Pulled Pork Recipes without a Smoker

Everybody deserves great pulled pork. Here are six ways to get there without a smoker—three with pork butt and three using other cuts of pork.

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. You can use a grill, an oven, or even a crock pot.

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

Pork Butt (Boston Butt) Recipes

Like many cuts of meat, there are multiple names for the same thing. Pork butt and Boston butt are the same. It does a lot of work, so have lots of connective tissue to melt for moist and tender meat.

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.

Oven Pulled Pork—Low and Slow Pork Butt

Oven Pulled Pork from pork butt cooked low and slow is tender, moist, and delicious. This is the easiest recipe to get great pulled pork at home.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork from Pork Butt

Pulled pork from pork butt is easy to make—you only need a dry rub, a pork butt (Boston butt) and your slow cooker. Everyone will love this melt-in-your-mouth BBQ pulled pork.

Grilled Pork Butt on a Gas Grill for BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork

Grilled Pork Butt makes wonderful BBQ smoked pulled pork cooked low and slow on a gas grill. Moist, tender, and with great smoky bark without a smoker.

"Fake" Pulled Pork

Other cuts of pork can be used for "fake" pulled pork. Here are a couple of pork loin and a pork tenderloin method. You can call it shredded pork if you want.

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

BBQ Shredded Pork Loin for Pulled Pork in the Oven

Lean, healthy, and tasty shredded pork loin makes excellent BBQ pulled pork by oven baking in a spicy braising fluid. Use it any place you use pulled pork butt.

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

This Easy Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin makes a small batch of delicious BBQ pull pork from tenderloin—a perfect recipe for a smaller household.

Top It Off

Memphis BBQ Sauce—Sweet and Tangy

This easy Memphis BBQ Sauce recipe is the best homemade barbecue sauce A sweet and tangy sauce that's perfect with pulled pork, ribs, brisket, or even chicken.

BBQ Dry Rub for Ribs, Pork, Beef, and More

The best BBQ Dry Rub recipes will enhance the meats' taste and complement the sauce's flavors. This easy-to-adjust homemade rub recipe has classic BBQ flavors.

Memphis Dry Rub Recipe

A classic sweet and spicy Memphis Dry Rub Recipe from Marlowes of Memphis. Bring the great taste of Memphis to your grilled ribs or other BBQ recipes.

References to Help You

Summer Food Safety

Its time to review the food safety rules on to protect your friends and family. Please.

A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill

Learn about grill temperatures on a gas grill. The most basic measurement to help you master your grill. Become the "Grill Master" today.

How To Set Up Your Gas Grill for Smoking and Low and Slow Cooking

Let’s learn how to set up your gas grill for great low and slow cooking with smoking. A useful technique you need to master your gas grill.

Have a great summer,

DrDan

Originally Published April 28, 2019. Update with new recommendations and discussion, usually yearly.