History

Buddy's Bar-B-Q opened at 5806 Kingston Pike in 1972 and codified East Tennessee whole-hog barbecue into a region-wide chain with hickory smoke and a thin sweet tomato sauce. Sweet P's BBQ added a soul-food angle to the East TN tradition in 2009 with the riverfront location on Maryville Pike. Dead End BBQ in Bearden brought the competition-team approach to a Sutherland Avenue dining room with multiple regional trophy wins on the KCBS circuit.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Pork

Make it at home

Yield 8Hands-on 30 minTotal 12 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 1 bone-in pork shoulder, 5 to 6 pounds
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • Hickory chunks for smoking
  • Soft white burger buns
  • Vinegar coleslaw for serving

Method

  1. Combine salt, brown sugar, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powders. Rub all over the pork shoulder.
  2. Wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
  3. Heat a smoker or kettle grill to 225 F with hickory chunks for smoke.
  4. Place the shoulder fat-side up over indirect heat. Smoke until the bark sets, about 6 hours.
  5. Wrap in butcher paper or foil and continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer reads 200 F, another 4 to 5 hours.
  6. Rest the shoulder wrapped for at least 1 hour. The internal temperature will hold for several hours in a cooler.
  7. Pull the meat apart with two forks, discarding excess fat. Mound onto white buns and top with vinegar slaw.

Tip from the editors. East Tennessee tradition runs sweeter than vinegar-forward Western Carolina. Mop with apple juice during the long cook to keep the bark soft.

Where to eat east tennessee pulled pork

East Tennessee Pulled Pork in Knoxville

Buddy's Bar-B-Q ★ 4.3

$ American BBQBearden

Buddy's Bar-B-Q on Kingston Pike, the original flagship since 1972, runs a $9-13 pulled pork plate with two sides as Knoxville's most reliable East TN BBQ.

TryPulled pork plate with two sides

TipThe pulled pork plate with cole slaw and beans clocks under $13; counter ordering moves fast.

Directions

Sweet P's BBQ Uptown Corner ★ 4.5

$ Soul FoodFountain City

Sweet P's BBQ Uptown Corner on Tazewell Pike, Cookie Patton's North Knoxville barbecue and soul food counter, runs the brand's pulled pork and brisket.

OrderA pulled pork sandwich with the daily soul-food sides.

TipClosed Mondays; weekday lunch is the easiest window before the dinner crowd.

Directions

Dead End BBQ ★ 4.5

$$ American BbqBearden

Dead End BBQ on Sutherland Avenue in the Pond Gap neighborhood near Bearden, the competition-team-turned-restaurant, runs award-winning smoked brisket.

OrderA combination plate with brisket and pulled pork and two East Tennessee sides.

TipOrder from the counter and find a seat; Friday and Saturday dinners run busiest.

Directions

Calhoun's on the River ★ 4.1

$$ American BbqDowntown

Calhoun's on the River at Volunteer Landing, the Copper Cellar group's barbecue and burger room overlooking the Tennessee River, runs baby-back ribs.

OrderA rack of baby-back ribs with a Smoky Mountain Brewery pour and a river-side patio table.

TipPatio fills on UT home football Saturdays and Vols baseball nights; weekdays are reliably easier.

Directions

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