The Cut Of Meat You Can Substitute For Pulled Pork That Will Still Melt In Your Mouth

Pulled pork is a style of cooking pork that produces a tender and flavor-packed meal. But what happens if you don't have any pork on hand, but want the same vibe for your recipe? To help figure out which cut of meat would work best as a sub, Food Republic spoke to Erica Blaire Roby, award-winning pitmaster and Food Network "Master of Cue" Champion, for her input.

According to Roby, there's one cut of meat that she prefers when it comes to pinch-hitting for pork. "Beef chuck shreds beautifully tender and has a great ratio of fat, making it a great choice for slow-cooked dishes," Roby said. The delicious marbling of natural fat in chuck makes it a cut of meat that melts in your mouth when cooked low and slow. "I mean, who can resist a plate of beef pot roast? Beef chuck also has a hearty and deep umami flavor when slow-cooked, while still complementing any spices used." Because of all of these attributes, chuck roast is the perfect substitute for pork shoulder when making pulled pork — whether you're cooking up a classic barbecue style or a mojo-infused masterpiece. Since it's fattier than pork shoulder, you'll get a meaty, flavorful result. 

When cooking with chuck as a pork substitute, it's important to note that there is a bit of a difference in cooking times. "Beef chuck will cook faster than pork (depending on the thickness)," Erica Blaire Roby said. Keep this in mind when planning out your day. For example, a three to four pound chuck roast may take about three hours to cook in a Dutch oven, while a pork shoulder of the same size may take about four hours. For both cuts of meat, cutting the larger piece you buy from the store into chunks will help them cook faster. For seasoning, the two meats are very different in flavor, so adjusting your recipe slightly will help produce a better result. "I also prefer to use pepper-based and savory spices with beef because it expresses better in the finished dish," Roby added.

Once your chuck is cooked, it's important that you handle the shredding correctly. "Always shred beef against the grain and try to keep the shredded pieces an inch long for structural integrity of the dish," Roby instructed. And keep in mind that pulled chuck roast will be amazing as leftovers. So, where you may have once made leftover pulled pork burritos, now you can swap in the pulled beef to stretch out that meat to create another flavorful meal. You can also use your leftover chuck roast to make Asian-inspired dishes — the world really is your oyster.