Juicy Asian Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork
This popular Asian oven pulled pork recipe is a favorite for tacos, sliders and burritos. The juicy pulled pork is irresistible. It’s been a favorite recipe since we first published it in 2014.
Favorite Pulled Pork Recipe
This is the unabashed, meat-lovers edition of pork. Apologies if the photo is an abrupt, in-your-face visual of juicy and saucy pork in its entirety. In fact, there’s no scattering of pretty garnish nor greens nor linen-pretty. It’s a delicious and amazing pulled pork dish and that’s pretty much all we wanted to share with you. Sometimes it’s more effective to just past all the words and give you a taste of the recipe as soon as possible. The pulled pork is so amazing, we decided to get past all the fuss and get straight to the point. And here’s the point: make this as soon as you can.
Video: Making the Juicy Asian Oven Pulled Pork Recipe:
Flavorful Asian Oven Pulled Pork – Umami Blast
A few weeks ago we found some frozen pork shoulder in the freezer (surprise!) and needed to make something with it before it was forgotten again in the dark, abyss of the garage freezer. We went a little crazy with the spices, adding some big punches of flavor to the marinade and sauce. We’re not apologizing for it, but rather, we’re warning you because you’ll be so addicted to the flavor combination of garlic, fish sauce, mustard and sugar that you just might want to use this on some other of your favorite meats.
Don’t be scared of Fish Sauce
Is fish sauce necessary? Yes, we get asked this all the time and fish sauce can be daunting to cook with if you’re new to it. Of course, it has a funky, strong and pungent smell. But when it’s added as part of the marinade, you don’t taste any “fishy” flavors in the end result. What you get is a super delicious, savory and umami flavor that is wonderful and satisfying. Read our article on the Magic of Fish Sauce and our favorite brands.
Still not sure? What about soy sauce or other options instead of fish sauce?
We tried and if you’re still not daring enough to try fish sauce, we understand. If we can’t convince you to use the fish sauce, then here’s some other alternatives to give an “almost” equal amount of umami:
- Soy sauce will definitely still give great depth of flavor.
- Liquid aminos are another good option for savory umami
- Gluten free tamari has good flavor
- DON’T FORGET SALT! you still must use enough salt to bring out all the flavors. So taste the cooked pork, and if you feel like it still needs “something” then add more salt. If you’re cautious about any fish sauce, then at least use enough salt to season the pork.
How to Serve Our Juicy Asian Oven Pulled Pork
This was the pulled pork recipe that kept on giving. For our first meal, we had pulled pork tacos. Next, indulged in pulled pork over rice. Later, it was pulled pork sliders. Last, with what was leftover, we made a fabulous pulled pork pizza.
It wasn’t until we pigged out on all these juicy pulled pork dishes that we realized just how versatile and wonderful it was. And we’re not tired of it yet, because with Super Bowl next week, we’re already planning some stellar uses for our next batch. And how about you? If you make this asian oven pulled pork and have some new ideas on how to eat it with, let us know. We’re all ears.
Enjoy,
diane and todd
Asian Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- about 4 pounds (1.8 kg) pork butt or pork shoulder
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 onion , diced
- 5-6 cloves garlic , minced
- 15 oz. (425 g) diced or crushed tomatoes
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) finely grated or minced fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) fish sauce or soy sauce (but fish sauce tastes better! try it) For Gluten Free use Tamari
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) chili garlic sauce or Gluten Free Hot Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) spicy brown mustard
- 1/4 cup (55 g) brown sugar , packed
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F/175°C.
- Lightly coat the pork shoulder with oil and season all sides with salt and pepper. Heat large cast iron pan or deep oven proof skillet on medium-high heat.
- Sear each side of the pork shoulder on the hot pan until the pork is brown. About 3 minutes per side. Remove the pork from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet the pork was just removed from, heat over medium heat. Then add oil, onion and garlic. Cook onions and garlic until soft and fragrant.
- Add crushed or diced tomatoes, ginger, fish sauce, chili garlic sauce, mustard, brown sugar and black pepper. Stir together until well combined.
- Add the seared pork back into the skillet with the sauce and ladle the tomato sauce mixture over the pork. Cover the pork with aluminum foil.
- Bake the pork at 350°F/175°C for about 4 hours, or until the pork is tender and easily shreds with a fork. We like to skim off any excess fat, then shred the pork in the sauce.
- Allow the pork to rest for about 15 minutes before shredding the whole shoulder. Keep foil over the shredded pork to keep it warm before serving.
This was my COVID recipe discovery. I had a pork butt in the freezer and all the ingredients for the sauce. I have made it several times and the last two times I used chili crisp instead of the garlic sauce. Last night I made it over bone in chicken thighs and it was different but equally delicious. Thanks so much
Hi Carol, thanks for letting us know and so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Chicken thighs in this sauce sounds amazing!
I’ve been using this recipe for a few years now and just LOVE it! I usually use my crock pot on high for a few hours and serve it with raw spinach and crusty bread. It’s my absolute favorite pulled pork recipe ever. I’ve used it multiple times to serve guests and it’s always a huge hit. I’ve made various substitutions based on stuff I don’t have and it always turns out. Thank you for sharing this! One quick question, what chili garlic paste do you use and where do you get it? I always substitute for that one I’m afraid. Thanks again!
Hi Annie,
So glad you love the pulled pork. For the chili garlic sauce, we usually use the Huy Fong Foods brand. Where we are at in California, we can find it in nearly any Asian grocery store as well as a lot of the major brand grocers. But feel free to substitute what you can find. We’ve yet to have one that wasn’t delicious.
This is OMG soooo good! I have been making it once a week for the last two months and used it for at least 4 meals each week. It is just perfect…on its own, in lettuce wraps with red cabbage, carrots, cilantro and green onion, in Mexican style tacos, in burritos, with peanut sauce, with eggs for breakfast….any way you have it you can’t go wrong.
The first time I made it I followed the recipe exactly as written but the sauce ended up a little too intense/salty. Going forward I cut the amount of fish sauce in half and there was no looking back. I now control the salt level by adding a little sprinkle of sea salt once the pork is shredded. Perfection!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for sharing. We did have the recipe a little on the “intense” side with the fish sauce, knowing most will be eating it with something which could benefit from the extra seasoning. Your approach is a great solution in backing off the initial fish sauce and then salting it to taste after cooking. Happy cooking!
I’m thinking of making this using ground beef. What changes, if any would you recommend, especially regarding cooking time?
For anyone that’s thinking about it, I made this recipe using ground beef instead of pork and it was done in 2 hours. I kept everything else the same (still used half the fish sauce as mentioned above), and baked in a covered dutch oven. I browned and crumbled the ground beef before adding partially cooked sauce ingredients. In exactly 2 hours the extra juices from ground beef and tomatoes had evaporated but the beef with still moist. Very good flavor and worked perfectly in everything you would use pulled pork.
I love the flavors that came out of this pulled pork! So tasty!
I gotta prepare these again for the Super Bowl. This is the perfect pulled pork recipe and crazy easy.
I have tried this recipe many tomes with many happy results, but tonight i gave it a cajun kick in the butt/shoulder.
I used the cajun holy trinity, onion, bell pepper and celery in equal amounts to the called for onion. I used one half a large onion, one bell pepper (male) equal in size to my 1/2 onion, and abould 1/2 a head of celery stalk, all minced well. This made more veggie bulk to my sauce, so I also added about 4 oz can of tomato sauce.
It is in the oven now and smells fabulous. I hope my addition adds a thickness to the sauce which will feed my sauce needs. I just like a gravy to my meat, more sauce thr better. My husband prefers it drier. So i make more sauce, then reserve some of the sauce off the meat once it is shreaded for my extra dressing preferences.
This was delicious! I tossed it with whole wheat spaghetti and served it with sauteed bok choy to rave reviews. Quick question: The sauce charred on the bottom of my dutch oven. Any ideas on how to prevent that for the next time I make this recipe? More liquid? Because there will be a next time. ๐
Awesome! So glad it turned out great for you! thanks for letting us know.
Absolutely, love this dish! Have made this at least 4 times in the past few years and love it more every time! Thank you. Perfect for a snow day in NH!
I can’t wait to make this recipe this week. My husband and I love to do a pork butt in the slow cooker but this sauce well provide the change of taste we’re looking for! {Charlie, http://www.lemonbutterlove.com}
Is the searing step necessary? I don’t have a cast iron skillet or pot and just a roaster. I was wondering if I could just toss the raw pork butt in with all ingredients and cover for the 4 hours in the oven?
Anthony- The pork will probably taste just as delicious if you didn’t sear it. We sear it to hold in the juices a bit more and it ads a nice caramelized crust when it comes out of the oven. Enjoy!
The pulled pork looks so delicious. I love how you put an Asian twist to pulled pork. Can’t wait to try making in next week.
Just finished dinner… l am sooo full – it was one of those flavors that was so delicious that you keep eating. I made an asian slaw with rice vinegar, onions, cilantro, lime and veggies, also added white rice and beans and it reminded me of something hawaiian. Can’t wait till I am hungry again.
Sliders with pulled pork and cole slaw anyone?
E-
This looks yumm!!! You think it will come out the same in slow cooker?
If you read the comments, other readers have had success in the slow cooker too!
it looks so delicious! can’t wait to ask mom to do this ๐
Made this today – it is really delicious! And the aroma while it was cooking was heavenly
This was SO yum & easy to make! Entire family loved it. Thank you for the recipe.