Dutch Oven Pulled Pork

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Tender juicy meat is just minutes away! The best dutch oven pulled pork is packed full of so much flavor and you can serve this in so many dishes and ways.

This recipe is pretty much the first time I have cooked with ginger beer in this way. There was some loud cheering and so-called dancing to Ayo Jay’s The Vibe when the tender meat came out awesome.

The recipe is made up of simple things. Mostly pantry staples that you don’t even think about. Cook pulled pork until it falls apart into tender face-plant worthy ribbons.

Plus, it smelled sooooo good, too, You know the kind of smell that has your guests walking in, ignoring you, and heading straight to the oven to see what’s up.

And if you like this recipe, you’ll want to try this Instant Pot Pulled Pork or these easy Instant Pot Pulled Chicken Sandwiches. #sogood

Why Make This Recipe

• Affordable – this fork tender recipe is made up of pantry staples that you don’t even think about.
• Easy – It is an easy and delicious recipe that is great for easy suppers, picnics, lunch boxes, wowing guests with a ‘ginger beer what’ moment, and any leftovers make a fah breakfast (a Sierra Leonean thing).
• Versatile – it can be served in so many ways! Pulled pork sandwiches, burrito bowls, tacos, carnitas, fajitas, and in mac and cheese (a must try!), and salads.
• Meal Prep – Leftovers are great for meal prep and great for freezing. Cook once and eat again and again.

Ingredient Notes

For the pork:

• Pork – this recipe calls for boneless pork shoulder.

To make the sauce:

• Ginger beer – the ingredient that makes this recipe sing is ginger beer. Make sure to get one with no extra flavors in it.
• Garlic – use garlic purée or garlic powder.
• Onion – white or red onion. You can also use onion powder instead.
• Herbs – add in a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
• Sharpness – apple cider vinegar and tomato purée.

For the spice rub:

• Spices – a combination of ground coriander, sweet smoked paprika, allspice (pimento), cayenne pepper, white pepper, and salt.

How To Make Dutch Oven Pulled Pork

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F / fan-assisted 130 degrees C / 150 degrees C and gas mark 2.
2. Mix the ginger beer, garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, tomato purée, and fresh thyme in a cast iron dutch oven.
3. Mix together the dry rub seasonings ingredients and rub all over the pork shoulder.
4. Add pork into the ginger beer sauce, cover the dutch oven and cook in the preheated oven for about 3.5 hours or until the pork falls apart when shredded.
5. Remove the pork from the liquid (don’t discard this), cover with foil and let stand for 15 minutes. Then shred pork.
6. Heat the remaining sauce on the stovetop and cook until the liquid has reduced in half. Scoop off any excess fat and mix the thickened sauce with the shredded meat, to your taste.

Serve this delicious pulled pork with buns, coleslaw, and any of your other favorite fixings!

Pulled Pork Dutch Oven Recipe Tips

• Adding some of the reduced liquid in keeps the meat juicy in this dutch oven recipe.
• If freezing, make sure to freeze in half-pound or 1 pound portions so you can easily pull out what you need.
• Finish the shredded pork under the broiler to caramelize for even more flavor.
• Make sure you use a large dutch oven, one that the meat can fit into easily.

Delicious Variations

• Feel free to sub in some chicken broth or apple juice for some of the ginger beer.
• You can use just chicken broth or chicken stock, and at the end add your favorite barbecue sauce to the meat.
• Add a bit of Worcestershire sauce for flavor.
• A dash of liquid smoke gives this an easy smoky flavor.
• Add a little bit of brown sugar if you want to sweeten this.
• Vary the heat with some red pepper flakes or chili powder.
• Vary the spice mixture to your favorite blend.
• If you have a fatty cut of pork, feel free to trim some of the fat off, but not all as it adds flavor.
• If you want, sear pork on all sides before adding to the dutch oven and cooking.

Storage and Prep Ahead

Folks, this Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe is just the thing for meal prep and prepping ahead. 

• Prep Ahead – This can be cooked up to a few days in advance and reheated. 
• Store – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
• Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze this. Transfer pulled pork into these convenient freezer bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freeze the sauce separately too. Tip: to make reheating easier, freeze in the right portion sizes that you need for the future.