Want to try smoking a pork shoulder tomorrow for the first time. Do I need one of those fancy pellet smokers or can I make it work with a regular charcoal grill? Also how long does this usually take? Trying to impress the wife and not screw it up. Any go-to rubs or sauces that are actually easy to make?
Regular charcoal works perfectly fine for pulled pork. My go-to is a simple dry rub with brown sugar, paprika, and garlic powder, then just let it ride for 8-10 hours. Your family's gonna love it.
You don't need fancy gear at all! I've done great pulled pork on a basic charcoal smoker for years. Low and slow is the key, not the equipment. Just keep your temps steady around 225-250 and you'll nail it.
What's your budget looking like? If you want to keep it simple you can even do it in an oven at low heat if you don't have a smoker yet. The results won't be quite the same but it's still delicious. But if you're going to invest in equipment, a barrel smoker is pretty versatile and not crazy expensive.
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You definitely don't need a pellet smoker to get great pulled pork. I started with a basic charcoal offset smoker and it worked great. The key is low and slow, around 225-250 degrees, and you'll want to plan for about an hour per pound. Don't skip the rub and get yourself a decent meat thermometer.
Pro tip: wrap it in foil once it hits about 160 internal temp. Speeds things up and keeps it moist. Also let it rest for at least 20 minutes before pulling. I made this mistake my first time and the meat was too hot to shred properly.