My signature pulled pork recipe is slow roasted for 12 hours. People from all over the world love this easy pulled pork recipe that you can make in a slow cooker. The pork is rubbed with a secret spice mix, cooked slowly until it falls apart easily, and then tossed in a simple but flavorful homemade BBQ sauce.
Super economical, makes loads, freezes 100% perfectly and insanely moreish. You can make sliders or a big Southern BBQ dinner plate with sides like cornbread, mac and cheese, and coleslaw.
Pulled pork is a quintessential BBQ dish that no summer gathering would be complete without. When slow-smoked until succulent and fall-apart tender, the pork shoulder transforms into delicious strands just begging to be doused in sweet, tangy barbecue sauce. But figuring out precisely how much BBQ sauce you need for a large batch of pulled pork can be tricky. If you’re smoking up 20 pounds of pork butt for a crowd how much sauce should you prepare?
Key Factors For Determining BBQ Sauce Amount
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for how much barbecue sauce is needed for pulled pork. The ideal quantity depends on a few factors:
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Personal Preference – Some folks want their pulled pork totally drenched in sauce, while others prefer just a light coating Know your crowd’s tastes.
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Other Dishes – If the pulled pork is a standalone main course, more sauce is useful. With heavier sides, less may suffice.
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Leftovers – Will you have ample extra pork? Leftovers often get repurposed into sandwiches, nachos, etc. where more sauce works well.
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Serving Style – Sandwiches and rolls require more sauce than pork served in a bowl. The bread soaks up sauce.
Considering these elements will help tailor the BBQ sauce amount to your specific needs when cooking for a party
A Light Coating – 1/4 to 1/2 Cup Per Pound
For a mellow, balanced sauce flavor, use approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce per pound of pulled pork. This lightly coats the meat without overwhelming it.
For 20 pounds of pork:
- 1/4 cup per lb = 5 cups of sauce
- 1/2 cup per lb = 10 cups of sauce
The pork retains a nice smoky shine and the sauce provides a subtler background note. This amount is great if serving lots of other barbecue meats or saucy sides.
A Medium Coating – 1/2 to 3/4 Cup Per Pound
For bolder, stickier pulled pork, use 1/2 to 3/4 cup of barbecue sauce per pound. This gives the pork some nice coverage:
- 1/2 cup per lb = 10 cups
- 3/4 cup per lb = 15 cups
The sauce becomes an equal partner to the meat, providing finger-lickin’ texture and tangy flavor. This quantity is ideal for pulled pork sandwiches where the rolls can really soak up sauce.
Heavy On The Sauce – 3/4 to 1 Cup Per Pound
Sauce fanatics who want totally drenched pulled pork should go for 3/4 to 1 full cup of barbecue sauce per pound. This leaves the pork strands bathed and dripping.
- 3/4 cup per lb = 15 cups
- 1 cup per lb = 20 cups
Here the pork acts as a vehicle for the rich sauce. It’s ideal for nachos, tacos, pizza, and anything where juicy, saucy meat is key. Don’t forget extra napkins!
Helpful Tips for Making Saucy Pulled Pork
When using larger amounts of barbecue sauce, keep these tips in mind:
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Mix the pork and sauce together while heated to meld flavors.
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Add some of the pork cooking liquid to maintain moisture.
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Keep leftovers moist by adding stock, soda, or more sauce.
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Let guests sauce their own servings to customize.
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Have extra napkins on hand for messy fingers and faces.
Homemade BBQ Sauce for Pulled Pork
Making your own barbecue sauce is rewarding and lets you tweak flavors to match the pork perfectly. This sauce balances sweet, tangy, and savory with a kiss of heat:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp each honey and molasses
- 1 tbsp each Dijon, Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder
- 12 drops liquid smoke
Instructions:
- Whisk ingredients together in a saucepan.
- Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cool before using.
Double or triple this recipe as needed to accommodate your 20 pounds of pulled pork. The sauce stores 1-2 weeks refrigerated or 2-3 months frozen.
Calculating Pork Amount Per Person
When purchasing pork for pulling, here are helpful serving estimates:
- Small appetite: 1⁄4 lb per person
- Average appetite: 1⁄2 lb per person
- Hearty appetite: 3⁄4 to 1 lb per person
For a group of 20, having 10-15 pounds of raw pork shoulder allows for generous portions and leftovers. Remember the meat reduces 25-30% after cooking and pulling.
Cooking Time for 20 Pounds of Pork
With a large 20 pound pork shoulder, estimate 1-1.5 hours of cooking time per pound to reach tender, succulent pulled pork.
- 20 lbs at 1 hour per lb = 20 hours
- 20 lbs at 1.5 hours per lb = 30 hours
Cook low and slow, around 225-275°F, on a smoker, grill or in the oven until the internal temperature hits 200-205°F. Then let the pork rest before pulling into delectable strands.
Tips for Big Batch Pork Cooks
Smoking 20 pounds of pork is ambitious! Here are some tips:
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Trim excess fat to reduce time and grease.
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Cook in smaller batches across multiple days if needed.
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Use large cookers like turkey fryers or commercial roasters.
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Maintain steady, even heat for best results.
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Monitor temperature carefully with a meat thermometer.
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Allow the pork to rest 30-60 minutes before pulling.
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Pull meat in smaller batches instead of all at once.
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Keep pork moist when reheating by adding liquid.
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Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours.
With the proper amount of zesty barbecue sauce for your crowd, moist, tender pulled pork is sure to be a hit! Adjust the sauce to preference and get ready for happy guests with grinning, sauce-covered faces.
FAQs About BBQ Sauce for Pulled Pork
How much sauce per pound of pulled pork?
Use around 1/4 to 1 cup of barbecue sauce per pound of cooked pork depending on preferences. Start with less sauce and add more as needed.
How much will 20 pounds of BBQ feed?
Figure each pound of smoked meat feeds 3-4 people along with sides. Guests will likely eat 1/4 to 1/3 pound each.
How much will 20 pounds of pulled pork feed?
20 pounds of pulled pork will feed around 50-60 people. Estimate about 1/2 pound of finished pulled pork per average eater. Buy extra pork if leftovers are desired.
What’s a good homemade BBQ sauce recipe?
A classic homemade barbecue sauce contains ketchup, cider vinegar, brown sugar, spices, molasses, mustard, and smoke flavor. Simmer the ingredients together into a tangy, sweet sauce.
What you need for pulled pork
For slow cooker pulled pork, you’ll need a spice rub and some kind of liquid for a braising liquid that will add flavor, sweetness, and keep everything nice and moist.
I like to use beer – any beer other than dark brown beers like stout or Guinness. Apple cider – alcoholic or non alcoholic – or similar fruit ciders (like pear) are also terrific. For non alcoholic, apple juice works really well. Emergency fallback: water!.
Pork shoulder or bone-in pork butt, which is also called Boston butt, is the best pork for pulled pork. The meat is juicy because it’s marbled with fat, and because it’s a tough cut of pork, it needs a long cook time to get soft enough to shred. This gives the flavors more time to soak in!
While both are cut from the shoulder of pig, the pork shoulder comes from the lower end (upper leg) whereas pork butt is the upper part near the back which is why the shape is more rectangle block-like. Here’s an excellent diagram from Cooks’ Illustrated!
And here’s what you need for the homemade Barbecue Sauce. It’s the sauce I use for all cooked meats, like pork ribs, chicken, beef ribs, and brisket.
I sometimes change it up a bit depending on the protein and the dish’s purpose, but the main ingredients are always the same!
Pulled pork should be tender…but not mushy!
It makes me cry to see pork being shred with a food processor and mixed with sauce so hard that it looks like baby food.
You just need to cook the pork for the right amount of time (10 hours on low) and toss it with the sauce gently instead of stirring it like you’re stirring a pot of soup. We want tender, juicy pork that falls apart easily but still has the texture of meat. We don’t want mush!
Lloyd’s Seasoned Shredded Pork In Original BBQ Sauce Review
FAQ
How much sauce for pulled pork per pound?
How much will 20 pounds of BBQ feed?
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Number of people to be served
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Pounds of each food group
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25 People
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6.25 lb.
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30 People
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7.5 lb.
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50 People
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12.5 lb.
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80 People
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20 lb.
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Do you add barbecue sauce to pulled pork?
How many people will 20 pounds of shredded pork feed?