23 Delicious Ways To Cook A Pork Shoulder

Boston butt — also called Boston shoulder — is a fairly inexpensive piece of meat that comes from the top of the pig's shoulder. It has lots of juicy, marbled fat, which keeps it tender during cooking. Often, it is sold without the bone (bone-out), which makes it easier to cut and serve, but some people opt for bone-in Boston butt, since the bone adds flavor. Usually, a recipe will indicate whether the cut should be bone-in or bone-out.

The picnic shoulder cut has less fat and more connective tissue than the Boston butt, meaning it needs long time to make it tender. Most pork shoulder recipes have long cooking times anyway, though, so using a picnic shoulder is fine. The major difference is that picnic shoulders have a huge bone down the middle; it adds flavor, but you'll have to cut around it to serve.

At David Chang's Ssam Bar, this dish will set you back $250. Make it at home for a fraction of the price; it's really not that hard! Recipe here.

A seriously rich, flavorful soup for occasions when chicken noodle just won't do. Recipe here.

You don't always have to roast the shoulder whole; cutting it into cubes and grilling individual skewers of meat is quicker and equally delicious. Recipe here.

For the extreme beginner, this is near-impossible to screw up. Recipe here.

Simple is always a good way to go. Recipe here.

Recipe here.

Recipe here.

Pulled pork tacos > fish tacos > ground beef tacos > chicken tacos. Fact. Recipe here.

Recipe here.

A pretty edgy twist on classic Super Bowl chili. Recipe here.

Slow roast the shoulder before smoking, and you'll get a similar flavor in far less time. Recipe here.

WARNING: recipe is written in British, without a translator. Recipe here.

All that time in the oven makes for some seriously crispy skin. Recipe here.

Traditionally a pork loin rolled inside of a pork belly, porchetta works well with pork shoulder, as well. Just make sure to buy a skin-on cut. Recipe here.

It's amazing what good Hawaiian sea salt, three slices of bacon (just three!), a little garlic, and a slow cooker can do. This may be the most delicious pork shoulder I've ever tasted. I suggest using a bone-in pork shoulder for maximum perfection. Recipe here.

Recipe here.

Low and slow, with an orange vinegar marinade. Recipe here.

Recipe here.

Taco fixin's recommended, but not required. Recipe here.

Sliders FTW. Recipe here.

Dainty raw vegetables really add some finesse to a giant hunk of meat. Recipe here.

Recipe here.

Matilda is a fruity, malty ale made by Goose Island Brewery in Chicago. It's delicious and absolutely recommend it, but feel free to substitute another similar ale if it's unavailable. Recipe here.