Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This recipe requires a lot of cooking time, but the prep time is really minimal.

While you're waiting for the oven, slow cooker or pressure cooker to work its magic on the pork, you can mix up barbecue sauce and coleslaw.

Once those tasks are complete, all you need to do is assemble the sandwiches!

Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Yield: 8 servings plus leftovers
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

This pork is coated in a dry rub, roasted in a slow oven until meltingly tender, mixed with barbecue sauce and served in soft rolls topped with coleslaw - decadent and delicious.

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 lb Boston butt pork roast
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup water

For the rub:

  • 3 tablespoons paprika
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons salt
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne

For the barbecue sauce:

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup apple juice or cider
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed
  • 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped

For the sandwiches:

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 225°F.

Prepare the pork:

  1. Prepare the rub by combining the paprika, salt, sugar, mustard, cumin, pepper, garlic and onion powders and cayenne in a small bowl. Trim any large pieces of exterior fat from the pork if desired. Pat the rub mixture on all sides of the pork and place uncovered, in a dutch oven. Roast uncovered for 1 hour.
  2. Remove the pork from the oven, brush with the olive oil, add the water, cover and return to the oven for approximately 5 hours longer. At this point the pork should be very tender and pull apart easily with a fork. Total roasting time runs between 90 and 100 minutes per pound.
  3. Transfer the pork to a large platter and allow to cool enough to handle. With two dinner forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, removing any large chunks of fat in the process.

Prepare the barbecue sauce:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and heat to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until thickened.
  2. Add the barbecue sauce to the shredded pork.

Assemble the sandwiches:

  1. Fill each bun with a portion of shredded pork and top with a tablespoon or two of coleslaw (recipe follows).
  2. Serve with a dill pickle and a side of chips.

Notes

You can freeze the leftover pork in airtight containers. It will keep for up to 6 weeks in the coldest part of the freezer.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

You can cook the pork in a slow cooker instead of the oven if desired. Simply add a layer of sliced onion to the bottom of the cooker, put the rub-coated pork on top and add the water. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours (depending on the size of your roast), or until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.

© Lynne Webb
Cuisine: American / Category: Main Dishes