Pulled Pork Recipe Roundup from 101 Cooking for Two

Everybody deserves great pulled pork, and here are six ways to get there without a smoker—three with pork butt and three "fake" using other cuts of pork. All super easy with step-by-step photo instructions.

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Table of Contents

Pork Butt AKA Boston Butt Recipes
"Fake" Pulled Pork
Top It Off Right
References to Help You

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Introduction

It is pulled pork season, graduation, and summer parties, but not everybody has a smoker—but you want great pulled pork anyways.

Real pulled pork must come from pork butt. It is just the way it is folk. But it doesn't need to be hard, nor do you require a smoker.

Or you can fake it with other more lean cuts of meat that will give you great results but are healthier.

Pork Butt AKA Boston Butt Recipes

Like many cuts of meat, there are multiple names about the same thing. Pork butt and Boston butt are the same.

The pork shoulder is the thinner area of this cut but is commonly cooked and used the same as the butt. It has a bit less marbling and less fat and is usually not separated from the butt. But usually, the term pork shoulder is used interchangeably with pork butt and Boston butt.

image of a hog with Location of Pork Butt highlighted - Image licensed May 17, 2017, from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image modified in accordance with the license. — Image licensed from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image modified in accordance with the license.

If you are wondering, butt means thick, so that is why the term "butt" is used. Lastly, the picnic ham and picnic shoulder are not the same as this cut.

Grilled/Smoked Pulled Pork from Butt

This is the real thing done on your gas grill set up to smoke.

Smoked Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill – Not That Hard

How to smoke pulled pork on a gas grill? Not all of us have smokers. There are a lot of gas grills out there. Shouldn't we have smoked pulled pork too? I say yes. Pulled pork for all, and with a little planning, it is not that hard. Just plan enough time.

Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill from 101 Cooking for Two

Oven Pulled Pork from Butt

This is what I usually do when I get a pork butt. So easy and the house smells wonderful all day long.

Oven Pulled Pork

Cooking pork butt in an oven produces perfect tender and flavor-packed pulled pork. Cover with a simple dry rub, then roast low and slow in your oven. This easy recipe takes minimal preparation time and almost no skill.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Butt

It seems everybody wants this recipe. The last of the "real pulled pork from butt recipes," but it comes out of your crock pot.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork the Right Way

Great melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork is now an easy economical dinner recipe. Cooked all day low and slow in your crock pot, pork butt becomes pull-apart tender for the family or a crowd.

"Fake" Pulled Pork

Other cuts of pork can be used for a "fake" pulled pork. Here are a couple of pork loin and a pork tenderloin method.

Both will produce near pork butt quality pork that is much lower in fat. The term "shredded" pork may be more accurate.

I have used the pork loin methods for cooking for groups of up to 50 servings. And I love the smaller tenderloin version.

graph showing pork loin vs tenderloin-Image licensed from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image modified in accordance with the license. — Image licensed from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image modified in accordance with the license.

BBQ Shredded Pork Loin in the Oven

Lean, healthy, and tasty shredded pork from loin that's great for a hundred or the family. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions. Cut the recipe down or triple it as needed. Cook ahead or freeze.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Loin

Moist and tender "pulled" pork from pork loin is easy to make using your slow cooker. This healthy low-fat shredded pork is great for parties, tailgating, and large gatherings. But is easy to store for your smaller household.

Easy Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin

Think of it as a smaller size crock pot version of pulled pork. Moist and tender, this shredded BBQ pork tenderloin is seasoned with a few spices and only takes a few hours in a crock pot. Super easy for even a beginner with these step-by-step photo instructions.

Top It Off Right

To have great BBQ, you need a great sauce. This is it. This could make cardboard taste good but add it to some great pulled pork, and you are in pig heaven.

Memphis Barbecue Sauce

This sweet and tangy Memphis barbecue sauce is the perfect complement to pork, beef, or chicken. With a touch of spice, it is the best homemade bbq sauce for special occasions, or make it your everyday sauce.