Best 2 Carolina Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Carolina-style pulled pork sandwiches are a classic American comfort food, originating in the Carolinas region of the United States. This delectable dish consists of tender, slow-cooked pulled pork nestled in a soft, fluffy bun, topped with a tangy and flavorful vinegar-based sauce. The pulled pork is typically made from a pork shoulder or butt, which is seasoned with a rub of spices and herbs, then smoked or roasted until fall-apart tender. The resulting meat is then shredded and tossed in a tangy sauce, creating a mouthwatering combination of flavors and textures. Carolina-style pulled pork sandwiches are often served with coleslaw, pickles, and onions, adding a refreshing crunch and acidity to balance the richness of the pork. This article provides two variations of the classic Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich recipe: one for a traditional vinegar-based sauce and another for a sweet and smoky sauce. Both recipes include detailed instructions, cooking tips, and ingredient lists to guide you through the process of creating this iconic dish.

Let's cook with our recipes!

NORTH CAROLINA-STYLE PULLED PORK SANDWICHES AND COLESLAW



North Carolina-Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Coleslaw image

A pulled pork recipe from the October 2008 issue of "Every Day with Rachael Ray." Looks really good!

Provided by Karabea

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 5h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

3 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons pepper
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 (5 lb) boneless pork shoulder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
8 hamburger buns, split
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 (2 3/4 lb) green cabbage, cored and shredded

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Mix together the salt, pepper, and paprika; sprinkle all over the pork and rub inches
  • In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a 24-inch-long sheet of heavy duty foil and double wrap the pork.
  • Place the pork, skin side up, in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; roast until tender, about 4 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and carefully unwrap the top of the pork, revealing the skin. Increase the heat to 450 degrees and roast for 20 minutes more.
  • Transfer the roast to a large bowl, along with any juices. Using two forks, shred the pork. Add the vinegars, sugar, and hot sauce; toss. Serve on the hamburger buns, topped with coleslaw (recipe follows), if using.
  • For the coleslaw: In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegars, sugar, hot sauce, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Add the cabbage and toss. Let stand for 30 minutes, then toss and serve.

NORTH CAROLINA-STYLE BBQ PULLED-PORK SANDWICHES



North Carolina-Style BBQ Pulled-Pork Sandwiches image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 15h30m

Yield 8 to 10 servings, with leftovers

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 (8-pound) bone-in pork shoulder, with skin
1 head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
3/4 cup Memphis Shake, recipe follows
5 cups apple or other wood chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes and drained
2 batches North Carolina-Style Vinegar BBQ Sauce, recipe follows
8 to 10 soft hamburger rolls
Dill pickles
1/4 cup sweet paprika
3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon celery salt
3 cups cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Make small holes all over the pork shoulder with a thin sharp knife and stuff in garlic cloves. Rub the meat all over with the Memphis Shake; cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Prepare an outdoor grill with an indirect medium-hot fire with a mix of briquettes and hardwood charcoal in half of the grill. Set grate over coals. Place pork, skin side up, in an aluminum pan with about 1 1/2 cups water on the cooler side of the grate. Toss 1 cup of the soaked and drained wood chips onto the coals and cover the grill, making sure the lid's vents are directly over pork.
  • When the coals cool to medium-low heat, preheat a chimney-full of hot briquettes and hardwood charcoal. Whenever smoke stops coming out of the vents, about every hour, add more hot coals and 1 cup of soaked and drained wood chips to the fire. The goal is to maintain a medium-heat, smoky fire (but don't worry if it is hotter when the coals are added and cooler while preheating the coals). Rotate the pork when you add coals so it cooks evenly. Cook the meat until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork registers 180 degrees F, about 6 hours.
  • Set aside 1 quart of the North Carolina-Style Vinegar BBQ Sauce. Once the pork reaches 180 degrees F, begin mopping the entire surface of the meat every 20 minutes with some of the remaining sauce and the pan drippings. Continue to cook the pork, covering the grill between mopping, until an instant-read thermometer registers 200 degrees F, about 1 to 2 hours more.
  • Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let rest for at least 15 minutes. Remove the outer skin and discard. Cut large chunks from the bone and shred, using 2 forks or your fingers, (when cool enough to touch) or chop. Toss with about 1 cup of the reserved barbecue sauce for every 3 cups of meat. Tuck the pork into the soft rolls and serve with pickles.
  • Whisk paprika, brown sugar, oregano, garlic, ancho powder, salt, and celery salt in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.
  • Heat the vinegar and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Off the heat, stir in the ketchup, honey, salt, red pepper, and black pepper.

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork: Boston butt or pork shoulder is the best cut for pulled pork because it has a lot of connective tissue that breaks down during cooking, resulting in tender, juicy meat.
  • Use a good rub: A dry rub is essential for adding flavor to the pork. Be sure to use a rub that contains a variety of spices, including salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
  • Cook the pork slowly and low: The best way to cook pulled pork is to smoke it over low heat for several hours. This allows the meat to cook evenly and develop a rich, smoky flavor.
  • Shred the pork correctly: Once the pork is cooked, it's important to shred it correctly. Use two forks to pull the meat apart, being careful not to over-shred it.
  • Serve the pulled pork with your favorite sides: Pulled pork is traditionally served on a bun with coleslaw, pickles, and barbecue sauce. However, you can also serve it with other sides, such as mashed potatoes, green beans, or cornbread.

Conclusion:

Carolina-style pulled pork is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're cooking it for a backyard barbecue or a family dinner, following these tips will help you make the best pulled pork possible. So fire up your grill or smoker and get cooking!

Related Topics