BBQ Pork Baked Potatoes

Why this BBQ pork baked potatoes recipe works

• Hands-off cooking: The crockpot and oven do most of the work, you can put the pork on in the morning and come home to some tender, flavorful pork that's ready by dinner.
• Minimal Prep: Just a few quick and easy steps and a few ingredients are all you need for a good and filling meal.
• The potatoes are super easy to make and act as the base of the dish.
• Customizable: Add or change up any ingredients for ones that your family enjoys. Example: Switch the pork out for chicken breasts, leave off the cheese from the potatoes, top with coleslaw, etc.
• Budget-Friendly: These ingredients are low cost and will stretch to feed a crowd.
• Balanced and Filling: The potatoes provide a good base for the starch and the meat provides a tasty and flavorful source of protein. This meal is sure to fill you up .

Recipe Ingredients

Pork Shoulder aka Pork Butt is an inexpensive cut of meat. I usually buy a big enough (about 5 pounds for my family of 4) roast to feed my family twice. We use half for one meal and the other half we make something like these baked potatoes with to mix up the flavor profile.

Potatoes - Act as the base of the dish. These are really easy to make as the oven does most of the work for you. Putting the meat on top gives you your protein and starch, just add a veggie to round it out.

Steak Seasoning - I use Montreal steak seasoning but you can use whatever seasoning your family likes. This one has tons of flavor. Just don't go too heavy handed with it as it contains salt and so the BBQ sauce.

Olive Oil - It helps the potato skins to crisp up in the oven making for a fluffy inside and crispy outside.

BBQ Sauce - I like to use Sweet Baby Rays but you can use whatever sauce you like. It increases the flavor profile of the pork for that classic BBQ flavor.

Butter - It gives the potatoes a little flavor and makes them moist.

Colby Cheese - It adds another layer of flavor and some fat to help round out the dish.

Ingredient Substitutions

Pork Shoulder - You can use a different cut of pork if you wish or even change it up using a completely different protein such as chicken breasts.

Baked Potatoes - You can switch this up if your family does not like baked potatoes. Mashed potatoes would also make for a delicious base for this dish but obviously would increase the hands-on prep time.

Steak Seasoning - You can use whatever blend of herbs and spices that your family likes. This is the standard seasoning that my family likes. You could use seasoned salt, BBQ seasoning, etc.

BBQ Sauce - I used Sweet Baby Rays because that is the one my family likes, use whatever brand that you prefer.

Butter - It is completely optional, it just adds a little flavor to the dish.

Colby Cheese - Use whatever cheese you enjoy. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or smoked Gouda pairs well with the BBQ sauce. If you don't like cheese then leave it off.

How to make BBQ Pork Baked Potatoes

Make the pork

I do my roast in the crockpot, if you rather do yours in the oven, feel free to do so.

Lightly spray the crockpot with nonstick spray. 

You can sear the roast on both sides if you wish before adding to the crockpot, I usually just place the pork shoulder roast directly in the crockpot.

Add one cup of water around the roast.

Sprinkle seasoning on roast and place lid on the crockpot.

Cook on low for about 6 hours or until the roast temps to 160° F and it falls apart.

In a large bowl shred the beef and add the one of cup of BBQ sauce.  Mix to coat meat well.

Make the potatoes

Thoroughly wash and clean the russet potatoes and dry them off well.  Poke a couple of holes on the potatoes (I usually use a sharp knife and poke it 2-3 times per side of the potato.).

Place potatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and coat both sides. 

Sprinkle seasoning on potatoes.

Put them in the oven and bake for about 1 hour (baking time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes) or until the potatoes are soft and tender.

Set aside.

Assemble the dish

Slice on the potatoes and fluff the inside of the potatoes.

Add butter and let melt on the potatoes.

Sprinkle cheese on the potatoes (if you want your cheese completely melted, then place in the microwave for a minute.

Put the pork on top of the potato and add more BBQ sauce if desired.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Put the roast on in the crockpot about 6 hours before you are ready to eat. Test with a meat thermometer to ensure the meat is thoroughly cooked through to an internal temperature of 160° F.
• When the roast has an hour left put the potatoes in the oven so that everything is done at the same time.
• Add a vegetable to round of the meal, I usually do green beans but do whatever your family likes.

How long does the BBQ pork last

It will last for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Use leftovers to make a BBQ pork sandwich or wrap.

Can one freeze the BBQ pork

Yes, leftovers can be stored in the freezer for about 3 months. This is a great way to make for an even easier meal in the future for when you don't have the time or energy to cook.

For more meaty recipes check out my Chicken Enchiladas. https://thefoodologistmom.com/chicken-enchiladas/