Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork

Last Updated on September 22, 2024 by What’s Smoking

Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork is a famous Southern dish known for its tender meat and mouthwatering smoky flavor. This traditional barbecue meal has roots in Eastern Carolina, where pitmasters have perfected the art of low and slow pork, to achieve the perfect balance of tenderness and bold flavors. Whether served on a sandwich, alongside classic sides like coleslaw and baked beans, or enjoyed on its own, Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork is sure to satisfy even the most discerning barbecue enthusiast’s cravings. Come along as I jump into the origins and preparation of this iconic Carolina dish that continues to be a staple at BBQ joints and backyard cookouts alike.

What Is Carolina Pulled Pork?

Calling something simply Carolina pulled pork could be offensive to some because its a vague definition. Reality is there is Eastern Carolina BBQ, Lexington and South Carolina. Each has some slight variation but all have the common thread of a vinegar and tangy flavor. Here are some of the defining factors of Carolina Pulled Porked:

• Carolina pulled pork is a style of barbecue originating from the Carolinas, specifically North Carolina and South Carolina.
• It involves slow-cooking pork shoulder or butt over low heat for several hours until it becomes tender and easily shredded.
• The meat is typically seasoned with a vinegar-based sauce that includes ingredients such as vinegar, water, sugar, salt, pepper, and spices like red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
• Unlike other styles of pulled pork that use tomato-based sauces or dry rubs, Carolina pulled pork focuses on the tangy flavor of the vinegar sauce.
• Once the meat is cooked and shredded, it is typically served on a bun with coleslaw or pickles for added crunch and flavor.

How To Make Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork

For this recipe we are going to start off with seasoning the pork with some simple salt and pepper. I would suggest scoring the fat cap so as to get more of the seasoning in the pork. This is a very simple combination that will be an amazing addition to the BBQ sauce and coleslaw we will be making. When seasoning the pork I did not use a binder for the salt and pepper, just add it on the pork and make sure to work it in all over the pork.

As far as wood, I used hickory wood for our smoke. I did this recipe on my WSM and ran it at 250°. You are going to smoke this for about 8 hours until you hit the stall, which will be about an IT of 160°. Up until then spritz every hour with some apple cider vinegar. Once the pork hits the stall, you are going to wrap the pork butt and place back in the smoker. I use butcher paper but you can also use aluminum foil. Keep smoking for another 3-4 hours, until you hit and IT of 203°. From there keep the pork butt wrapped and let it rest for about an hour.

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After an hour of rest, you can go ahead and pull the pork. While pulling it you can add some more salt and pepper to taste. No more than a half a tablespoon of each should be needed. If you are looking for some more detail on how to smoke pulled pork, check out this pulled pork recipe here. This pulled pork is only as good as the BBQ sauce and coleslaw, so let’s dive into those now.

Carolina BBQ Sauce

This sauce is a must for your pulled pork. It is insanely easy but has tons of flavor! I suggest making it a day in advance so the flavors can really blend and you get the the best flavor possible. Here is what you are going to need for the sauce:

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Measure it all out, add them to a mason jar, give it a shake and you are good to go! This will keep for a couple of weeks in the regfrigator. Want to read the full recipe, check it out here!

Carolina Coleslaw

If you are making the pork and the BBQ sauce, don’t go skipping this part of the meal at this point. This is also nearly as easy as the BBQ sauce and packs just as much flavor. The list of ingredients needed is not that special or complex but as is the case with everything in this recipe, its simple but the flavors are amazing.

• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1/4 cup of white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of celery seeds
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/4 of white onion
• 1/2 of small head of cabbage
• 1 carrot

Take your cabbage and slice thinly and add to a bowl. Then do the same with your onions, nice thin slices, break the sharp knife out for this! After slicing the onions add them to the bowl with the cabbage. Next up is the carrots, grab a shredder and shred the carrot, adding it all in with the cabbage and onions. From there adding the remaining ingredients and stir, looking to have full coverage on the cabbage.

This is not a particularly wet cabbage so this will stay for about 5 days in the regfrigator. You can use this as a side for a variety of dishes but for this pulled pork recipe you will want to use it as a topping for pulled pork sandwiches.

Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Making these Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches are super easy, you can use hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls for starters. Add your pulled pork, top it off with some of the coleslaw and then finally pour or spoon on the Carolina BBQ sauce. Add some mac and cheese or cornbread to the side and you will be thoroughly enjoying this meal.

Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork is a delicious and flavorful dish that captures traditional southern barbecue. The low and slow smoking process infuses the meat with rich flavors and tenderizes it to perfection. Whether served on its own or in a sandwich, this classic dish is sure to satisfy any barbecue lover’s cravings. So next time you’re looking for a taste of authentic southern cuisine, be sure to try Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork for a truly mouthwatering experience.

Thanks for being here and checking out this Carolina Smoked Pulled Pork recipe. I hope you enjoy it! We always appreciate comments, 5 star recipe rating and social media shares. As always, keep that smoke rolling!

Looking for some other Southern or pork dishes, here are some great ideas:

• Smoked Shrimp and Grits
• Cajun BBQ Okra
• 50 Minute Smoked Ribs
• Peach Bourbon Pulled Pork
• Smoked Pork Tacos
• Smoked Pork Loin Recipe

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