This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.
This truly is the best Smoked Pulled Pork ever! We make this pulled pork recipe on our Traeger and it turns out perfectly smoky and tender every time.
Easy Traeger Pulled Pork
Before getting a Traeger, we often made our favorite baked Carolina Pulled Pork recipe. Here comes the big but…the Traeger brings homemade pulled pork to a whole different level! After you’ve smoked pulled pork on a Traeger for the first time, you will know exactly what I mean.
Smoked pulled pork on a Traeger takes some time, make sure you plan ahead to make this beauty! A lot of people dread making a pulled pork because they see the amount of time that goes into it. The big surprise is that it only takes 5-10 minutes to prep, the brine and Traeger does the rest! You literally go about your day as normal. Everyone can do that!
Traeger has so many hardwood pellets that you must try with each of your recipes. For this particular recipe we have used hickory, apple and pecan. Each wood brings a unique and different flavor. Make sure you make this recipe multiple times to find what hardwood you like best for those little taste buds.
For our family, we’ve settled in with the above flavors and so we pretty much stick to those for pulled pork, but you can try any flavor you’d like.
What’s Needed for Smoked Pulled Pork?
This Traeger pork shoulder recipe has three main components: a brine, a dry rub, and a mustard barbecue sauce. Here’s what you’ll need to make this Traeger pulled pork recipe:
- Pork shoulder roast
- Water
- Apple cider
- Kosher salt
- Dark brown sugar
- Bay leaves
- Dried herbs and spices
- Yellow mustard
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- Hot sauce
- Butter
- Liquid smoke
How to Make Smoked Pulled Pork on a Traeger
Before diving into this smoked pork shoulder recipe, note that you should begin prepping this pulled pork 2 days ahead of time as the meat needs 24 hours in the fridge, 11-12 hours in the Traeger, and 30 minutes of resting.
Here are the basic steps to making this smoked pulled pork recipe:
- Whisk together the smoked pork shoulder rub.
- In a large pot, stir together the brine. Submerge the pork shoulder in the brine, then place in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours.
- Once brined, pat the pork dry and season with the dry rub.
- Cook in your preheated Traeger for roughly 12 hours total, or until the smoked pulled pork temperature is 200ºF inside.
- Turn the Traeger off, then let the pork rest for an hour or two.
- Shred the Traeger pork shoulder and serve with our homemade barbecue sauce, if desired.
Can I Make Pulled Pork in the Oven?
Yes! If you’d rather make homemade pulled pork in an oven rather than in a Traeger, I recommend making our Carolina Pulled Pork recipe instead.
Can You Freeze Pulled Pork?
Yes, very easily. Simply seal the smoked pulled pork inside a freezer bag with some of its juices, then lay flat on a baking sheet until it’s frozen through (this makes storing things in your freezer easier). To thaw, place in your fridge overnight.
Tips for Making Traeger Pulled Pork
We prefer making our own smoked pork shoulder rub and barbecue sauce, but you’re welcome to use your favorite store-bought dry rub and sauce. Just be sure to read the ingredients list so you’re buying good quality rubs and sauces!
The key to making the best smoked pulled pork is to give it plenty of time to cook at a low temperature and then plenty of time to rest on the counter as well. The muscle fibers get all worked up with cooking so you really need to let them relax again on the counter in order for the juices to redistribute again, otherwise when you cut into the meat (or start to pull it apart, in this case) all of the juices will run out, which is a big mistake.
Lastly, you don’t have to eat this Traeger pulled pork with barbecue sauce. You can toss the smoked pulled pork with any number of sauces and seasonings and enjoy it in salads, sandwiches, wraps, burritos, tacos, and more!
More Easy Traeger Recipes:
- Smoked Tri Tip on a Traeger
- The Best Smoked Turkey Breast
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Flavorful Smoked Beef Brisket
- The Best Smoked Chicken Wings
- Glazed Smoked Chicken Wings
- Smoked Pork Ribs
- The Best Smoked Chicken Recipe (for a whole chicken!)
- ALL OF OUR TRAEGER RECIPES!
Smoked Pulled Pork on a Traeger
Smoked Pulled Pork on a Traeger
Ingredients
- 5 to 8 Pound Pork Shoulder Roast
For the Brine:
- 4 Cups Water
- 4 Cups Apple Cider
- 1/2 Cup Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Dry Rub, heaping, (recipe below)
- 1 Pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 Bay Leaves
For the Rub
- 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika, heaping
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Cayenne Powder
- 2 teaspoons Dry Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Cumin
- 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
For the Mustard Base BBQ
- 3/4 Cup Yellow Mustard
- 1/2 Cup Honey
- 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Texas Pete’s Hot Sauce, (or Frank's if necessary), or to taste
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, melted
- 1 Pinch Nutmeg
- 1 Dash Liquid Smoke
Instructions
Prepare the Dry Rub:
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a jar.1 Tablespoon Onion Powder, 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika, 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder, 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder, 1 1/2 Tablespoon Kosher Salt, 1 Tablespoon Pepper, 2 teaspoons Cayenne Powder, 2 teaspoons Dry Mustard, 1 Tablespoon Cumin, 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
- Set aside.
For the Brine:
- In a large stock pot, add the water, apple cider, salt, sugar, 3 tablespoons of the dry rub, pepper flakes and bay leaves.4 Cups Water, 4 Cups Apple Cider, 1/2 Cup Kosher Salt, 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, 3 Tablespoons Dry Rub, 1 Pinch Red Pepper Flakes, 2 Bay Leaves
- Rinse off the pork and add to the pot making sure it is completely covered in the brine and add the lid.5 to 8 Pound Pork Shoulder Roast
- Place in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours.
To Smoke the Pork:
- When you are ready to start smoking your pork, turn your Traeger on to the smoke setting for 5 minutes, lid open.
- Once the fire kicks on in the fire box, close your lid and preheat your grill to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While the grill is preheating, pull your pork out of the brine and pat it dry with a paper towel.
- That rub you just made, get ready to lather it on all sides of the pork.
- Make sure you save some of that rub, roughly 2-3 tablespoons worth, you'll want to add that to the pork after it is cooked.
- With the fat facing up, place the pork on the Traeger.
- Smoke for 2-3 hours, then transfer your pork onto a disposable pan, found here.
- Continue to cook for another 8-10 hours or until 200 degrees Fahrenheit registers on the thickest part of the pork with a meat thermometer, if you don't have one, you can get it here, invest, it's worth it!
- As soon as the pork reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit, go ahead and turn off the grill.
- Leave the pork in there to rest for one-two hours, depending how hungry you are! Don't forget to place aluminum foil over the pork, no need to press the foil down tightly.
- Once the meat has rested, remove the fat from the top and begin shredding by using two forks, or your hands covered with insulated bbq gloves, remove the bone.
- Drain half of the juices out and add the remaining dry rub to taste, toss to coat.
- Feel free to use any of your favorite bbq sauces, if you want it South Carolina style, give our mustard bbq sauce a try!
For the BBQ Sauce:
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.3/4 Cup Yellow Mustard, 1/2 Cup Honey, 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 Tablespoons Ketchup, 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce, 1 teaspoon Texas Pete’s Hot Sauce, 2 Tablespoons Butter, 1 Pinch Nutmeg, 1 Dash Liquid Smoke
- Pour into a jar with a lid and refrigerate 1 day to 1 week prior to serving for best flavor!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I accidentally purchased apple cider vinegar instead of apple cider 🤦🏽♀️ Can I use a substitute for apple cider?
Apple cider vinegar will work. The flavor will just be a little less sweet and more tangy.