Pork Shoulder Burnt Ends

On December 12, 2022 (Updated October 24, 2023)

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These pork shoulder burnt ends are a perfect little porky bite of BBQ goodness. They’re packed with flavor and slow-smoked to give them a great exterior bark. You gotta try these at your next party or weekend BBQ!

Smoked Pork Shoulder Burnt Ends

I’m very aware that burnt ends are traditionally end cuts of brisket made famous in Kansas City BBQ joints. But we’ve been taking some liberties here at Hey Grill Hey with that definition of “burnt end.” I’m on a mission to test out the burnt end-style of smoking with other cuts of meat, and I have to say, the results have been incredible!

These pork shoulder burnt ends capture the essence of what makes brisket burnt ends great but in a slightly sweeter, porkier bite. Smoky edges and great bark offer awesome contrast to the melt-in-your-mouth insides of these nuggets.

Ingredients for Pork Shoulder Burnt Ends

You don’t need too many ingredients for these pork shoulder burnt ends. It’s light on the ingredients, but big on taste. Here’s what you need to make these guys:

6 pound pork shoulder
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup Hey Grill Hey Rib Rub
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup Hey Grill Hey Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce

To help make this recipe even easier, both Rib Rub and Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce can be purchased from the Hey Grill Hey Store. If you don’t have either of these on hand, you can make them from scratch using my recipes for Best Rub for Ribs and Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce.

How to Make Burnt Ends from Pork Shoulder

Let’s get into the recipe, shall we? Here’s how to make burnt ends from pork shoulder:

Preheat. Turn on the smoker and allow it to fully preheat to 225 degrees F.
Cube. Cut the pork shoulder into equal-sized cubes. Mine were around 1 1/2 inches thick.
Season. Drizzle the pork cubes with a little olive oil and then season liberally with Sweet Rub.
Smoke. Place the seasoned pork shoulder cubes directly on the grill grates of the smoker. Close the lid, and cook for about 3 hours.
Braise. Place the pork in a cast iron skillet or disposable aluminum pan. Add the cubed butter, brown sugar, and Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce and toss to ensure each cube is coated. Cover the skillet or pan with aluminum foil. Place the skillet back on the smoker, close the lid, and smoke for an additional 45 minutes or until the pork reaches 200 degrees F.
Finish smoking. Remove the foil from the skillet, stir the pork well to re-coat them in the sauce, and continue to smoke for an additional 30 minutes.
Serve. Remove the skillet from the smoker, and allow the pork shoulder burnt ends to cool slightly before serving.

Tips for Making Burnt Ends with Pork Shoulder

Before you dive into “burnt ending” this pork shoulder, check out a few tips to help you get the most out of this recipe.

Shop around. Finding boneless pork shoulders isn’t always easy in a traditional grocery store, but I have found luck at Costco and smaller local shops. If you can’t find boneless, it’s not a problem. Just make sure you’ve got a knife with a sharp tip. A pork shoulder bone is large and one piece, it’s fairly simple to remove at home.
Cook in advance. This recipe is great when made in advance and eaten the next day. These pork shoulder burnt ends have great flavor and tenderness from the cooking process. The flavor (in my opinion) gets even better after they sit in the fridge for a day. It gets really ham/bacon-like in texture and flavor. I chop them up the next day and load them into tortillas or on top of my smoked mac and cheese.
Swap out the flavor profiles. Of course, I’m going to tell you these taste the best with Sweet Rub and Whiskey Peach sauce (because they do), but you can use whatever seasoning and sauce flavor combo you prefer.

More Burnt Ends Recipes

Hey Grill Hey has been feeling the burnt end love lately, and we want to share it all with you. Check out our most popular burnt end recipes below!