Pulled Pork Rub

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Sweet, savory and flavorful, this all purpose Pulled Pork Rub is great for any pork butt you will cook. Whether it’s in the Crockpot, Smoker, or Oven, it turns out delicious every time. A great recipe to keep around for grilling season.

Flavorings and Seasonings

I use eight ingredients for this Pulled Pork Rub and they all are used for different reasons. Some help bring out the natural flavors (which are considered to be seasonings) and the others are adding flavor (flavorings). All of them are most likely already in your spice rack, ready to go. Here’s the breakdown:

Seasonings: Brown Sugar, Sea Salt and Pepper.

Flavorings: Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Dried Mustard, Smoked Paprika and Cayenne Pepper (optional)

While I realize this might seem like a daunting list, every ingredient is used for a reason. Sugar, salt and pepper add that sweet and salty bite with a bit of heat from the black pepper. The onion and garlic powder add a great base flavor that pairs well with the tender pork. The dried mustard and cayenne pepper add a nice bite while the smoked paprika adds that smoky flavor.

How to Make Pulled Pork Rub

Making a pulled pork rub (or any homemade spice blend) just requires a small bowl, a few measuring spoons and five minutes of time. All you do is measure all the spices together, stir them up and store them in an airtight container until you’re ready to use.

Using the Pork Rub

Whether you are smoking, braising or slow cooking this pulled pork, you will want to leave your pork butt on the counter for 30-45 minutes to take the chill off, then spread this entire recipe of Pulled Pork Rub onto the meat: top, bottom and all sides. Then cook as desired, shred and enjoy!

What Cut of Meat Should I Use for Pulled Pork?

Pork Shoulder, sometimes referred to as Pork Butt, is the cut of pork used for all Pulled Pork Recipes. It is some of the most tender and flavorful meat after being cooked low and slow. Partly because it’s naturally very fatty, but also because it just falls off the bone after cooking.

I used a hefty 7-pound roast that I’ve lightly trimmed. When pork shoulders go on sale, pick up one or two, and make this easy meal for your family. You will all love it! (Beware when buying from Costco; You’ll need several crockpots to cook it all!) Freezing extra raw pork is a great solution.

Smoking vs Crockpot

Both a Crockpot and a smoker work beautifully for cooking pulled pork. Here is my tried and true recipe for Smoked Pork Butt. It creates the most flavorful meat you will ever eat. Not everyone has a smoker, so your Crockpot or slow cooker will do. Here is my recipe for Pulled Pork made in the crockpot. You are essentially braising this large piece of meat to get that glorious, shreddable texture. Whatever way you choose to make your pork butt, just be sure to rub this wonderful pulled pork rub over the meat before you start cooking.

What to Serve with Pulled Pork

• Homemade Rolls to make sandwiches.
• Classic Coleslaw because this combo is out of this world.
• Mexican Street Corn because that is just delicious.
• Classic Baked Beans… another southern side that makes my heart sing.
• Homemade Cornbread that is sweet and tender
• Macaroni and Cheese….a favorite you can get at any BBQ joint

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So that is my recipe for a simple Pulled Pork Rub! I hope you give it try this summer! It makes a fantastic flavored piece of meat, especially if you had it going in your smoker. YUM! Have a great day, friends.