How Long Do I Cook A Boston Butt

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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!

Jump to:

What is pork butt?
Is Boston butt the same as a pork shoulder?
Pork Seasoning
Pork Butt on The Grill Recipe Tips
Do I grill a Boston butt fat side up or down?
Why wrap it in foil?
How long do I grill it for?
How to Shred Pork after Grilling
What to Do with Leftovers
Easy Pork Recipes
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📋 Recipe
💬 Reviews

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! Grilling Pork But is SO easy!

Grilled pork butt on the grill after cooking

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.

Pork butt on the grill getting ready to make grilled pork butt recipe

Is Boston butt the same as a pork shoulder?

Pork butt, also known as Boston butt, is not the same as a shoulder cut.

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.

Pork 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!

Ingredients with labels for grilled pork butt recipe

Pork Butt on The Grill 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!

A fork with a bite of grilled pork butt on it

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

Pork Tacos
Pork Nachos
Pork Flatbread pizza
Best Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe
Philly Pork Sandwich.
Macaroni and Cheese with pulled pork
Pork Fried Rice

Easy Pork Recipes

Smothered Pork Chops
Easy Baked Pork Chops
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Sous Vide Pork Chops

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📋 Recipe

Grilled Pork Butt Recipe - Pork Butt on the Grill

Tender Grilled Pork Butt Recipe

Tender, juicy, and full of flavor, there is nothing like grilled pork butt! The crispy skin on the outside but super tender meat makes this easy pork recipe perfect for making pulled pork on the grill.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 4 hrs

Refrigeration Time 2 hrs

Total Time 6 hrs 5 mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 485 kcal

Grill

4.5 pound pork butt
2 cups beef broth
4 tablespoons brown sugar bourbon seasoning or seasoning of your choice

Rub a 4.5 poundpork butt all over with 4 tablespoonsbrown 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE:The two side burners of your grill should be set to low andyour 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!

Calories: 485 kcal Carbohydrates: 6 g Protein: 66 g Fat: 20 g Saturated Fat: 7 g Cholesterol: 204 mg Sodium: 521 mg Potassium: 1264 mg Fiber: 1 g Sugar: 1 g Vitamin A: 259 IU Vitamin C: 1 mg Calcium: 151 mg Iron: 8 mg

Keyword best pulled pork recipe, grilled pork butt, pork butt recipe, pulled pork recipes

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About Isabel Laessig

Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She hosts Family Foodie Friday on WTSP's Great Day Tampa Bay, along with other television appearances, to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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