Best 12 Grandmas North Carolina Pork Barbecue Recipes

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Get ready for a taste of authentic Southern barbecue with Grandma's North Carolina Pork Barbecue! This mouthwatering dish is a staple of North Carolina cuisine, known for its tender, smoky pulled pork drenched in a tangy, vinegar-based sauce. Our collection of recipes offers a variety of options to satisfy every barbecue enthusiast, from the traditional whole hog barbecue to simpler versions using pork shoulder or ribs. Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or a beginner looking to impress your friends and family, our detailed instructions and expert tips will guide you through the process of creating this classic dish. Discover the secrets to achieving perfectly cooked pulled pork with a crispy bark and a juicy, smoky interior. Learn how to make the perfect balance of tangy and sweet vinegar-based sauce that will elevate your barbecue to the next level. With our comprehensive guide, you'll be able to recreate the authentic taste of Grandma's North Carolina Pork Barbecue in the comfort of your own backyard or kitchen. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CAROLINA-STYLE PORK BARBECUE



Carolina-Style Pork Barbecue image

I am originally from North Carolina (where swine is divine) and this recipe for the slow cooker is a family favorite. My husband swears my authentic Carolina 'cue is the best BBQ he has ever eaten! -Kathryn Ransom Williams, Sparks, Nevada

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 6h30m

Yield 14 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 boneless pork shoulder butt roast (4 to 5 pounds)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 medium onions, quartered
3/4 cup cider vinegar
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
14 hamburger buns, split
1-3/4 pounds deli coleslaw

Steps:

  • Cut roast into quarters. Mix brown sugar, salt, paprika and pepper; rub over meat. Place meat and onions in a 5-qt. slow cooker., In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and seasonings; pour over roast. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender., Remove roast; cool slightly. Reserve 1-1/2 cups cooking juices; discard remaining juices. Skim fat from reserved juices. Shred pork with two forks. Return pork and reserved juices to slow cooker; heat through. Serve on buns with coleslaw.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 453 calories, Fat 22g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 85mg cholesterol, Sodium 889mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 27g protein.

SLOW COOKER CAROLINA BBQ



Slow Cooker Carolina BBQ image

Miss the tarheel tradition of a pig pickin'? Then find yourself a crock pot, a big pork shoulder, some cider vinegar and get cooking! While ground and crushed red pepper will provide the basic heat - go the extra mile and find some Texas Pete (or Trappey's) pepper sauce to bring the taste of Carolina to your kitchen.

Provided by coolmonkshoes

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Pork Shoulder Recipes

Time 12h15m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (5 pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast
1 tablespoon salt
ground black pepper
1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

Steps:

  • Place the pork shoulder into a slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Pour the vinegar around the pork. Cover, and cook on Low for 12 hours. Pork should easily pull apart into strands.
  • Remove the pork from the slow cooker and discard any bones. Strain out the liquid, and save 2 cups. Discard any extra. Shred the pork using tongs or two forks, and return to the slow cooker. Stir the brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes into the reserved sauce. Mix into the pork in the slow cooker. Cover and keep on Low setting until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.8 calories, Carbohydrate 3.6 g, Cholesterol 90.5 mg, Fat 17.3 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 27.6 g, SaturatedFat 6.2 g, Sodium 775.5 mg, Sugar 2.9 g

NORTH CAROLINA-STYLE PULLED PORK



North Carolina-Style Pulled Pork image

This recipe is delicious, especially when smoked with hickory chips on a charcoal grill. A spicy rub and a zesty vinegar sauce turn pork into a North Carolina favorite.

Provided by Doug

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pork     100+ Pulled Pork Recipes

Time 15h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 tablespoon mild paprika
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons hot paprika
½ teaspoon celery salt
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt
8 pounds pork butt roast
2 cups cider vinegar
1 ⅓ cups water
⅝ cup ketchup
¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
5 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 pounds hickory wood chips, soaked

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, mix mild paprika, light brown sugar, hot paprika, celery salt, garlic salt, dry mustard, ground black pepper, onion powder, and salt. Rub spice mixture into the roast on all sides. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
  • Prepare a grill for indirect heat.
  • Sprinkle a handful of soaked wood over coals, or place in the smoker box of a gas grill. Place pork butt roast on the grate over a drip pan. Cover grill, and cook pork until pork is tender and shreds easily, about 6 hours. Check hourly, adding fresh coals and hickory chips as necessary to maintain heat and smoke.
  • Remove pork from heat and place on a cutting board. Allow the meat to cool approximately 15 minutes, then shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks. This requires patience.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together cider vinegar, water, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and white pepper. Continue whisking until brown sugar and salt have dissolved. Place shredded pork and vinegar sauce in a large roasting pan, and stir to coat pork. Serve immediately, or cover and keep warm on the grill for up to one hour until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.9 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 134.9 mg, Fat 23.1 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 39.1 g, SaturatedFat 8.3 g, Sodium 1698.4 mg, Sugar 10.1 g

EASY NORTH CAROLINA BARBEQUE



Easy North Carolina Barbeque image

I just love vinegar-based barbeque. I looked high and low for an easy recipe for North Carolina barbeque; this is it! Be warned; your friends will want the recipe. Eat it with a fork or on rolls with coleslaw.

Provided by Phil

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Pork Shoulder Recipes

Time 9h10m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (5 pound) pork butt roast
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons white sugar

Steps:

  • Trim the fat from the roast; place in slow cooker and cook on Low overnight, at least 8 hours.
  • To make the sauce, whisk together the vinegar, melted butter, salt, lemon juice, crushed red pepper, hot sauce, black pepper, and sugar in a bowl.
  • Carefully remove the roast to a cutting board. Pull the meat from the bone with a fork. Return the pork to the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the pulled pork. Simmer for 1 hour more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 448.6 calories, Carbohydrate 4.2 g, Cholesterol 134.1 mg, Fat 37.5 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 23.4 g, SaturatedFat 18.6 g, Sodium 1630.3 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

NORTH CAROLINA PULLED-PORK BARBECUE



North Carolina Pulled-Pork Barbecue image

This classic pulled pork is the ultimate holiday weekend grilling project.

Provided by Ruth Cousineau

Categories     Backyard BBQ     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue     Gourmet     Graduation

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

3 1/2 cups cider vinegar (20 fluid ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons hot red-pepper flakes
1 (8- to 10-pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast (preferably butt end) with skin

Steps:

  • Bring vinegar to a boil with sugar, red-pepper flakes, 2 tsp salt, and 1 Tbsp pepper in a small nonreactive saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then cool. Set aside 2 cups vinegar sauce to serve with sandwiches.
  • While sauce cools, score pork skin in a crosshatch pattern with a sharp knife (forming 1-inch diamonds), cutting through skin and fat but not into meat. Pat meat dry and rub all over with 1 Tbsp each of salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
  • Prepare grill for indirect-heat cooking over low heat, leaving space in middle for disposable roasting pan.
  • When coals have cooled to about 300°F (45 minutes to 1 hour; when most coals will have burned out), put disposable roasting pan on bottom rack of grill between the 2 remaining mounds of coals, then fill pan halfway with water. Add a couple of handfuls of unlit charcoal to each charcoal mound, then put grill rack on so hinges are over coals.
  • Oil grill rack, then put pork, skin side up, on rack above roasting pan. Grill pork, with lid ajar (for air, so coals remain lit), basting meat with sauce and turning over every 30 minutes (to maintain a temperature of 250 to 275°F, add a couple of handfuls of coals to each side about every 30 minutes), until fork-tender (a meat fork should insert easily) and an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into center of meat (avoid bone) registers 190°F, 7 to 8 hours total.
  • Transfer pork to a cutting board. If skin is not crisp, cut it off with at least 1/4 inch fat attached (cut any large pieces into bite-size ones) and roast, fat side down, in a 4-sided sheet pan in a 350°F oven until crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • When meat is cool enough to handle, shred it using 2 forks. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Serve pork, cracklings, and coleslaw together on buns. Serve reserved vinegar sauce on the side.

NORTH CAROLINA EASY CHOPPED BARBECUE



North Carolina Easy Chopped Barbecue image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 8h1m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

7 pound pork shoulder, bone in
1 pint Al's barbecue sauce, recipe follows
1 gallon apple cider vinegar
1 (28-ounce) bottle ketchup
22 ounces light brown sugar
1/4 cup garlic powder
1/4 cup salt
1/2 cup crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap pork in aluminum foil and place in a broiler pan. Cook for 7 hours, about 1 hour per pound. Remove from oven and let stand for 1 hour.
  • Wearing heavy rubber gloves, pull skin from the meat and discard. Remove most of the fat and all of the bone. Cut meat into 8-ounce chunks and place in large pan.
  • Place meat on a charcoal fire and cook, covered, for another 30 to 45 minutes, until well smoked, turning meat over every 10 to 15 minutes. Pour barbecue sauce over meat during the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking.
  • Remove meat from the grill and chop into bite size pieces. Serve with additional barbecue sauce if desired.
  • Mix all ingredients in a 6-quart stainless steel pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer, about 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand, about 30 minutes. Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA BARBECUE



Eastern North Carolina Barbecue image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 10h50m

Yield 6 large servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 fresh pork butt, bone-in (this is the butt, or top portion, of the shoulder)
Kosher salt
Barbecue Sauce, recipe follows
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Add hickory, oak, and maple chunks or chips to your smoker. Refer to the directions for your smoker to determine the correct amount of chips for the meat and for lighting instructions. When the chips are ready, add the pork and smoke it for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at 250 degrees F. Remove the pork and wrap it in heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F.
  • Cook the pork for 6 to 8 hours or until the meat is tender and falls apart when the bone is removed. Chop the pork coarsely and mix in salt and barbecue sauce, to taste. Serve with more barbecue sauce on the side.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, red pepper, garlic, and salt over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes and then remove from the heat. Let cool then add the black pepper.

GRANDMA'S CHOPPED BARBECUE



Grandma's Chopped Barbecue image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Time 6h15m

Yield 16 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 (9-pound) boneless pork shoulder, skin trimmed
8 cloves garlic, smashed
2 to 3 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup seafood boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
3 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sunny's Pork Sauce, recipe follows
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped Vidalia onion
2 cloves garlic, grated on a rasp
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups ketchup
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup Sriracha
2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 250 degrees F.
  • With the tip of a knife, make 8 (2-inch) pockets all around the pork and insert a smashed garlic clove in each.
  • In a small bowl, combine the seafood boil seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Rub the seasoning all over the pork then let rest at room temperature up to 2 hours.
  • Place the pork in the bottom of a roasting pan and add enough vegetable stock to fill it to an inch deep. Cover very tightly with several layers of aluminum foil, getting the seal tight is really key here. The steam being locked in breaks down the pork to make it pull-worthy.
  • Roast the pork, covered, in the oven for 2 hours then pull back the aluminum foil a bit and prick with a fork. If it is tender, remove the aluminum foil and a place back in the oven for 1 more hour. If it isn't tender yet, cook for 30 minutes to 1 hour more, making sure to add more stock if needed. Once tender remove the aluminum foil all together. If the liquid evaporates here, it's ok; it has done its job. Remove from oven then let rest at room temperature, then chop down to small chunks and mix with enough of Sunny's Pork Sauce, recipe follows to make it wet or dry to your taste.
  • In a saucepot on medium-low heat, add the oil. Add the onions, garlic, and season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until both are tender, but not browned and then add the ketchup, vinegar, orange juice, and Sriracha. Taste and then add the sugar, to taste. This should be a loose sauce. Refrigerate or use right away.

CAROLINA STYLE BARBECUED PORK LOIN



Carolina Style Barbecued Pork Loin image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

4 (1 1/2" thick, bone-on) center cut pork chops
2 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. Hungarian smoked paprika
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 Tbs. coarse Salt
2 Tbs. coarse ground black pepper
olive oil
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 small onion finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbs. molasses
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. dry mustard powder
1 tsp. ground cayenne pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water

Steps:

  • PORK CHOPS: Combine all ingredients except chops in a shallow plate. Brush chops with olive oil and dredge them in seasonings mixture, gently pressing it onto meat. Transfer chops to a platter and cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Preheat grill to high heat. Place chops on the grill and cook 5-6 minutes per side or according to desired doneness, brushing with BBQ sauce often. Remove chops to a clean platter and loosely tent with foil to rest.
  • BBQ SAUCE: Saute onion and garlic in oil in a saucepan over medium heat. When it's soft add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA BARBECUE



Eastern North Carolina Barbecue image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 10h50m

Yield 6 large servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 fresh pork butt, bone-in (this is the butt, or top portion, of the shoulder)
Kosher salt
Barbecue Sauce, recipe follows
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Add hickory, oak, and maple chunks or chips to your smoker. Refer to the directions for your smoker to determine the correct amount of chips for the meat and for lighting instructions. When the chips are ready, add the pork and smoke it for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at 250 degrees F. Remove the pork and wrap it in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Cook the pork for 6 to 8 hours or until the meat is tender and falls apart when the bone is removed. Chop the pork coarsely and mix in salt and Barbecue Sauce, to taste. Serve with more Barbecue Sauce on the side.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, red pepper, garlic, and salt over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes and then remove from the heat. Let cool then add the black pepper.

BBQ PULLED PORK WITH CAROLINA SAUCE



BBQ Pulled Pork with Carolina Sauce image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 10h10m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 quarts cider vinegar
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup dry mustard
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup red pepper flakes
1/8 cup salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
2 cups soy sauce
1 1/2 cups salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
2 pork butts, about 6 pounds total weight
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the Carolina BBQ sauce: Combine the cider vinegar, ketchup, sugar, molasses, mustard, soy sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, salt and a pinch ground black pepper in a stainless steel saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool before using. If not using immediately, pour it into a bowl or jar. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
  • For the BBQ pulled pork: Combine 1-quart water with the soy sauce, salt, sugar, honey and molasses in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and let cool. Stir in 1 gallon plus 3 quarts water. Pierce the meat with a boning knife in several places, then add the meat to the brine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove the meat from the brine, coat lightly with salt and pepper, and arrange in a smoker. Load 2 boxes filled with applewood chips into the smoker. Set the smoker at 250 degrees F and smoke for 8 hours. Remove the meat from the smoker to a cutting board and shred when cool enough to handle. Arrange on a serving platter and serve with the BBQ sauce.

GRANDMA BARBE'S ROAST PORK



Grandma Barbe's Roast Pork image

This delicious recipe is courtesy of Stephane Reynaud and can be found in his cookbook "Pork and Sons."

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Pork Recipes

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

6 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin, cut from the tip
2 1/4 cups dry white wine
12 pearl onions, peeled
1 pound 2 ounces carrots, cut crosswise on the diagonal, into 1-inch pieces
2 1/4 pounds waxy potatoes, such as Yukon gold, halved
1 dried bay leaf
2 sprigs thyme
1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus 2 sprigs
10 whole black peppercorns
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Fine sea salt

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a Dutch-oven over medium heat. Add pork and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown all over, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat, cover, and cook, turning occasionally, 1 1/2 hours.
  • Add wine, onions, carrots, potatoes, butter, bay leaf, thyme, 2 sprigs parsley, and peppercorns; dot with butter. Cover, and let simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
  • Season pork with salt and sprinkle potatoes with garlic and chopped parsley before serving.

Tips:

  • For the best pork barbecue, use a high-quality cut of meat. Pork shoulder, also known as pork butt, is a good choice because it has a lot of flavor and fat, which helps to keep the meat moist during cooking.
  • If you don't have a smoker, you can cook the pork in a Dutch oven in the oven or on the stovetop. Just be sure to cook it low and slow so that the meat has time to become tender.
  • The barbecue sauce in this recipe is a classic North Carolina vinegar-based sauce. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, you can add a little bit of brown sugar or honey.
  • Serve the pork barbecue with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, potato salad, or baked beans.

Conclusion:

Pork barbecue is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're cooking it in a smoker, a Dutch oven, or on the stovetop, be sure to follow these tips to ensure that your pork barbecue turns out perfect. And don't forget the barbecue sauce! A good barbecue sauce is the key to making truly great pork barbecue.

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