Pork Butt Burnt Ends
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These delicious Pork Burnt Ends are a twist on famous Brisket Burnt Ends. These smoky, sticky nuggets of pork are rubbed down with an amazing sweet pork rub, smoked and then brushed with barbecue sauce and smoked on your pellet grill once more. The result is delicious pieces of pork that have a bite and are covered in a sweet barbecue sauce. They are perfect for serving as a snack, an appetizer or main dish!
Are you totally drooling just looking at that picture? I KNEW you would be because my mouth is watering just thinking about how good this meal is! I love making Easy Smoked Pork Butt and these Burnt Ends are my new close favorite!
Why You’re Going To Love Pork Burnt Ends
Burnt ends, crunchy bark and smoky, sticky chunks of pork rubbed down with a sweet pork rub mixture, smoked and then doused in a healthy amount of amazing barbecue sauce. There is so much flavor!
See? Mouthwatering, right? I know you’re going to love this pork burnt ends recipe as much as we do!
Where Do Burnt Ends Come From?
Pork Butt Burnt Ends is a classic Kansas City barbecue dish from the 1970’s. You’re going to love this visit to KC.
Ingredients for Pork Butt Burnt Ends
- 10 lb bone in pork butt roast – typically, burnt ends are made with brisket or chuck roast, but we are switching it up and using a juicy pork butt roast
- Sweet and smoky rub – kosher salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, granulated sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, dry mustard, ginger, cumin.
- Bbq sauce – use your favourite tried and true sauce or try our easy Homemade BBQ Sauce that is ready in 15 minutes
- Honey – liquid honey adds a nice sticky and sweet element
- Brown sugar – helps to get things a little more caramelized
- Butter – gives this dish just a little extra flavor
How do you smoke the burnt ends?
- Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- On a large cutting board, cut the roast with a sharp knife into 1-inch cubes.
- Evenly sprinkle rub over all of the pork cubes.
- Set them on non-stick aluminum grill liner or directly on grill grates.
- Smoke for 3 hours or until they have a nice bark.
- Remove from smoker and divide between two disposable aluminum pans.
- Mix together BBQ sauce, honey and brown sugar in mixing bowl. Divide sauce between two pans.
- Toss well to coat pork pieces. Top with butter in each pan. Cover pans with a foil lid to retain moisture.
- Place pans back on the smoker for another 1 1/2 hours, stirring every half hour, or until internal temp reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Cut of Pork Should I Use?
For this recipe, we use a bone-in pork butt. With the bone in, there will be so much more flavor! If you don’t have a pork butt, you can also make pork belly burnt ends. Just cut the pork cubes a bit larger since the pork belly will shrink a lot when it is cooked. You can also try out pork shoulder burnt ends!
Do you cover Burnt Ends while smoking?
For the first 2 1/2 – 3 hours, no. Leave the pork ends on the grill of the smoker without a foil cover. After you divide the pork into two containers and toss in the sauce, you will cover those containers with foil for the last 1 1/2 hours.
What to serve with Pork Butt Burnt Ends
- Nothing rounds out a good summer meal like BBQ Baked Beans
- Mexican Street Corn Salad is packed with flavor – there won’t be any leftovers!
- You always need something sweet after a great meal, so why not try out Grilled Pineapple!
Pro Tips
- Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit
- Line your grill grate with aluminum foil or use these awesome non-stick aluminum grill liners to will make clean up a breeze
- Smoking will take 4 – 5 1/2 hours total
Bursting with sweet and smoky flavor, these smoked pork butt burnt ends are sure to be a crowd pleaser. If you love to use your smoker, this recipe is one you’ll come back to time and time again.
More Great Pork Recipes
- Switch up your Taco Tuesday and try Smoked Pork Tacos
- Homemade BBQ sauce gives you a great BBQ Pork Tenderloin, perfect for a cook out!
- If you haven’t tried Smoked Pork Chops yet, add that to your meal plan for the weekend!
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Pork Butt Burnt Ends
Ingredients
- 10 pound bone-in pork butt
- 1 cup Sweet and Smoky Rub
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 5 Tablespoons butter cubed
Instructions
- Preheat your electric smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit according to manufacturers directions.
- Cut pork butt into 1-inch cubes. Put a cup of the pieces into a mixing bowl. Sprinkle rub over the top and coat each side of the pieces with. Put on non-stick disposable aluminum grill liner. You can also set them on your grill grates. Repeat until all pieces have the rub on them.
- Smoke for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until they have a nice bark on them. Remove from smoker and place in two 13" x 9" aluminum pans.
- Mix together BBQ sauce, honey and brown sugar in mixing bowl. Divide between two pans. Toss to coat pork pieces. Top with cubes of butter in each pan. Cover pans with tinfoil.
- Place back on smoker for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every half hour, or until internal temperature reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from smoker and serve immediately.
Beverly says
I’ve been smoking on my gas grill with great success. If I use this recipe and smoke a smaller size amount of meat, does it change my cooking time any, or do I use the same approximate cooking times? Thanks!
Sarah Hill says
I would probably use a meat thermometer and base it off of that to be safe! I would think it might take less time but I haven’t tried it out!
Rick Ryder says
perfection according to recipe
Courtney says
Thank you!
Katie says
can I use thick cut pork chops for this?
Courtney says
You can! You will just have to adjust the cooking time. Use your meat thermometer!
Rick Ryder says
infused flavor and tender full
Courtney says
So glad you enjoyed. Thank you for rating this recipe!
Ken says
Not a burnt end per se but they are very tasty. I think a charcoal smoker would be much better than electric as listed in the recipe to actually char for burnt end.
Courtney says
If you are looking for the char than yes! A charcoal grill would be great for that.