Authentic Carolina pulled pork — pork shoulder rubbed with classic spices, smoked until fall-apart tender, finished with tangy vinegar sauce. A final sear in a hot pan gives you caramelized edges that hold up in a taco.←Back to Taco Base Recipes
4 lb pork shoulder, bone-in
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp salt
2 tsp dry mustard powder
1 cup apple cider vinegar
0.5 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar, for sauce
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 cups hickory wood chips, soaked
2 tbsp avocado oil, for searing
Mix brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, salt, and mustard powder for the Carolina dry rub.
Coat the pork shoulder completely with the dry rub and let it sit uncovered in the fridge at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Set up your smoker for 225°F with soaked hickory chips, or use a gas grill with smoker box on one side and keep the other side cool for indirect cooking.
Smoke the pork shoulder 6-8 hours until the internal temperature hits 195-203°F and it passes the fork test — it should shred easily.
While the pork smokes, make your Carolina sauce by combining apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and Worcestershire sauce.
Remove the pork and let it rest 30 minutes, then shred with two forks, removing any excess fat.
Toss the shredded pork with enough Carolina sauce to moisten it — start with half and add more to taste.
Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear portions of the sauced pork 2-3 minutes until you get crispy, caramelized edges.
Serve immediately while those crispy bits are still hot.
Chef's Notes
If you don't have a smoker, use a smoker box with hickory chips on your gas grill and keep one side cool. The final pan-searing step is crucial—it transforms regular pulled pork into taco gold with those crispy, caramelized edges.
Into This Base? Remix It!
Carolina BBQ Pork is a taco base recipe — the foundation of your taco, also known as the filling. It sets the flavor direction for everything that follows. Hit remix to pair it with toppings and finishes that complement it or take it somewhere you'd never expect. You might land on something traditional or stumble into full-on taco fusion.Take Carolina BBQ Pork into the Summoning Circle and shuffle it with hundreds of other taco components to create your perfect taco.
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