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Deeply flavorful, this easy Pork Butt on the Grill is shred-with-a-fork tender and uses just 3 ingredients. It smells so good, your neighbors will be jealous!
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I love grilling out! It’s grilling season year-round here, so I’m always looking for what to make next. This Grilled Pork Butt recipe has to be one of my all-time favorite grilling recipes.
It’s flavorful and so fall-apart tender, you can use it to make grilled pulled pork. The best part is, it’s a low-effort recipe using just 3 simple ingredients, so even if you’re a total beginner to grilling you can make this dish for your family.
I promise you, one bite of this fork-tender pork butt on the grill, and you’ll wonder where this recipe has been all your life!
What is pork butt?
Pork butt is cut from the upper part of the front leg of the pig. It’s a fatty cut perfect for braising, roasting, or grilling low and slow.
Boston butt is another name for pork butt. It’s an inexpensive cut of meat and is so tender!
Cook pork butt on the grill slowly over low heat, and you will enjoy one of the most tender, succulent grilled recipes ever. It will shred easily with a fork and has an amazing natural flavor with a smokiness.
Is Boston butt the same as a pork shoulder?
Pork butt, also known as Boston butt, is not the same as a shoulder cut.
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Although they both come from the front leg of the pig, the butt is actually higher up than the shoulder.
Boston butt has more marbling than the shoulder, and so it is more tender when you cook it.
Seasoning
I use brown sugar bourbon seasoning on this Boston butt grill recipe. It’s deeply flavorful and I love the sweet-and-smoky results of cooking with it!
But when I switch things up, I love using our dry steak rub or our Bold Rib Rub Recipe with Brown Sugar. It is the perfect combination of sweet and salty!
Any grilling seasoning will taste fantastic with this naturally flavorful cut of meat. Try bold and spicy chipotle, classic BBQ seasoning, or even sriracha dipping sauce.
Trust me, sriracha is a perfect pairing for this recipe! Just take a look at my favorite air fried ham. You could even use the sriracha honey glaze to pour over this pork butt on the grill and I guarantee you, it will taste amazing!
Recipe Tips
Follow my tips for how to cook a Boston butt on the grill to get perfect results every time:
- Chill in the fridge at least 2 hours or overnight (I recommend overnight).
- The two side burners of your grill should be set to low and your middle burner should be turned off. The meat will benefit from the indirect heat and prevent it from burning.
- Place an aluminum tray under the rack of your grill. Center it in the middle of your grill. This catches the drippings.
- After 2.5 hours, remove from the grill to wrap in aluminum foil. This will prevent it from burning.
Do I grill a Boston butt fat side up or down?
Grill fat-side down. The pan you placed under the grill rack will catch all of the fat drippings. You can use the drippings to make a delicious au jus!
Why wrap it in foil?
Grilling a Boston butt in foil keeps it nice and juicy and tenderizes the meat. This is what makes the meat fall-apart juicy!
How long do I grill it for?
Pork butt cooking time depends on the size of the cut. A smaller cut will take less time, while a larger cut may take a couple of hours more.
Cook time for this recipe is 4 hours altogether.
How to Shred Pork after Grilling
- Place grilled Boston butt on a cutting board.
- Shred using two forks. Separate the fatty bits from the meat.
What to Do with Leftovers
- Tacos
- Nachos
- Burritos
- Flatbread pizza
- Best Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe – Make delicious sandwiches with this recipe by adding your favorite BBQ sauce! One of my favorites is also our Philly Pork Sandwich.
- Macaroni and Cheese with pulled pork
I love grilling pork butt to use in dishes like nachos, tacos, and even flatbread pizza. It’s great for mixing with rice for a rice bowl, too. Try my recipe for pork fried rice using this dish!
Did you enjoy this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below and let me know what you think!
Save the Video Pin 📌
📋 Recipe
Tender Grilled Pork Butt Recipe
🍳 Equipment
🥘 Ingredients
- 4.5 pound pork butt
- 2 cups beef broth
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar bourbon seasoning or seasoning of your choice
🔪 Instructions
- Rub a 4.5 pound pork butt all over with 4 tablespoons brown sugar bourbon seasoning. Coat every side completely with the seasoning.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight (recommeded).
- Place an aluminum tray under the rack of your grill. Center it in the middle of your grill. This will catch the juices from the pork as it cooks.
- Pour 2 cups beef broth into the aluminum tray. Place the pork butt in the center of the grill. Grill for 2.5 hours on low heat. See notes for important cooking details!
- After 2.5 hours, remove the pork butt from the grill to wrap in aluminum foil. This will prevent the pork from burning and tenderize the meat.
- Cook for an additional 1.5 hours on low heat.
Video
Notes
- IMPORTANT NOTE: The two side burners of your grill should be set to low and your middle burner should be turned off. This will benefit the pork from the indirect heat and prevent it from burning.
- Cook time varies by size of meat. A 4.5 pork butt will cook for approximately 4 hours using this recipe.
- You can use the fat drippings to make a delicious au jus!
- To shred the pork after cooking, use two forks. Separate the fatty bits from the meat. Serve, and enjoy!
pamelagreer says
This really is the best pork butt recipe!! I never used to place a pan under. my pork and I would get flare ups. This comes out perfect every time!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
This looks amazing!! Once I finally find meat in stores I am DEFINITELY going to be making this! Bookmarked until then 🙂
Anita says
This will be perfect when grilling season starts. And I’m a newbie when it comes to grilling, so I really appreciate all the good tips you are sharing here. 🙂
Ashley says
This is delicious! Definitely will make again and again!!
Nlallen says
My husband said this was the best pork roast he’s had in years! So easy too!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed it and that it was easy to make! 💖