Carolina Style Pulled Pork

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What is “Carolina-Style” Barbecue?

Carolina-style barbecue is all about simplicity, tradition, and bold Southern flavor. Unlike the thick, sweet sauces of other regions, Carolina barbecue is famous for its tangy, vinegar-based sauce that enhances slow-smoked pork. Depending on where you are, you’ll find subtle variations: Eastern Carolina BBQ uses a sharp vinegar and pepper blend, Lexington-style barbecue adds a touch of tomato, and South Carolina barbecue features the iconic mustard-based “Carolina Gold” sauce. Each version delivers tender, smoky pulled pork with that signature tang that defines authentic Carolina barbecue.

Smoking on the Big Joe® Konnected Joe™ Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker

The Big Joe® Konnected Joe™ Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker makes smoking easier without losing that authentic charcoal flavor. Its digital temperature control system and built-in monitoring let you hold the perfect heat for hours, ideal for low-and-slow cooking like Carolina-style pulled pork. You still get that rich, smoky Kamado Joe flavor—just with less guesswork. From steady heat and clean smoke to precise airflow management, the Konnected Joe™ brings modern technology to traditional barbecue, helping pitmasters of all levels smoke like a pro.

Serving Suggestions and Pairings to Make Your Pulled Pork Shine

Once you’ve mastered perfectly smoked, tender Carolina-style pulled pork, it’s time to serve it up right. The beauty of this dish is how versatile it is—whether you’re feeding a crowd or enjoying leftovers the next day, there are endless ways to make it shine. Keep things true to its Carolina roots or give it your own twist with these ideas:

  • Classic Sandwiches: Pile your pulled pork high on a soft bun and top it with tangy coleslaw or traditional red slaw for the perfect balance of crunch and acidity.
  • Southern Sides: Serve alongside staples like baked beans, collard greens, mac and cheese, or hush puppies for a full barbecue spread.
  • Creative Twists: Use pulled pork as a topping for loaded nachos, stuffed baked potatoes, or sliders for game day gatherings.
  • Perfect Pairings: Complement the smoky, vinegar-forward flavors with a crisp lager, sweet iced tea, or even a Carolina-inspired cocktail.
  • Next-Day Favorites: Mix leftovers into tacos, quesadillas, or breakfast hash—because good barbecue should never go to waste.

By Oded Eshel

Carolina Style Pulled Pork

Serves: 12 people
Cook Time: 6+ hours
Skill:
Beginner:
Method:
Smoked
Food:
Pork

Ingredients

  • Main

  • Sauce

Instructions

  1. 01

    Set up Kamado Joe for indirect cooking, 225F, with 3-4 wood blocks of your choice. We typically use maple and fruit wood for pork.

  2. 02

    Place aluminum foil pan underneath grates to catch drippings and make clean up easier.

  3. 03

    Score the fat cap of the pork butts in a cross hatch pattern.

  4. 04

    Season liberally with your favorite bbq rub and rub into every part of the pork butt.

  5. 05

    Smoke until thermometer in deepest part of the pork, but not in contact with the bone, registers 203F, approximately 16 hours.

  6. 06

    If needed sooner, can bump temperature to 250-275F.

  7. 07

    Once internal temperature is hit, remove from heat, wrap in three layers of aluminum foil and hold in a cooler wrapped in beach blankets for 1-4 hours.

  8. 08

    To serve, pull pork apart and season with the sauce, recipe below:

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