as apparent as when family comes to visit.
We took the week off and played in the mountains like we were on vacation as well. The kiddos skied and skated, continuing to grow their beautiful bond as cousins despite the miles between them. Best of all we gathered for great big family dinners every night with all 3 generations represented. It was a really special time that called for meals that were easy and delicious. This pulled pork recipe fit the bill perfectly.
The recipe and method is super simple, but is a hit everytime. It’s a play on a recipe that an old friend and former sous chef named Zack Thompson used to cook us for “family meal” at Restaurant Kelly Liken. Everytime I make this it brings back great memories of old friends.
I start by slicing up oranges, onions and peeling some garlic. This becomes the base of the roast. Use it in place of a roasting rack if your pan has one, it tastes much better anyway!
I whisk together a little apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and water and mix together a simple sweet and spicy spice rub, and we’re just about done.
I score the fat on the top of the pork roast so that the spice rub can really get down in there and pour the liquid ingredients in the bottom of the pan. The key is to cover this really tight, either with a lid or foil and roast in LOW and SLOW. 300 degrees for at least 3 hours, but it can go forever.
Make this simple and delicious recipe for your friends and family, for a big event or a weeknight dinner. They will love it and you can spend your time with the people you love rather than stuck in the kitchen.
Slow Roasted Pulled Pork
Ingredients
For the Pork Roast
- 4-5 lb bone in pork shoulder roast (sometimes called "pork butt")
- 1/4 C spice rub (recipe to follow)
- 2 large Navel Oranges sliced
- 1 small Yellow Onion sliced
- 6 cloves garlic whole
- 1 C Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 C Water
- 1/2 C Brown Sugar
For the Spice Rub
- 1/2 C Light Brown Sugar
- 1/4 C Smoked Paprika
- 2 T Kosher Salt
- 1 T Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 T Garlic Powder
- 1 T Onion Powder
- 1 T Cayenne
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Whisk together the spice rub ingredients to thoroughly combine them.
-
Slice the oranges and onions, peel the garlic. Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan. This will become the "rack" for the pork roast to rest on top of. If your roasting pan has a rack in it, set it aside, the oranges and onions taste much better!
-
Score the fat on the top of the pork in a checkerboard pattern and season liberally with 1/4 C of the spice rub. Place the roast onto the oranges and onions.
-
Whisk together the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Pour into the bottom of the roasting pan and cover tightly.
-
Roast in 300 degree oven for at least 3 hours until the roast is fork tender. Using two forks, pull the pork into bite sized pieces. If you're making this up ahead of time, cool the pork in the pan juices.
Recipe Notes
This recipe freezes really well, and can be made up ahead of time. When you are heating it, just do so on the stovetop in the pan juices that the pork cooled and stored in.
The pork makes great sandwiches with some coleslaw and pickles, but also is amazing in tacos or on pizza.
Leave a Reply
About
Barbara Colomitz
So good to see you back. , and your with your recipe’s.
barbara
made it last night. WONDERFUL. will make it again for friends and family. THANKS, Kelly.
KellyLiken
Thank you Barbara, I’m thrilled that you liked it.