Sheet Pan Barbecue Pulled Pork with Honey Cornbread

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Slow-cooked pulled pork with smoky barbecue spices roasted on a sheet pan alongside sweet honey cornbread for an easy Southern-inspired meal. This American Southern-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 230 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (boneless), smoked paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 720 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs pork shoulder (boneless)
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt (for cornbread)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 3 tbsp honey

The sheet pan we’d roast this on → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper. Rub this spice mix all over 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the pork on a rimmed sheet pan and roast in the oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily.
3. Step 3: While the pork roasts, whisk 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl. In another bowl, combine 1 cup whole milk, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter, and 3 tbsp honey. Stir wet ingredients into dry until just combined.
4. Step 4: When pork is done, increase oven temperature to 375°F. Remove pork from the sheet pan and cover with foil to rest. Spread the cornbread batter evenly on a greased 9x9-inch baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
5. Step 5: Shred the pork using two forks and toss with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 cup barbecue sauce. Serve pulled pork alongside warm honey cornbread.