Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Maple-Bacon Blueberry BBQ Sauce

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

Tender pulled pork smoked low and slow, served with a tangy maple-bacon blueberry BBQ sauce that adds a sweet and smoky twist. This pork recipe, ready in about 495 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 480 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: 15 min Cook: 480 min Serves 8 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder in a bowl and rub evenly over the entire 4 lbs pork shoulder. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best flavor.
  2. Step 2: Prepare your smoker with 2 cups applewood chips and preheat to 225°F. Place the pork shoulder fat side up on the smoker grate and smoke for approximately 8 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 195°F, spritzing with apple cider vinegar every hour to maintain moisture.
  3. Step 3: While the pork smokes, dice 4 slices of bacon and cook in a skillet over medium heat until crispy and fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon and set aside; keep bacon fat in the skillet.
  4. Step 4: Add 1 cup fresh blueberries, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 tbsp Jim Beam bourbon, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the skillet with bacon fat. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and blueberries break down.
  5. Step 5: Once pork reaches 195°F, remove from smoker and let rest for 30 minutes. Pull apart pork with forks into shreds and mix in half of the maple-bacon blueberry sauce.
  6. Step 6: Serve the pulled pork with the remaining sauce on the side for dipping, garnished with crispy bacon bits.

Frequently asked questions

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

Total time is about 495 minutes (15 min prep + 480 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 Maple-Bacon Blueberry 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 Maple-Bacon Blueberry 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 Maple-Bacon Blueberry 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 Maple-Bacon Blueberry BBQ Sauce?

BBQ & Smoked pork 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.

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