Go Back
–+ servings

Authentic Carolina BBQ: Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Perfection

This genuine Carolina-style shredded pork BBQ recipe was shared with me during my time living in the Carolinas. It's simple to prepare but delivers that authentic Southern flavor that BBQ enthusiasts crave.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 515
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 6 pounds pork shoulder also known as Boston butt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar for optional sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar for optional sauce
  • 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes for optional sauce
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper for optional sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt for optional sauce

Method
 

  1. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, but leave some for flavor.
  2. Place the pork shoulder in a large pot and add the bay leaf, red pepper flakes, and water.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
  4. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 4-5 hours until the meat is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 195°F-205°F.
  5. Remove the pot from heat and allow the meat to cool in the cooking liquid for about 30 minutes.
  6. Transfer the pork to a large dish or cutting board, reserving the cooking liquid.
  7. Once cool enough to handle, remove any excess fat and use two forks to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  8. Skim the fat from the reserved cooking liquid and add some of the defatted liquid back to the shredded meat to keep it moist.
  9. If making the optional vinegar sauce, whisk together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and drizzle over the pulled pork to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 515kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 51gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 260mgSugar: 13g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!