Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder Recipe with Dark Bark

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar offers a lower glycemic index.

barbecue sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade barbecue sauce

💰Cheaper: ketchup

Homemade sauce can be healthier and tailored to taste.

pork shoulder

💰Cheaper: pork butt

Pork butt is often cheaper and has similar flavor.

Preheat the smoker to 250°F. Place a drip pan filled with water under the grill grates.

Combine all of the rub ingredients and set aside.

Add the apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and water to a spray bottle and shake. Set aside.

Rub the mustard on every side of the pork shoulder creating a thin layer.

Generously season the pork shoulder on all sides with the rub.

Add the pork shoulder to the smoker over the drip pan filled with water and smoke for 3 hours.

Spray the pork with the spritzer every hour for the next 3 hours.

Once the pork reaches an internal temperature of 165° to 170°, remove it from the smoker.

Place the pork shoulder on a large sheet of double foil, generously spritz it, and wrap it tightly.

Place the wrapped pork shoulder back on the smoker bone side up and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 200° to 205°, about 2-4 hours.

Remove the pork shoulder from the smoker and let it rest in the foil for 30-60 minutes before pulling it apart.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: