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Learn how to cook Boston butt! The Boston butt cut is an inexpensive cut of pork that cooks up moist and delicious. Get the scoop on what is Boston butt (AKA pork butt or pork shoulder), how to season, the best Boston butt recipe, and much more. Cooking a Boston butt is easier than you might think! You can serve Boston pork butt for Sunday dinner, but pork butt recipes make a special holiday entrée as well.
Awesome recipe
– Pam
🐷 What is a Boston butt?
What is a pork butt? The Boston butt or pork butt is the piece of the pork shoulder above the picnic ham (AKA arm roast). You can get bone in pork butt that includes the blade bone, or boneless lean butt.
Why is it called Boston butt?
There are several theories online concerning the origin of the name “Boston butt.” According to Southern Living, the name Boston butt comes from the colonial era. This cut of pork, considered a New England (or Boston) specialty, was shipped in barrels called “butts” to other areas.
Wikipedia suggests that Boston butt gets its name from its place as a cut from the wide end of the shoulder. Butt is an Old English term for wide end.
Either way, the one thing we do know is that Boston butt doesn’t get its name from where the cut was taken. Boston butt comes from the front of the animal, not the rear end of the pig (or pig butt).
Boston butt vs pork butt- what’s the difference?
Pork butt is simply another name for Boston butt.
Does Boston butt have a bone?
You can buy boneless Boston butt pork roast or bone-in Boston butt. Your choice!
Is Boston butt beef or pork?
Boston butt is a cut of pork. Chuck roast is the best beef substitute for pork shoulder, IMVHO. It shreds well and also comes from the shoulder of the animal.
🍖 How to Cook a Boston Butt
How long does it take to cook a Boston butt? Boston butt in the oven takes about 1 hour per pound at 350. You can make a small roast pork butt in the oven in about 2 hours.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to cook pork butt (ingredient measurements are below):
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C).
In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Rub this dry rub on all sides of the Boston butt.
Spray a small, enameled Dutch oven with cooking spray. Place the pork in the pot.
Bake uncovered at 350F for two hours, flipping every 45 minutes. Use a rack about ½ way down in the oven.
Check the internal temp with a meat thermometer. Pork roasts should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 145F (63C). Add additional cooking time if needed.
When done cooking, tent the Boston butt in aluminum foil and let it rest 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
➕ How to Season a Boston Butt
Rubbing the Boston butt with a dry rub before cooking will give you a tasty seasoned bark on the outside of the meat. It might become your favorite part of the roast! Here are some other ideas for seasoning Boston butt:
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Coriander
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Parsley
- Celery seed
- BBQ spices
🥘 Pork Boston Butt Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make cooked Boston butt roast:
- 2 lbs. Boston butt, boneless (907 grams)
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar (or Swerve for keto)
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika (used smoked paprika for extra flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Cooking oil spray
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
You’ll also need a small enameled cast iron Dutch oven, aluminum foil, and a meat thermometer.
❓ Where to Buy Boston Butt
You can find Boston butt for sale at most major grocery stores in the US. I bought this pork butt at Thrive Market, but you can also get it at US Wellness Meats here, or on Amazon.
The Boston butt price per pound can vary from under $2 to over $10. For the best prices, check your local warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s. At the time of writing, Sam’s club has bone-in pork Boston butt for $1.98 per pound.
🥗 How to Serve Boston Butt Pork Roast
This Boston butt recipe can be served as a protein-packed main dish with a variety of veggies and starches. The last time I made pork butt, I served it with salad and roasted potatoes. Here are some other side dishes for Boston butt:
😋 Boston Butt Recipes
In need of pork butt roast recipes? You can use leftover pork butt in so many ways! Here are some ideas for using Boston butt:
- Add it to split pea soup
- Serve with eggs
- Make a ham sandwich
- Shred it and use as the protein in tacos, burritos, fajitas, or quesadillas
- Use it to top a salad
And if you’re looking for different ways to cook Boston butt, be sure to check out the FAQs below!
🌡️ Boston Butt Internal Temperature
According to the USDA, uncooked Boston butt should be cooked to a minimum internal temp of at least 145F (63C). After cooking, the pork roast should rest for at least 3 minutes before slicing and serving.
🥶 How to Freeze Boston Butt Leftovers
Any leftover Boston butt that won’t be used in 3-4 days should be moved from refrigerator to freezer. Boston butt freezes and reheats beautifully. To freeze, store leftovers in vacuum-sealed bags or freezer bags with the air pressed out.
Reheat Boston butt in an air fryer at 400F (200C) for 3-5 minutes. Alternatively, try reheating pork roast slices in a microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.
📋 Boston Butt Calories
Here is the nutrition information, including calories, for ¼ of the Boston Butt recipe:
- Calories: 309
- Total fat: 12.1g
- Saturated fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
- Sodium: 160mg (varies depending on salt added)
- Total carbohydrate: 2.2g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Sugar: 1.6g
- Protein: 42.2g
- Vitamin A: 9.6% DV
- Vitamin C: 0% DV
- Calcium: 0% DV
- Iron: 17.3% DV
Boston butt is a naturally low carb, keto, dairy-free, and gluten-free food. It’s rich in a variety of B-complex vitamins, protein, and iron. Though it’s pretty high fat, some fat does end up cooking off.
FAQs
How to smoke a Boston butt?
How long to smoke Boston butt? This recipe for smoker Boston butt, cooked with apple cider vinegar and a Memphis rub, suggests smoking for 6 hours. The best temperature for smoked pork butt is 225-275F or 107-135C (source). Don’t forget the coleslaw, barbecue sauce, and buns!
How to pull pork Boston butt?
IMO, barbeque pork butt made in a crockpot is best for shredding. To pull Boston butt, place the hot roast on a cutting board. Use two forks, claws, or BBQ gloves to shred the pork apart.
How to slow cook pork butt?
Want to know how to cook Boston butt in crock pot slow cooker? Learn how to slow cook a pork butt in my recipe for pulled pork bowls. (They’re incredibly tasty and also happen to be low carb!)
How to cook Boston butt on gas grill?
Here is a highly rated recipe for grilling Boston butt on a gas grill. This recipe is so easy. There’s no need for brining pork butt or using a marinade to make it tender and flavorful.
How to cook Boston butt on pellet grill?
Traeger has a popular recipe for smoked pulled pork you might be interested in; find it here. All you need are three simple ingredients (Boston butt, apple cider, and BBQ sauce) to make it!
👩🏻🍳 More Pork Recipes
Looking for more dinner recipes for pork? Try these:
Watch How to Make It!
Boston Butt Pork Roast Recipe (How to Cook Boston Butts)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Boston butt 907 grams, boneless
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- cooking oil spray of choice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this dry rub on all sides of the Boston butt.
- Spray a small, enameled Dutch oven with cooking spray. Place the pork in the pot.
- Bake uncovered at 350°F for two hours, flipping every 45 minutes. Use a rack about ½ way down in the oven.
- Check the internal temp with a meat thermometer. Pork roasts should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Add additional cooking time if needed.
- When done cooking, tent the Boston butt in aluminum foil and let it rest 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Is Boston butt healthy? Boston butt is a fatty cut of pork that is high calorie, but also provides a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. If you’re looking for a heart healthy meat or one that’s better for weight loss, Boston butt is not your best bet. Pork butt is not a lean cut of pork like pork tenderloin. For a low fat and low calorie pork dish, consider making a pork tenderloin recipe, like this air fryer stir fry. The nice thing about Boston butt is that the high fat content makes it less likely to dry out compared to lean pork. Boston butt tends to stay juicy and moist, even if you accidentally overcook it a bit. Its amazingly delicious flavor tends to make it a crowd-pleaser, even among picky eaters. Nutrition information is for ¼ of the Boston butt roast.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Can this recipe be done in a slow cooker?
Hi Linda! Yes, absolutely. I like to add a sliced onion to the slow cooker with a little chicken broth, place the seasoned pork on top, and let it slow cook on low for about 8 hours. This is the way to go if you’d rather made pulled pork instead of a roast. Thank you for visiting!
What would be my cooking time if roast is frozen? Or should I defrost before cooking?
Hi Eric! I would defrost it first. The air fryer isn’t the best at cooking roasts from frozen.
How long should an 8 lb pork shoulder cook?
Hi Joe! The general rule is about 1 hour per pound, but I would check it early to make adjustments as needed. You might need to add broth to the pan or cover it for part of the cooking time. Thanks for stopping by! Summer 🙂
Awesome recipe
Thank you Pam! 😀
It says you need a Dutch oven with lid but you never use the lid. Should it say cook “covered” for 2 hours…?
Hi Liz, great attention to detail! You don’t actually need the lid, so I’ll take that out. It’s cooked uncovered, just like it says in the recipe card. Thank you for the catch, and I hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂