How to Cook Juicy, Tender Pickled Pork on a Weber Grill

As a hardcore grilling enthusiast, I’m always looking for new and tasty things to throw on my trusty Weber. Pickled pork caught my attention as an intriguing recipe to try. The sweet and sour flavor of pickled meat sounded like a fun twist on typical BBQ fare.

After tracking down a few recipes and testing them out, I’ve dialed in a foolproof method for cooking moist, fall-apart pickled pork on a charcoal Weber grill. Interested in trying this unique recipe? Read on for my tips and step-by-step instructions

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Benefits of Cooking Pickled Pork on a Grill
• How to Make Simple Pickled Pork
• Weber Grill Setup Tips
• Cooking Times and Temperatures
• Carving and Serving Suggestions
• Favorite Side Dishes to Pair It With

Grab your tongs and let’s get grilling!

Why Cook Pickled Pork on a Grill?

Cooking pickled pork over charcoal enhances the flavors significantly over oven roasting. Here are some benefits of using a Weber kettle grill:

• Smoky charcoal flavor permeates the meat
• Direct and indirect heat thoroughly cooks while keeping pork moist
• Flare-ups from rendered fat create crispy bits
• Open grill allows vinegar steam to reduce, concentrating flavors
• Low and slow cooking tenderizes pork shoulder
• Charcoal imparts sweetness to balance sour pickle brine

The Weber’s versatility supports properly preparing pickled pork from start to finish. While it takes some time and monitoring, the results are outstanding.

Easy Homemade Pickled Pork

Curing pork yourself results in the best texture and flavor. Here’s a simple brine recipe:

Brine Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon pickling spice

Pork:

• 5-7 pound bone-in pork shoulder (also called pork butt)

Directions:

1. Mix brine ingredients until salt and sugar dissolve. Cool to room temperature.
2. Place pork in large zip-top bag or container.
3. Pour brine over pork, covering completely.
4. Refrigerate 1-3 days, flipping pork occasionally.
5. Remove pork from brine, rinse, and pat dry. Proceed to grilling.

This quick pickled pork recipe infuses the meat with tangy flavor in just a day or two. The vinegar tenderizes while the salt and sugar balance and complement the pork.

Weber Grill Setup for Pickled Pork

Cooking pickled pork requires a bit of strategizing to balance direct and indirect heat on a charcoal grill. Here are some tips:

• Use a dual zone fire with coals piled on one side of grill and no coals on other.
• Position pork over indirect zone to cook low and slow.
• Direct zone is for searing and crisping exterior.
• Soak wood chips to generate smoke flavor.
• Use water pan under pork to add humidity and prevent drying.
• Rotate pork between zones for thorough, even cooking.
• Adjust top and bottom vents for temperature control.
• Replenish coals as needed to maintain steady heat.

Ideally, setup allows moving pork between a 225-250°F indirect zone and a 350-375°F direct zone. This flexibility is key for properly cooked pickled pork.

Cooking Times and Temperatures

The double zone fire lets you move the pickled pork shoulder from indirect to direct heat as it cooks. Here are some timing guidelines:

• Indirect cook at 225-250°F for first 4-5 hours. This gently breaks down connective tissue.
• Move pork over direct heat last 30-60 minutes until outside gets crispy.
• Use instant-read thermometer to check internal temp.
• Pull from grill at 195°F and let rest 15 minutes. Temp will rise another 5°F.
• Total cooking time is typically 8-10 hours.

Cooking low and slow tenderizes the meat while a last-minute sear gives a caramelized crust. Resting lets juices redistribute before carving.

Carving and Serving Suggested Steps

Follow these steps for carving and serving your perfectly grilled pickled pork:

• Transfer pork to cutting board and let rest 15 minutes.
• Using sharp knife, slice around bone to detach it.
• Pull bone out cleanly.
• Shred remaining pickled pork into large chunks.
• Pour pan juices from grill into small bowl for dipping.
• Arrange shredded pickled pork on platter.
• Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
• Provide buns, pickles, sauce on the side.
• Let guests assemble sandwiches themselves.

The tender, pull-apart texture makes pickled pork perfect for piling on buns. Offering piekles, BBQ sauce, and other condiments allows customization.

Favorite Side Dishes

To round out your pickled pork feast, I recommend these sensational sides:

• Coleslaw – The crunch and tang offsets the rich pork.

• Potato salad – Creamy, slightly acidic dressing complements pickled flavor.

• Baked beans – Sweet, sticky beans pair perfectly with shredded smoked meat.

• Mac and cheese – Cheesy goodness mellows the brine.

• Collard greens – Earthy, bitter greens balance the sweet meat.

Don’t skip the sides! Creative pairings make the flavors of your homemade pickled pork pop even more.

Let’s Get Pickling and Grilling

As you can see, cooking pickled pork on a Weber grill is totally doable with a bit of preparation. The results are incredibly moist, fall-apart meat with a delicious sweet and sour flavor. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try soon. Just remember:

• Make a simple 1-3 day brine to cure pork shoulder
• Set up grill for indirect then direct heat
• Cook low and slow for 8-10 hours
• Finish with a sear for crispy bits
• Let pork rest before shredding and serving

What are you waiting for? Get pickling and fire up the Weber to enjoy this lip-smacking grilled delicacy. Just be sure to save me a sandwich!