North Carolina Pulled Pork

Ingredients

• One 5-7 pound pork shoulder
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce
• 1/4 cup of your favorite dry rub
• 1/4 cup of your favorite BBQ rub
• 2 cups of your favorite wood chips (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
2. Combine the salt, pepper, cayenne, and chili powder in a small bowl and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce and set aside.
4. Rub the pork shoulder all over with the dry rub and BBQ rub.
5. Place the pork shoulder in a Dutch oven or roasting pan and pour the vinegar mixture over the top.
6. Sprinkle the salt and pepper mixture over the top of the pork.
7. If you are using wood chips, add them to the pan and cover with foil.
8. Place the covered Dutch oven or roasting pan in the oven and cook for 8-10 hours or until the pork is tender and falling apart.
9. Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
10. Using two forks, shred the pork and stir in the remaining liquid from the pan.
11. Serve the pulled pork on rolls or with coleslaw and your favorite sides.

Interesting Facts

• North Carolina pulled pork is a classic Southern barbecue dish that has been around since the 1800s.
• It is made with pork shoulder that is cooked low and slow until it is fork-tender.
• The sauce for North Carolina pulled pork is usually a combination of vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce.
• The pork is usually served on a bun with coleslaw and your favorite sides.