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BBQ Pulled Pork: How to Smoke a Boston Butt

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Perfectly tender smoked Boston butt that is packed with flavor! This is the must-have recipe you need for all your summer events! 

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

We live in a little neighborhood where people just keep to themselves. That is the polite way of saying we avoid each other. We avoid each other like the plague actually. It is the kind of neighborhood where you peek outside and make sure nobody else is out before you make a beeline to your car.

I am totally guilty of pretending to be talking on my phone on more than one occasion when I pull up and someone is outside. It is just not a neighborly neighborhood.

But there is one exception to the awkward avoided glances and silence. And that is when Mr. Maebell breaks out the smoker. When that smoker is full of juicy ribs or a perfect smoked Boston butt, suddenly our neighbors get a bit more friendly. The smell of BBQ wafting through the air puts them in a trance-like state and they forget we are supposed to be strangers.

I can’t say I blame our neighbors. There is nothing like the smell of a grill going in the summertime! Today, I’m sharing how to smoke a Boston butt. I am sure there are some grilling enthusiast who do lots of other little things to really amp up the flavor, but I am giving you the easy version. The beginners guide to BBQ, if you will.

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

For this smoked pulled pork on the grill, we prepped it the night before by smearing a generous dose of yellow mustard all over the meat. Don’t freak out if you hate mustard, you don’t taste it at all. It is simply your “glue” it is what helps your rub really grip onto the meat and form that beautiful, flavorful crust when it is done.

Now that rub I mentioned, I combine a few basic pantry staples to make a sweet and smokey rub that is to die for. Then we wrapped it up with aluminum foil and sat it in the fridge overnight.

We smoked it low and slow for about 9 hours. The only hard part during this time is resisting the urge to take it off early. But you really want to leave it on until the temp reaches 195F so you have fall off the bone BBQ! Then grab two forks and get to work!

I served this with slaw (of course) a little extra BBQ sauce on toasted Canyon Bakehouse buns. It was absolutely perfect, super juicy and full of smokey flavor! These Air Fryer Potato Wedges or Southern Fried Green Tomatoes are great sides to go along with pulled pork!

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

Ingredients for a Smoked Boston Butt

For this smoked pulled pork recipe, you’ll need the following basic ingredients:

  • Boston butt
  • Yellow mustard
  • Brown sugar (or a brown sugar alternative like Swerve or Golden Monk Fruit)
  • Spices: Chili powder, Garlic powder, Onion powder, Black pepper, Paprika

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

How to Smoke a Boston Butt

  1. Combine the pulled pork rub ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Spread the mustard all over the Boston butt.
  3. Rub the spice mix into the meat, make sure to cover it completely.
  4. Wrap the meat with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to smoke.
  5. When ready to cook, heat your smoker to 250 degrees F and place the boston butt in the center of the grill.
  6. Remove from grill when the internal temp reaches 195 degrees F.
  7. Before pulling apart, let meat sit for 10 minutes.

How Long to Smoke a Boston Butt?

In total, you’ll need to smoke the Boston butt for 9 to 10 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 195 degrees F. Make sure the temperature of the smoker never goes above 300 degrees F.

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

Tips for Cooking a Boston Butt

  • The easiest way to distribute the pulled pork rub over the meat is for one person to sprinkle the seasoning on the meat while the other rubs it in. You want to be very generous here — really rub it in and completely cover the meat. You want the whole thing to be packed with flavor in every single bite.
  • When you take it off the grill, be sure to let the smoked Boston butt sit for 10 minutes so all the juices settle and you get the best flavor.
  • We used the smoked pulled pork to make bbq pulled pork sandwiches, but you can also add the meat to salads, wraps, quesadillas, and so much more! I love to use this pulled pork on my Keto BBQ Stacks!

More Easy Smoker Recipes:

 

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

 

Perfect Pulled Pork! The ultimate BBQ! Learn how easy it is to smoke a boston butt!

Smoked Boston Butt

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 9 hours
Rest Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 9 hours 20 minutes

Perfectly tender smoked Boston butt that is packed with flavor! This is the must-have recipe you need for all your summer events! 

Ingredients

  • 6-7 pound Boston Butt
  • 1/4 cup yellow mustard (enough to cover)
  • 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon brown sugar OR brown sugar Monkfruit if keto
  • 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons paprika

Instructions

    1. Combine the brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and paprika in a small bowl, set aside.
    2. Spread the mustard all over the boston butt covering it completely.
    3. Rub the spice mix into the meat, make sure to cover it completely.
    4. Wrap the meat with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to smoke.
    5. When ready to cook, heat your smoker to 250 degrees F and place the boston butt in the center of the grill.
    6. Smoke for 9-10 hours, making sure the heat never increases above 300 degrees.
    7. Remove from grill when the internal temp reaches 195 degrees F. Before pulling apart, let meat sit for 10 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 723Total Fat: 50gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 228mgSodium: 242mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 62g

To avoid any confusion I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it is not known to affect blood glucose levels. To calculate Keto recipes listed on this site carbs - fiber = net carbs. I use Nutrifox as my nutrition calculator. This nutrition information is an estimate based on the information provided by Nutrifox and the specific ingredients I used.

© Annie Holmes
Cuisine: American / Category: Main Dish

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Comments

  2. Natalie+@+Tastes+Lovely says

    We have the opposite problem. Our closest neighbor is over half a mile away! It’s just us. Which means if I need to run out to my car in just my underwear, no problemo. Haha! This smoked boston butt is just mouth watering! Looks delicious Annie!

    • Maebells says

      You know I didn’t totally appreciate the smoker at first, but now I cherish it! It means my husband does dinner and it tastes amazing, win win! 🙂

  8. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    I absolutely love this recipe!! I’m so excited…my son will be moving into a house with four of his lacrosse buddies this fall and I’m already starting to collect ideas for what I can make these hungry guys – this will top the list!! Thank you! (And Nick thanks you!)

  9. Danielle says

    Looks like you could give Trolingers a run for their money girl!!! And thanks for flingin a cravin on me while I’m 195 miles from home!!! Guess I’ll have to break out the smoker this weekend!!!

    • Maebells says

      Hi Danielle! Now this made me smile! Now if I could only replicate that BBQ sauce I would be in business! 🙂 I hope you have a great holiday weekend!! 🙂

  10. Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says

    Agh I don’t even know my neighbors. Its so bad.
    This pork looks amazing! I keep telling my husband we need a smoker! There is nothing better than smoked meat! Pinning!

  12. Danielle says

    Everyone in our neighborhood keeps to themselves too, which I totally love! I love pulled pork and cooking it in the slow cooker, but I haven’t tried smoking it. I think I need to give it a try soon be cause this looks amazing!

    • Maebells says

      I grew up on a farm with no neighbors so maybe I am the problem?! Maybe I just don’t know how to be neighborly! I do pick their garbage can up when it blows over…that counts for something, right?!

  13. Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says

    Everyone in my neighborhood does a courteous “hi” and keeps on moving. I like it! haha Gah I swear one of the first things we’re buying when we become home owners is a smoker. Smoked anything is always a favorite of ours, and this pulled pork looks insane! Such a great tutorial Annie!

  15. marcie says

    That’s the thrashed brown board isn’t it? Love it! And low and slow is the way to go — I’d be outside camping out if I smelled this! I love the sound of rubbing the pork in mustard, too! 🙂

  20. Mary Mc says

    Perhaps a block party would help. Everybody brings something for a potluck. Those who don’t or won’t cook are assigned something else. If your yard is large enough to have people and maybe your grill is available (or you offer to serve your wonderful bbq), everyone would loosen up and meet each other.
    I’ve done it before three other places I lived,
    but I agree that where I live in Nashville now isn’t so conducive to neighbors wanting to be with others including one of my next door ones! Our other ones are wonderful and I make food for them often.

    • Maebells says

      Hi Mary! That is a good idea!! Good good can always bring people together, right?! At least for a little while! 😉

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