Have you wondered how to get the flavor and tenderness of smoked pork without a smoker? Our easy Oven Smoked Boston Butt takes minutes to prepare, and the oven works its magic to make the most tender pulled pork ever!

Oven Smoked Boston Butt with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Making delicious pulled pork in the oven is really simple. We love serving this recipe on a soft bun with our easy-to-make homemade bbq sauce. Making your own sauce takes one pan and less than 5 minutes!

how much meat to buy when making pulled pork?

how much meat should i buy when making pulled pork sandwiches?

I highly suggest buying two roasts or one huge roast at Costco. Boston butt, pork butt, or pork shoulder are common cuts of meat that work well with this cooking method. I like to buy a huge roast (photo above), perfect for leftovers or feeding a crowd. I find that after pulling the fat off the cooked meat, the weight of cooked meat is about 1/2 the weight of the uncooked roast, so if you buy a 15-pound piece of meat, the cooked meat will equal a little more than 7 pounds. I suggest planning for 1/4-1/3 pound per person if you have a mix of adults and children and 4-5 side dishes.

what is the difference between pork butt, pork shoulder, and boston butt?

Pork butt and pork shoulder are different cuts from the same portion of the pig. Either one works in this recipe. When I first started making this recipe for Oven Smoked Butt, it was sold in our local grocery labeled as Boston butt. Now it seems that pork shoulder is easier to find.

best side dish for barbecue

what sides are best to serve with pulled pork?

We love to serve lots of sides with our pulled pork. My favorites are this fresh Apple and Cabbage Slaw (shown in photos), Sweet Baked Beans, and my Aunt Di’s Almost German Potato Salad (above).

Oven Smoked Boston Butt with Homemade BBQ Sauce

what equipment do I need to make oven smoked pork?

No special equipment needed! You don’t even need a heavy pan. I have found that using a heavy duty dutch oven produces a more beautiful crust on the meat, as shown in the photos, but using a simple 9×13-inch pan covered in foil also works!

how to make bbq sauce at home

I recommend picking up food handler gloves either in a restaurant supply store or grocery. Food handler gloves have a hundred uses and will keep your hands from smelling like smoke flavoring. Unless you WANT to smell like smoke flavoring?! I heard a news story about men loving food smells, as opposed to flowery perfume scents. Interesting. Maybe just put a little behind your ears while you are preparing the meat…

pulled pork sandwich cooked in oven

Oh, one more thing. My kids, especially the boys, LOVE it when I make this. Not only because they love the dish, but they also love saying “I am So excited to have BUTT tonight” or “I love it when you make BUTT” or “Pass the BUTT.” Sheesh. Kids.

We hope you love this recipe we have made for years!

Recipe originally posted in January 2009, updated with new content and photos in 2025

Oven Smoked Boston Butt with Homemade BBQ Sauce

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Author: Si Foster
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
rest time: 2 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10
This easy-to-make oven roasted pulled pork is a hit with everyone!

Ingredients 

  • 4-5 pound pork butt roast (Boston butt or pork shoulder also work)
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground pepper
  • 4 tablespoons liquid smoke
  • 1 large sweet onion, sliced into rings
  • 1 cup water
  • foil
  • homemade bbq sauce (recipe below)

BBQ Sauce:

  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1 cup light or dark brown sugar
  • 5-8 drops hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ground pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

For the Meat:

  • Place gloves on hands (if using). Sprinkle all of the seasoning evenly over all sides of the roast and rub into the meat. Repeat the process with the liquid smoke.
  • Place the meat in a large roasting pan, Dutch oven, or 9×13-inch pan. Remove the gloves and discard. 
  • Chop the onions and throw them over the meat. Pour water into the pan, being careful not to pour it over the meat — you don't want to wash away the seasonings. Cover the meat with foil and seal to edges of the pan so steam won't escape.  
  • Place in oven and cook for 3 hours.
  • You can remove the roast at this time, but I like to turn the oven off and just let it sit in the oven for another couple of hours. Do not open the oven until ready to remove the roast.
  • When ready to serve, pull away excess fat and either chop the pork or pull it apart with forks. Place on a serving platter and drizzle with sauce. Serve extra sauce on the side.

For the BBQ Sauce:

  • Heat all ingredients in medium pan on stove. Add more sugar, hot sauce, or garlic according to your taste.

Notes

  • Serve with hamburger buns or white bread slices.
  • Don’t cut the meat and “mix” with bbq sauce. Carefully lay the meat in a pan or serving platter and pour a little sauce over the top to avoid a mushy texture.
  • You can substitute honey for the sugar. 
  • The bbq sauce will keep in the refrigerator for at least a month. I store mine in a mason jar. 

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to leave a comment and rate this recipe! I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!