Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with our Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ recipe. Whether you’re a barbecue pro or a newbie in the kitchen, this dish is a flavor-packed crowd-pleaser.
Slow-cooked in a cast-iron Dutch oven, this Boston butt becomes tender and smoky, delivering a BBQ experience that’ll have your guests asking for more. Let’s dive into this recipe and learn how to make a mouthwatering BBQ sensation!
We suggest serving this with Sweet Corn Spoon Bread and Green Bean Casserole!
Recipe Ingredients for Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ
- Boston Butt Pork Shoulder: The star of the show! Boston butt, which is actually a part of the pork shoulder, is a flavorful and well-marbled cut of meat. When slow-cooked, it becomes tender and succulent, making it perfect for BBQ. Its role is to provide the main protein source and a rich, porky flavor to the dish.
- Favorite Rub: The rub is a blend of spices and herbs that’s applied to the pork shoulder before cooking. It serves to season the meat and infuse it with a combination of flavors such as smokiness, spiciness, sweetness, and savory notes. It forms a flavorful crust during cooking, adding depth and complexity to the dish.
- Beef Broth: While it might seem counterintuitive to use beef broth in a pork dish, it adds depth and richness to the cooking liquid. It helps keep the meat moist and imparts a savory, umami flavor to the Boston butt as it simmers in the Dutch oven. The broth also contributes to the creation of a delicious sauce or au jus.
- Favorite BBQ Sauce: BBQ sauce is the finishing touch that brings sweetness, tanginess, and additional smoky flavors to the dish. It’s typically brushed onto the Boston butt during the final stages of cooking or served alongside as a dipping sauce. The choice of BBQ sauce can vary widely, ranging from sweet and tangy to spicy and smoky, allowing for personalization of the flavor profile.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil is often used to coat the Boston butt before applying the rub. This helps the rub adhere to the meat, ensuring even seasoning and flavor distribution. Additionally, it can aid in browning the meat when searing it before slow-cooking, which enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Each ingredient plays a crucial role in creating the mouthwatering Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ. The Boston butt provides the meaty foundation, the rub imparts flavor and texture, beef broth adds moisture and depth, BBQ sauce contributes the signature barbecue taste, and olive oil helps with seasoning and searing.
Together, they create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that make this dish a BBQ favorite.
FAQs | Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ
What is a Boston Butt, and is it the same as a pork shoulder?
A Boston Butt is a cut of pork that comes from the upper part of the front shoulder of the pig. It is also known as a “Boston shoulder” or “Boston roast.” While it is called a “butt,” it is not from the rear end of the pig; rather, it is a mispronunciation of “butted” or “bounded,” referring to how the cut was traditionally tied or “butted” against other cuts of meat.
To clarify, a Boston Butt is indeed a part of the pork shoulder. The pork shoulder is a large, flavorful cut of meat that consists of two parts: the upper portion, which is the Boston Butt or Boston roast, and the lower part, known as the “picnic shoulder” or “picnic roast.” Both cuts are often used in barbecue and slow-cooking recipes, as they contain a good amount of marbling and connective tissue that breaks down during slow cooking, resulting in tender and flavorful meat.
So, in summary, a Boston Butt is a specific portion of the pork shoulder, and they are often used interchangeably in cooking and BBQ recipes.
Delicious Pork Recipes
What are some good side dishes to serve with Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ?
- Coleslaw: Creamy or vinegar-based coleslaw adds a refreshing and crunchy contrast to the BBQ. It’s a classic BBQ side for a reason.
- Baked Beans: Sweet and savory baked beans, often with bacon or other seasonings, are a hearty and satisfying side dish.
- Cornbread: A warm, buttery, and slightly sweet cornbread is a Southern BBQ favorite. It’s perfect for soaking up BBQ sauce.
- Macaroni and Cheese: Creamy, cheesy mac and cheese is a comforting side that pairs wonderfully with BBQ.
- Potato Salad: Creamy or tangy potato salad, made with a mix of potatoes, eggs, mayo, and seasonings, is a versatile side dish.
- Grilled Vegetables: Grilled or roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, bell peppers, or zucchini, add a healthy and colorful element to your BBQ spread.
- Green Salad: A fresh green salad, like our BBQ Cobb Salad, can provide a refreshing balance to the richness of BBQ.
- Corn on the Cob: Grilled or boiled corn on the cob with butter and seasonings is a classic summer side dish.
- Sliced Watermelon: On a hot day, a platter of chilled, juicy watermelon slices can be a refreshing and hydrating side.
- Garlic Bread: Toasted garlic bread or garlic knots are great for mopping up BBQ sauce and adding a garlicky flavor to your meal.
Dutch Oven Boston Butt BBQ
A beautiful crispy outside, with a succulent tender inside, all without a smoker or grill!
Ingredients
- boston butt pork shoulder
- favorite rub
- beef broth
- favorite BBQ sauce
- olive oil
Instructions
- Head cast iron skillet over stove top to medium-high heat and grease with olive oil
- Remove exterior excess fat from meat (there is plenty of fat inside) and pat dry with paper towel
- Preheat oven to 350ºF
- Sear each side of meat in heated skillet for 5 minutes on each side (should char) and remove skillet from eat
- Pour broth into skillet until the meat is soaking in about 1″ of broth
- Place in oven and bake for 2 1/2 hours rotating meat every 30 mins or so
- Remove from oven, rub in one more layer of dry rub, and then smother in BBQ sauce
- Broil in oven for 5 – 10 minutes until desired glaze is reached
- Remove and shred meat with forks
- Mix shredded meat in additional BBQ sauce until desired “sauciness” is achieved
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 53Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 162mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g
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