Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Blueberry Maple BBQ Sauce

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Tender, slow-smoked pulled pork served with a tangy blueberry and maple-infused BBQ sauce for a perfect balance of smoky and sweet flavors. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 400 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 8, 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.

Prep: 40 min Cook: 360 min Serves 8 American cuisine 450 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Rub 4 lbs pork shoulder evenly with 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder. Let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Preheat your smoker to 225°F using hardwood like hickory or apple wood. Place the pork shoulder on the smoker grate fat side up and smoke for about 6 hours, maintaining 225°F, until the internal temperature reaches 195°F.
  3. Step 3: While the pork smokes, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 cup blueberries and cook for 5 minutes until they start to burst.
  4. Step 4: Add 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 2 tbsp Jim Beam bourbon to the blueberries. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Step 5: Remove the pork from the smoker and let rest for 20 minutes. Shred the meat using two forks and mix in half of the blueberry maple BBQ sauce.
  6. Step 6: Serve the pulled pork on buns or plates, drizzled with the remaining sauce for extra flavor.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Blueberry Maple BBQ Sauce take to make?

Total time is about 400 minutes (40 min prep + 360 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Blueberry Maple BBQ Sauce?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Blueberry Maple BBQ Sauce?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Blueberry Maple BBQ Sauce for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Blueberry Maple BBQ Sauce?

American bbq & smoked like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes