Pork Roast in Oven

This is how to cook boneless pork roast in oven until it is so tender that it melts in your mouth!! Coated with a dry rub it has a ton of flavor to make sliders or sandwiches with, barbecue sauce optional.

We love pulled pork, but I don’t always want to cook it in a smoker or grill so it was time for it to be baked until fall-apart fork tender like you see here. With a dry rub crust it was delicious served as is, or tossed with barbecue sauce for dinner.

We have a killer bbq restaurant in town and this is our favorite meal. Loaded on top of a big hamburger bun it is a messy meal but OH MY do we dream about it. Of course we can’t go out to eat all the time so we experimented in the kitchen to make our own version and have perfected it this week!

How Long to Cook Picnic Roast in Oven

Of course the bake time will vary depending on how large and/or thick your piece is but in general it will take about 60 minutes per pound to cook a Pork Picnic Roast (our favorite cut of pork for this) until you can shred it with 2 forks easily. Ours was about 5 pounds therefore it took about 5 hours cooking time to perfection.

With smaller thinner cuts like Smithfield Pork Tenderloin the timing would be quite a bit less. Keep in mind when you choose your cut you should choose one that has a decent amount of fat it you want pulled pork sandwiches let’s say. Fat keeps it super tender and easier to shred than leaner cuts like pork loin roast.

Dry Rub for Pulled Pork

Whether I cook Boston Butt in Oven or this leaner cut I insist on coating the outside with a bold dry rub. Not only does it create a crispy crust but it adds a ton of flavor to the point where you don’t need it sauced when done. Optional of course, but not necessary.

It is best to start with olive oil to keep it moist and add seasonings such as paprika, minced garlic, dried thyme, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper into the mix. If you wanted a sweet and savory mixture you could use our dry rub for pork chops instead.

Barbecue Pulled Pork in Oven

If you did want to add bbq sauce or another sauce on top like our Mississippi Pork Roast I recommend waiting until the last 15 minutes so it doesn’t burn. It is nice to get some heat on it though so it sort of caramelizes and gets ooey gooey and sticky. Our favorite choice would be Sweet Baby Ray’s sweet heat.

Should you cover pork with foil when you bake it?

I do not do this, no. At 325F. the temperature is low enough so it can bake for several hours and not burn. Yes you will get a crisp crust on the outside but once it’s pulled that mixes in and is part of why it is delicious. If you wanted it to just be tender without added texture you could cover lightly with aluminum foil.

Frozen Pork Roast in Oven

If your piece is straight out of the freezer and dinnertime is looming our recipe for Frozen Roast in the Oven can save the day. That is right, using the proper techniques you can actually thaw your piece and then bake it even if you have a forgetful day. Depending on the size and your cut of meat (bone-in takes a bit longer) it doesn’t take lot longer than if it were defrosted to begin with.

At what temperature does pork pull apart?

If you want it to shred really easily you want to wait until it reaches an internal temperature of 195–205°F (90–96°C). Use a meat thermometer with pan removed from the heat source to get the most accurate read. At this range, the connective tissues have broken down fully, making it moist and shreddable.

What to Make with Leftover Pulled Pork

The first thing I think of if I have some left on day 2 is to use Pork for Tamales. Then the time consuming part is done and all you need to do is toss with sauce and stuff masa to steam. You can add it into your favorite casserole or heat and serve as sliders.

We have a lot of other easy Leftover Pork Loin Recipes that work with any cut you cooked. I work my way thru it to make a whole new meal because I hate to waste food!