Dutch Oven Pulled Pork

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This is seriously the best Dutch Oven Pulled Pork ever! You can make this easily in the dutch oven with minimal prep using everyday pantry staples to get juicy, tender pulled meat every time.

Suitable for gluten free and low carb diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

The finished Dutch oven pulled pork recipe

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

top down view of dutch oven pulled pork ready to be served

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.
A simple ginger beer pulled pork that will truly wow your guests. One African recipe you must try. recipesfromapantry.com

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.
the ingredients for making dutch oven pulled pork

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.
image collage showing the first steps for making dutch oven pulled pork

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

image collage showing the final steps for making dutch oven pulled pork

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.
a serving spoon scooping out some of the dutch oven pulled pork

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.
A simple dutch oven pulled pork sandwich bun on a table

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.
top down view of the shredded dutch oven pulled pork

FAQs

How To Shred Pork?

Use forks – Simply transfer the cooked meat to a plate or bowl and use two forks to pull it apart and shred.

Use a mixer – Add cooked pork into a bowl and use a hand mixer or use your stand mixer to shred it. This is especially useful if you are doing big quantities.

What Cut Of Pork Is Best?

This recipe calls for pork shoulder and is one of the best cuts, as it has a great fat content that yields tender meat. Pork butt and Boston butt (are also from the shoulder) are great to use.

Should You Cover This?

Cover the Dutch oven during cooking as this seal will help the meat steam and cook up tender.

How To Keep This Juicy?

After shredding, add the reduced sauce to the meat, which will keep it juicy.

close up view of a spoon removing a portion of dutch oven pulled pork

Serving Suggestions

Pulled Meat Recipes

Weight Watchers Points

There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Tools Needed

the completed pulled pork inside the dutch oven

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A simple ginger beer pulled pork that will truly wow your guests. One African recipe you must try. recipesfromapantry.com
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Dutch Oven Pulled Pork

It's easy to make elicious Dutch Oven Pulled Pork!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time3 hours 40 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: African
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 8
Calories: 187kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Ginger beer sauce:

  • 1 ½ cups (330ml) ginger beer
  • 1 teaspoon garlic purée or garlic powder
  • 1 onion finely sliced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons tomato purée
  • 4 thyme sprigs

Pork:

  • 2 ¼ pounds (1kg) boneless pork shoulder

Rub for the pork:

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F / fan-assisted 130 degrees C / 150 degrees C / gas mark 2.
  • In a large Dutch oven, combine ginger beer, garlic purée, onion, vinegar, tomato purée and thyme.
  • Mix together the ingredients for the pork spice rub and rub all over the pork.
  • Add the pork into the Dutch oven with the ginger beer sauce, cover, and place in the preheated oven for about 3 ½ hours, or until the pork falls apart when shredded.
  • Remove the pork from the liquid (don’t discard this), cover with foil and let stanit rest for 15 minutes before shredding.
  • Heat the remaining liquid on the stovetop until the liquid has reduced in half.
  • Mix the thickened sauce with the shredded pork, to your taste. Serve with buns, coleslaw, and other toppings.
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Notes

  • 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.
  • 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 – keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3 days.
  • There are 3 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 527mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

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