The easiest way to cook a whole pork shoulder

Cooking a whole pork shoulder is fairly simple, but knowing how to prep and cook it will ensure your pork comes out perfectly—one recipe with many possibilities.

A Pork shoulder is a triangular cut from the area just above the pig’s front leg. Because it is cheap, it is an ideal cut for slow cooking. The meat cut has excellent flavor and fat content, perfect for long, slow cooking. It’s also a flavorful cut of meat and is ideal for making pulled pork sandwiches. The best way to cook a pork shoulder is in the oven or slow cooker.

Roasting a whole pork shoulder is the easiest way to prepare this big cut of meat. Follow our step-by-step instructions for seasoning, cooking, and serving the pork shoulder.

Buying and Preparing the whole pork shoulder to roast

First, decide on the size of pork shoulder you want to roast. The recipe below is for a 12-pound pork shoulder. We chose this size of meat to create more dishes and save money on groceries.

One important rule to remember is that the larger the meat, the longer it takes to cook. It is also best to choose a bone-in pork shoulder.

Preparing the meat for roasting is a simple process. You’ll want to start by washing the pork shoulder with cold water and patting it dry with paper towels. You can also spray the meat with vinegar, rinse and pat it with paper towels.

The next step is the create deep diagonal cuts into the meat. This way, the meat will be well seasoned, and the cooking will be shorter.

Now you are ready to season the pork shoulder.

Ingredients needed for the whole pork shoulder roast

• A whole pork shoulder: buy one with the skin on and bone-in. You need the skin and the middle bone for flavor and moisture.
• Seasonings: NouBess Steak Seasoning, NouBess Garlic and Herb Seasoning, Onion Powder, Paprika, Salt, or Chicken Bouillon/Maggi seasoning.
• Lemon zest
• Olive oil

Instructions for the whole pork shoulder roast

• The first step is to prepare the seasoning blend by mixing the NouBess Steak Seasoning, onion powder, paprika salt, chicken bouillon, or Maggi -whichever you use.
• Clean the meat your preferred way. We chose vinegar because of the size of the meat. Pat, it dry with paper towels and place it on a large cutting board. With a sharp knife, create several deep cuts to the bone. Repeat the same on the other side. The meat will look like it is falling apart, but it is not. That is why you must keep the skin and the bone on.
• Season the meat thoroughly. Add the seasoning blend between the cuts so the meat can absorb all the flavors.
• Next, put the roast in a roasting pan and place it in an oven preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 200 degrees Celsius). Roast it covered with aluminum foil for 1 hour. Remove the foil, lower the heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked. Turn the oven temperature to broil, and roast for 7 -10 or until the skin is crispy.

After it’s roasted and cooled down enough to handle safely (but still warm), slice off the pieces you want to serve immediately. Store the remaining pieces in Ziploc freezer bags to create more leftover and delicious dishes later.

If you are serving the pork shoulder roast immediately, serve it with mashed potatoes or some other starch like rice or quinoa; roasted vegetables like broccoli or carrots; salad greens seasoned with vinegar or lemon juice; and maybe even some cornbread if you want something sweet at the end of your meal.

Notes and Tips for the whole pork shoulder roast

1. Adjusting the serving size is easy. But make sure your roast is at least 5 pounds and has a bone! These two things guarantee enough meat for the whole meal (plus leftovers).
2. Want to make this recipe in your slow cooker? Add the pork shoulder into the slower cooker or crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until fully cooked.
3. If you don’t have time to let your roast sit in the marinade overnight, try throwing together a quick baste with some of the sauce ingredients and brushing it on before putting it in the oven; this will help infuse flavor into the pork faster than just using salt and pepper alone.
4. Use a meat thermometer to ensure proper doneness and avoid overcooking your roast. Pork roasts are done when they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F; this is also when they’ll be the most tender and juicy.
5. If you want to make gravy from drippings, add water or broth to deglaze any browned bits on the bottom of your pan after removing the meat.
6. Let the pork rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing it; this will help keep it moist and tender.
7. This recipe is also great for parties or potlucks because it can be served hot or cold. Serve it on rolls with coleslaw and potato salad—whatever side dishes you like!
8. Add less seasoning with brown sugar and mustard to the seasoning blend if you want a barbecue-style whole pork shoulder roast.
9. Add mustard, coconut aminos, or balsamic vinegar to the seasoning blend for more flavor and zing.
10. Do not omit the paprika because it adds flavor and gives the meat a nice golden-brown color.
11. Use a nonstick roasting pan for easy cleaning.
12. Do not throw the bone away after roasting. You can still use it to make your favorite crockpot or slow-cooker bean soup.
13. Why cook a whole pork shoulder this way? Well, we want to create more dishes and save money!

What to do with the leftovers?

• Add to stir-fried vegetables
• Stew/legumes
• Soup
• Au-gratin recipes
• Make lettuce wraps
• Add to salad
• Make delicious eggs dishes
• Add to pasta, rice, and other grains

Cooking a whole pork shoulder really couldn’t be easier. You just have to season it, throw it inside an oven, and wait for it to finish. Since you can leave the shoulder to cook for hours in the oven, you can whip up some sides that take less time to prepare, like rice and beans or potato salad.

The easiest way to cook a whole pork shoulder

Learn how to roast a pork shoulder for succulent, flavorful meat with this recipe that you can make in your slow cooker or oven.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine Caribbean

Servings 12

Calories 452 kcal

Equipment

• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Bowl

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 12- pound whole pork shoulder with the bone in
• 2 teaspoon NouBess Steak Seasoning
• 2 teaspoon NouBess Garlic and Herb Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 2 teaspoon Paprika
• Salt or Chicken Bouillon/Maggi seasoning, to taste
• Zest of one Lemon
• ¼ cup Olive oil or just enough to mix the spices together

Instructions

 

• The first step is to prepare the seasoning blend by mixing the NouBess Steak Seasoning, NouBess Garlic and Herbs Seasoning, onion powder, paprika salt, chicken bouillon, or Maggi – whatever you use.
• Clean the meat your preferred way. We chose vinegar because of the size of the meat. Pat, it dry with paper towels and place it on a large cutting board. With a sharp knife, create several deep cuts to the bone. Repeat the same on the other side. The meat will look like it is falling apart, but it is not. That is why you must keep the skin and the bone on.
• Season the meat thoroughly with the marinade mixture. Add the seasoning blend between the cuts so the meat can absorb all the flavors.
• Next, place the roast in a roasting pan and preheated oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast it covered with aluminum foil for 1 hour. Remove the foil, lower the heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked. Turn the oven temperature to broil, and roast for 7 -10 or until the skin is crispy.
• After it’s roasted and cooled down enough to handle safely (but still warm), slice off the pieces you want to serve immediately. Store the remaining pieces in Ziploc freezer bags to create more leftover and delicious dishes later.
• If you are serving the pork shoulder roast immediately, serve it with mashed potatoes or some other starch like rice or quinoa; roasted vegetables like broccoli or carrots; salad greens seasoned with vinegar or lemon juice; and maybe even some cornbread if you want something sweet at the end of your meal.

Notes

• Adjusting the serving size is easy. But make sure your roast is at least 5 pounds and has a bone! These two things guarantee enough meat for the whole meal (plus leftovers).
• Want to make this recipe in your slow cooker? Add the pork shoulder into the slower cooker or crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours. 
• If you don’t have time to let your roast sit in the marinade overnight, try throwing together a quick baste with some of the sauce ingredients and brushing it on before putting it in the oven; this will help infuse flavor into the pork faster than just using salt and pepper alone.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure proper doneness and avoid overcooking your roast. Pork roasts are done when they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F; this is also when they’ll be the most tender and juicy.
• If you want to make gravy from drippings, add water or broth to deglaze any browned bits on the bottom of your pan after removing the meat.
• Let the pork rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing it; this will help keep it moist and tender.
• This recipe is also great for parties or potlucks because it can be served hot or cold. Serve it on rolls with coleslaw and potato salad—whatever side dishes you like!
• Add less seasoning with brown sugar and mustard to the seasoning blend if you want a barbecue-style whole pork shoulder roast.
• Add mustard, coconut aminos, or balsamic vinegar to the seasoning blend for more flavor and zing.
• Do not omit the paprika because it adds flavor and gives the meat a nice golden-brown color.
• Use a nonstick roasting pan for easy cleaning.
• Do not throw the bone away after roasting. You can still use it to make your favorite crockpot or slow-cooker bean soup.
• Why cook a whole pork shoulder this way? Well, we want to create more dishes and save money.

What to do with the leftovers?

• Add to stir-fried vegetables
• Stew/legumes
• Soup
• Au-gratin recipes
• Make lettuce wraps
• Add to salad
• Make delicious eggs dishes
• Add to pasta, rice, and other grains

Nutrition

Calories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 54gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 185mgSodium: 211mgPotassium: 955mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 4mg

Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Keyword budget cooking, pork roast, whole pork shoulder roast

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tried this recipe?Mention @noubesscaribbean or tag #noubesscaribbean!

Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.

Time to stock up your Pantry! Shop Noubess.comCheck out Noubess Shop!

Corn Allergy:

Always choose ingredients without corn or corn derivatives.