Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork with Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Tender, slow-smoked pulled pork shoulder paired with a classic tangy North Carolina-style vinegar BBQ sauce. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 465 minutes, pairs pork shoulder (bone-in), 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: 45 min Cook: 420 min Serves 8 American cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 lbs pork shoulder and rub it all over with 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder. Let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
  2. Step 2: Preheat your smoker to 225°F, then place the pork shoulder fat side up and smoke for about 6-7 hours, maintaining 225°F until the internal temperature reaches 195°F and the meat is tender enough to pull apart easily.
  3. Step 3: While the pork smokes, combine 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, and 2 tbsp yellow mustard in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves and sauce is aromatic.
  4. Step 4: Remove the pork from the smoker and let rest for 20 minutes. Using two forks, shred the pork and toss with the vinegar BBQ sauce to taste. Serve warm with additional sauce on the side.

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