Traeger Smoked Pulled Pork Loin
Make tender, smoky pulled pork on your Traeger using a budget-friendly pork loin! Seasoned with a sweet and spicy rub, then slow-smoked until it falls apart, this recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd or weekly meal prep!
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 261kcal
Ingredients
- 4-5 pound pork loin
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
For the Rub:
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Sauce
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from pork loin, leaving ¼ inch fat cap. Pat completely dry with paper towels and rub with 3 tablespoons olive oil.
- In a bowl, combine ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and kosher salt, plus 1 teaspoon each of black pepper and cayenne. Coat pork evenly with the spice mixture.
- Preheat your Traeger grill to 250°F. Place the seasoned pork directly on grill grates and smoke for 4-6 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- When the pork reaches 160℉, pour 1 cup each of apple juice and BBQ sauce plus ¼ cup of maple syrup into a large disposable aluminum pan. Transfer the pork loin to the pan and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Increase the grill temperature to 325°F. Return the covered pan to the grill and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 195℉ to 205℉. Note: The exact time will vary, but mine takes about 1½ hours.
- Remove from grill and let rest for 30 minutes. Using two forks, shred pork directly in the pan, mixing it with the cooking liquid. Enjoy!
Notes
- Don't use tenderloin - it's too lean and will dry out.
- Hickory, apple, cherry, pecan, or Signature blend wood pellets work great for pork. I used hickory for this recipe.
- Season the pork up to 24 hours ahead.
- Keep the temperature probe in place throughout cooking.
- A 4-5 pound pork loin makes about 12-15 servings.
- Store leftover pulled pork with the cooking liquid in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 733mg | Potassium: 577mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 717IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
