30 Smoked Pork Shoulder BBQ Recipes That Will Revolutionize Your Cookouts! 

December 10, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Think there are just a few ways of smoking a pork shoulder? Think again! There are so many ways to smoke this cut and get delicious results. These smoked pork shoulder BBQ recipes show you exactly what ingredients and methods to use to get the yummiest smoked pork!

smoked pork shoulder bbq

1. Simple Smoked Pork Shoulder 

If you are all about making the natural flavors of the smoked pork shoulder the star of the show, then this is the recipe for you! The pork shoulder is drizzled with only salt and pepper and smoked with apple or hickory wood. Smoke the pork low and slow, gently increasing the temperature towards the end for a nice crispy crust! 

Get the recipe here

Simple Smoked Pork Shoulder

2. Classic Smoked Pork Shoulder

If you’re a traditionalist, then you are going to love this recipe! Here, the pork shoulder is smeared in mustard and patted down in a simple dry rub before being smoked for a period of time. Then, the pork shoulder is spritzed with apple cider vinegar and apple juice  before being wrapped and smoked until tender. 

Get the recipe here

Classic Smoked Pork Shoulder

3. Chipotle Smoked Pork Shoulder 

This is a super flavorful smoked pork shoulder! The pork shoulder is scored and marinated in a chipotle sauce that is made from chipotles in adobo, pineapple, aromatics, honey, garlic, and spices. It is then smoked on low until it is tender enough to be shredded. Shred the pork and serve with more chipotle sauce. 

Get the recipe here

Chipotle Smoked Pork Shoulder

4. Mexican Style Smoked Pork Shoulder

Want to experiment with a bit of a new flavor for your smoked pork? This recipe may do the trick! The sweet and savory rub is enhanced by the addition of ancho chili powder. Season the pork shoulder with the rub and smoke. When tender, rest, shred, and serve as a taco filling! 

Get the recipe here

Mexican Style Smoked Pork Shoulder

5. Sweet and Savory Smoked Pork Shoulder 

If you are someone who likes the best of both worlds, this may become your new favorite recipe! Here, you use two types of sugar to balance out the spices in the rub, ensuring that you have a gorgeous flavor. Brine the pork shoulder in apple cider and the rub before sprinkling the cut with the rub and smoking until done! 

Get the recipe here

Sweet and Savory Smoked Pork Shoulder

6. Texas Style Smoked Pork Shoulder

This Texas style pork shoulder is all about getting the most incredible crust on your cut! Here, you apply mustard to the shoulder and liberally apply the rub to the pork. While the pork is smoking, you can spritz it before eventually wrapping the shoulder in foil and cooking until done! 

Get the recipe here

Texas Style Smoked Pork Shoulder

7. Memphis Style Rubbed Smoked Pork Shoulder 

The flavor of this pork shoulder is truly incredible and this is largely thanks to the Memphis style rub. You have herbs, spices, and brown sugar working in beautiful harmony to create a balanced and smoky crust. Start by wet brining the pork before then dry brining it in the rub. Finally smoke it for a while, wrap the shoulder, and then smoke until tender! 

Get the recipe here

Memphis Style Rubbed Smoked Pork Shoulder

8. Smoked Pork Shoulder with Spicy Tangy Marinade Injection 

Want to guarantee that your pork shoulder is going to come out juicy and tender? Well, then you should inject it with a marinade. This marinade is especially good – pineapple juice, apple juice, salt, sugar, and smoked tabasco sauce. Inject the shoulder, drizzle in the rub, and then smoke! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Shoulder with Spicy Tangy Marinade Injection

9. Fully Loaded Smoked Pork Shoulder

If you are looking to go all in on flavor, then this may be the only recipe that you need! This dry rub contains herbs, spices, lemon pepper, celery salt, mustard powder, and so much more! Inject the pork with a marinade, sprinkle with the rub, and then smoke until tender enough to shred! 

Get the recipe here

Fully Loaded Smoked Pork Shoulder

10. Extra Smoky Smoked Pork Shoulder

This is a great recipe for anyone who loves their pork shoulder real smoky! In this recipe, you don’t just rely on the smoking wood to get the job done – you also apply liquid smoke to the surface of the shoulder before drizzling in rub. This gives you that extra boost of flavor! 

Get the recipe here

Extra Smoky Smoked Pork Shoulder

11. Smoked Maple Smoked Pork Shoulder 

Sweet and smoky with complex flavors, this is the ideal recipe for anyone who wants to step their smoked pork shoulder up a notch. The pork shoulder is dry brined – spices like nutmeg and cinnamon complement the glaze that is applied later on. After brining, the pork shoulder is smoked – before the shoulder is done, you brush it with a maple bourbon glaze every so often to build up an incredible crust! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Maple Smoked Pork Shoulder

12. Brown Sugar Bourbon Smoked Pork Shoulder

This recipe ensures that your pork shoulder really absorbs a ton of sweet, smoky, and savory flavors! Here, the pork shoulder is dusted in a dry rub and smoked. In the meantime, make up a sauce with brown sugar, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, and spices. Use this to mop the shoulder every hour until the pork shoulder is wrapped in foil along with the sauce. Smoke until tender! 

Get the recipe here

Brown Sugar Bourbon Smoked Pork Shoulder

13. Smoked Pork Shoulder with Honey Whiskey Barbecue Sauce

This recipe gives you the best of both worlds – the smoked pork shoulder shines and so does the sauce that goes along with it! The pork shoulder is dry brined in sugar and salt and smoked until tender. Then, you make up a homemade honey whiskey barbecue sauce and brush on the pork shoulder before serving! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Shoulder with Honey Whiskey Barbecue Sauce

14. Cinnamon Whiskey and Brown Sugar Smoked Pork Shoulder 

This is a great recipe if you are all about experimenting with flavors! The pork is sprinkled with a rub and then smoked. In the meantime, you make up a cinnamon whiskey, brown sugar, and nutmeg glaze. Brush this onto the pork shoulder, wrap the pork, and smoke until tender! 

Get the recipe here

Cinnamon Whiskey and Brown Sugar Smoked Pork Shoulder

15. Lemon Herb Smoked Pork Shoulder

This is definitely an unusual take on pork shoulder but perfect for when you want a smoked dish that is a little lighter in flavor! The pork shoulder is seasoned with salt and pepper and smoked. After the one hour mark has passed, baste the shoulder with a sauce made from lemonade, garlic, and herbs. Continue to do this until the shoulder is cooked through and tender! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Herb Smoked Pork Shoulder

16. Smoked Pork Shoulder with Pineapple 

Pineapple and pork go beautifully together making this a truly delicious dish! The pork is coated in a BBQ rub and then smoked for a while. The pork shoulder is then wrapped in butcher paper along with pineapple and brown sugar. Once the pork is tender, unwrap the shoulder, and rest! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Shoulder with Pineapple

17. Jalapeno Pineapple Smoked Pork Shoulder 

Sweet with a little bit of spicy, this smoked pork shoulder is sure to be just what you are looking for at a barbecue! The pork shoulder is rubbed down in mustard and then a dry rub. It is then smoked until tender and shredded. Add jalapenos, pineapple, and more BBQ rub into the mix! 

Get the recipe here

Jalapeno Pineapple Smoked Pork Shoulder

18. Smoked Apple Pork Shoulder

Not only does this recipe produce a tender pork shoulder, it also has that delicate and sweet flavor to the meat. The pork is injected with apple cider vinegar, apple juice, and honey. It is then tossed in a variety of spices before being smoked with apple wood! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Apple Pork Shoulder

19. Coffee Rubbed Smoked Pork Shoulder 

This is a bit of an unusual rub but one that is sure to knock your socks off! The coffee adds a dark and complex flavor that takes your smoked pork shoulder to another level! The pork shoulder is coated in a rub made from coffee, salt, sugar, paprika, and cayenne. It is then smoked for a while, wrapped, and then smoked until tender! 

Get the recipe here

Coffee Rubbed Smoked Pork Shoulder

20. Cajun Smoked Pork Shoulder 

Cajun seasoning creates that perfect balance between herbs and spices, allowing your pork shoulder to offer up an incredible flavor once smoked. Coat the pork in a homemade cajun seasoning and smoke. When the pork needs to be wrapped, spray it with orange juice for added flavor and tenderness! 

Get the recipe here

Cajun Smoked Pork Shoulder

21. Smoked Pork Shoulder with Peach Glaze

This smoked pork has so many flavorful components all working beautifully together! The pork is coated in salt, peppercorns, cumin seeds, and garlic powder before it is smoked. In the meantime, make the super sweet peach glaze and brush the pork with it. Serve the pork shoulder with a homemade North Carolina mustard sauce for the finishing touch! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Shoulder with Peach Glaze

22. Smoked Mojo Pork Shoulder

The secret to making this pork shoulder taste so good is the marinade! Here, the pork shoulder is marinated in orange juice and lime juice blended in with spices and garlic. Once marinated, smoke the pork, making sure to brush the shoulder with the reserved marinade. Then, wrap the pork and smoke until tender. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Mojo Pork Shoulder

23. Smoked Pork Shoulder with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Queso Fresco

This recipe produces the most tender and flavorful smoked pork shoulder! It all starts with the pork shoulder being marinated in citrus juice and a ton of smoky spices. Once the pork shoulder has marinated for a while, it is smoked until it is tender enough to be shredded! Then, serve with homemade napa cabbage slaw and queso fresco. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Shoulder with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Queso Fresco

24. Kalua Smoked Pork Shoulder 

If you have ever tried Hawaiian smoked pork, then you know how good it is – this recipe tries to replicate it by smoking the pork shoulder with mesquite. If you can try, to wrap the pork shoulder in banana leaves to really give it that authentic flavor while it smokes! 

Get the recipe here

Kalua Smoked Pork Shoulder

25. High Heat Smoked Pork Shoulder 

If you like being a bit of a rebel, then give this recipe a try! Here, you smoke the pork at around 325 and 350 F so that your pork smokes faster. Don’t worry, you still get the most incredibly tender pork shoulder as you inject the meat with a marinade beforehand! 

Get the recipe here

High Heat Smoked Pork Shoulder

26. Smoked Pork Shoulder with Spicy Tomato Chutney

If you want an Indian-inspired smoked pork shoulder then this is a great recipe! The pork shoulder is lightly spiced and smoked low and slow to perfectly complement the tomato chutney. Serve with toasted naan for the best results. 

Get the recipe here.

Smoked Pork Shoulder with Spicy Tomato Chutney

27. Carolina Smoked Pork Shoulder

If you want barbecue that tastes like it came straight from Carolina then this is the recipe you should check out! Smoky rub, tangy and malty mop sauce, and homemade barbecue sauce round everything out!

Get the recipe here.

Carolina Smoked Pork Shoulder

28. Cherry Dr. Pepper Smoked Pork Shoulder

This is definitely a unique take on smoked pork shoulder but one that really pays off in terms of flavor! Here, the pork shoulder is injected with cherry Dr. Pepper and then sprinkled with BBQ rub. Then, this is smoked until perfectly tender! 

Get the recipe here.

Cherry Dr. Pepper Smoked Pork Shoulder

29. Blackberry Bourbon Smoked Pork Shoulder

If you are all about getting creative with your smoked pork shoulder then you have to try this recipe! In this recipe, the pork shoulder is injected with bourbon, blackberry jam, and honey. It is then coated in Creole seasoning and then smoked to perfection!

Get the recipe here

Blackberry Bourbon Smoked Pork Shoulder

30. Cherry Coke Smoked Pork Shoulder

Sweet and tart with plenty of savoriness, this pork shoulder is sure to be a hit at your next barbecue! The pork shoulder is injected with cherry coke and coated in it. Then, you apply the rub onto the pork and smoke. Make sure to baste the shoulder with cola while smoking it. 

Get the recipe here

Cherry Coke Smoked Pork Shoulder

There are a lot of different ways to smoke pork shoulder. If you are looking to impress guests at your next cookout, you now know all the recipes that you can try out. Go ahead and begin testing them out today! 

By Kristy J. Norton
I'm Kristy – a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! You can find me either in my kitchen (or someone else's) or at a big outdoor barbecue surrounded by friends and family. In both my professional and personal life I’ve picked up more than a few tips and tricks for turning out delicious food. I consider it a privilege to share it with others!
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