Pork Shoulder Recipe on a Traeger Grill

Pork shoulder is one of the classic cuts of meat that everybody enjoys, especially during these hot summer months.

So, here, we have the best Traeger grill recipes for pork shoulder for you.

Pork shoulders are great for making the best sandwiches or eating them directly.

They have many meat and protein in them with enough fats to keep them juicy and tender when cooked.

There are also many cooking appliances that you can use to cook the best pork shoulders.

However, not many appliances can do it better than a Traeger grill with its versatile cooking.

You can make any recipe with a Traeger grill because of its versatility.

A Traeger grill can sear, roast, grill, bake, and smoke food along with other functions that you can use on any recipe.

So when it comes to cooking pork shoulders, you can be sure that Traeger has got you covered.

We have their recipe, and we will be teaching you how to make the perfect pork shoulders.

We also made it easier to follow as some of the recipes from Traeger are a bit general or broad.

This recipe is perfect for beginners that want to learn and experts that want to refine their skills.

Table of Contents

What You Will Need

Pork shoulders are in demand, so you need to go early to the butcher shop and get the best one right away.

If you are serving around eight people, you need to get at least 9 pounds of the meat.

You can get it online from Snake River Farms, like I did.

Do not worry about the fats, as we will also put them in the guide to properly process that.

Get what you think will be enough to feed the people you are going to serve with it.

Also, look for the pork shoulder with enough marbling to make sure that it does not easily fry out when cooking.

It cooks for a long time, so make sure it stays juicy.

As for the seasonings, you can follow the original Traeger recipe by getting the Traeger Big Game Rub to use on the pork shoulder.

Get enough of it for the pork shoulder that you have.

You will also need 2 cups of apple cider and the Traeger ‘Que BBQ Sauce(you can use your favourite BBQ sauce) to keep the flavors in the pork shoulder.

You can also make your BBQ sauce if you prefer that.

There also might be some other rubs that you like more, and you can use whichever is your favorite.

The most important thing about this recipe is that you follow the process of cooking.

Also, ready a lot of wood pellets as this process will take a long time. You will need a lot of fuel to cook the pork shoulder properly until it gets tender, which takes several hours.

The timer or the longevity of cooking the pork shoulders will depend on the thickness of the pork shoulder.

So make sure that you have enough wood pellets to fuel the Traeger grill later on.

Pork Shoulder Recipe

Step 1: Prepare The Pork Shoulder

If you are about to cook the pork shoulder, make sure, you prepare it properly.

First, you will need to prepare ahead of time to let the rub seep into the pork shoulder.

Get the pork shoulder and let it rest until it reaches room temperature.

From there, you will need to trim excess fat, so it does not get in the way of letting the flavors inside the meat itself.

Grab a thin, preferably fileting knife, and then start by cutting off the large block of fats on the pork shoulder.

Leave a thin layer and do not completely remove the fat from the pork shoulder.

Go around the pork shoulder and remove any excess fat.

From there, grab the Traeger Big Game Rub and then spread a generous amount all over the pork shoulder with your hands.

Massage the rub a little bit, so you get it inside the meat a little bit.

Cover all sides of the pork shoulder with the rub and then let it rest for at least 20 minutes at room temperature.

Step 2: Preheat The Traeger Grill

While waiting for the pork shoulder to get ready, start the Traeger grill by loading the pellet hopper with the pellets of your choice.

Make sure that you have some reserve on the side.

Once you fill up the pellet hopper, turn the Traeger grill on, and then set the temperature to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Close the lid of the grill and let it preheat for at least 15 minutes.

Note: you can get the wood pellet of your choice and fill up the pellet hopper.

I love using wood pellets that add a little bit of flavor, such as hickory, apple, and oak pellets.

Step 3: Cook The Pork Shoulder

Once everything is ready, place the pork shoulder directly on the grill and then close the lid. Insert the meat probe into the thickest part of the pork shoulder, and then let it cook.

This will take around 3 to 5 hours for the pork shoulder to reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once it reaches that temperature, remove the pork shoulder from the grill and let it rest for a bit.

On a large baking sheet, but at least four layers of aluminum foil on it, and then place the pork on it.

Pull the sides up of the aluminum and then pour 2 cups of apple cider over the meat.

Wrap the aluminum foil tightly around all sides of the pork shoulder and seal it by closing the aluminum foil. Make sure that the apple cider will not escape or leak out of the foil.

Place the pork shoulder back into the grill and then close the lid. Insert the meat probe again. Cook the pork shoulder for 3 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the meat.

Aim or internal temperature of 205 degrees Fahrenheit before removing the pork shoulder from the grill.

This is to ensure that the pork shoulder is safe from food-borne diseases.

Step 4: Let It Rest

Once the pork shoulder reaches the internal temperature set on the recipe, remove it from the grill and then allow it to rest for 45 minutes without removing the aluminum foil around it.

After that, remove the pork shoulder from the foil packet and then pour the excess liquid into a fat separator.

Place the pork shoulder on a large dish and then pull out the large bone.

Shred-it with a claw or anything available, and then season it with the rub once more before adding the excess liquid again. You can add the BBQ sauce of your choice if you like to.

Drive with your favorite recipes, side dishes, or sandwiches. Make sure to leave out any leftovers and store them properly, so you have a meal ready whenever you want to eat.

Storing Leftovers

It is most likely that you are going to have some leftovers with a large pork shoulder.

So what you need to do is put the leftovers in a zip lock bag and then place them in the fridge.

This will let them preserve the freshness and the flavors for up to four days.

Beyond that, and the meat would have had bacteria developing inside, so do not risk eating it after four days.

If you want the leftovers to last longer, you will need to freeze them. Wrap the leftovers again with aluminum foil and then place them in a sealed container before placing them in the freezer.

This will let the pork shoulders last for months. If you want to taste the same flavors and freshness you get from the pork shoulders, I suggest consuming the leftovers within a month.

Conclusion

Many other appliances can provide the things you need to cook a pork shoulder.

However, nothing is as easy and as convenient as using a Traeger grill to do the job.

They produce their recipe to ensure that you will be getting the optimal or the best results with your grill. Just make sure to follow the instructions properly.

Another great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it.

You get to choose the cut of meat or seasonings used and switch it to your favorite ones!

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Pork Shoulder Recipe on a Traeger Grill

What You Will Need