Smoking or roasting a 9 lb pork butt makes for incredible pulled pork, but determining the right cook time is key Pork butt, also known as Boston butt or pork shoulder, has a high amount of fat and connective tissue that needs time to break down and get tender Undercook it and the meat will be tough and dry. Cook it too long and you’ll end up with mushy, stringy pulled pork.
So how long does it take to cook a 9 lb pork butt? Here are cooking time guidelines based on some popular methods
Oven Roasted Pork Butt
- Low and slow at 250°F: About 9 hours, or 1 hour per pound
- High heat at 325°F: Around 7 hours
For oven roasting, cooking low and slow is recommended for best results. Roast until the internal temperature reaches 195-205°F.
Smoker Cook Times
- 225-250°F smoker: About 13-15 hours
- “Hot and fast” at 300°F: Around 9 hours total
The low and slow approach allows more time for smoke flavor to penetrate while breaking down collagen. Cooking hotter speeds the process.
Slow Cooker/Crock Pot
- Low setting: 1-1.5 hours per lb, so 13.5 hours for a 9 lb butt
- High setting: Around 9 hours
Slow cookers make pulled pork a cinch. Just season the meat, add some liquid, and let it cook hands-off all day.
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
- High pressure: 90 minutes total cook time
- Natural release: Allow 10-15 minutes after cooking before quick releasing
Pressure cooking speeds things up dramatically. Cook time varies little based on size. Always natural release.
The exact time often varies based on the specific cut and shape of the meat. Here are more details on the popular methods for cooking a 9 lb pork butt so you can nail it every time.
Oven Roasting a 9 lb Pork Butt
Oven roasting is a simple, hands-off approach to cooking pork butt. Low heat over several hours yields incredibly tender meat. Here are some tips:
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Prep the meat: Rub the pork butt all over with spices, salt, pepper, etc. Let sit for 30 minutes up to overnight.
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Use a roasting pan: Place the seasoned pork on a roasting rack in a pan to allow air circulation.
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Cook low and slow: Roast at 250-275°F to break down connective tissue.
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Figure 1 hour per pound: For a 9 lb pork butt, cook around 9 hours.
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Check temperature: Roast until 195-205°F for pulled pork. Rest 10-15 minutes before shredding.
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Make it faster: Roast at 325°F to reduce time, but tenderness may suffer slightly.
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Add liquid (optional): Water, broth, beer in the pan prevents drying out.
![Roast pork butt][]
<p class=”caption”>Roast pork butt becomes fall-apart tender when cooked low and slow. Image from <a href=”https://www.basedcooking.com/easy-oven-roasted-pork-butt-recipe/”>Based Cooking</a></p>
Roasting low and slow at 250°F for about 1 hour per pound is ideal for tender shredded pork butt with little hands-on effort.
Smoking a 9 lb Pork Butt
Smoking imparts incredible flavor into the meat. Different methods impact cook time.
Traditional Low and Slow Smoking
For authentic smoked pulled pork, cook low and slow at 225-250°F:
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Figure 1-1.5 hours per pound. A 9 lb butt takes 13-15 hours.
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Use wood chips/chunks for smoke flavor. Opt for mellow woods like apple or cherry.
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The smoker temp may spike at first but settle around 225-250°F once the meat is on.
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Cook until 205°F internal temp. At this point it will shred easily.
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Rest for at least 30 minutes before pulling.
The low and slow method gives the collagen time to break down for ultimate tenderness.
Hot and Fast Smoking Method
Cooking at a higher 275-300°F reduces cook time:
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For a 9 lb butt, plan on around 9 hours total at 300°F.
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Check internal temp after 7-8 hours. Cook until 205°F.
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Use wood for smoke flavor, but less is needed with the shorter cook time.
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Wrap in foil once bark sets, around 160°F internal temp.
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Allow to rest wrapped for at least 30 minutes before shredding.
You sacrifice some traditional BBQ texture but still get tasty pulled pork much faster.
Crock Pot Pork Butt (Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
Using a crock pot makes pulled pork a total cinch:
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Prep the meat: Rub the pork butt all over with a spice rub. Refrigerate overnight for more flavor.
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Cook on Low for 1-1.5 hours per pound, so 13.5 hours for a 9 lb pork butt.
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For a faster cook, use the High setting and allow around 9 hours.
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Add liquid like broth, beer, etc. This bastes the meat and creates a yummy sauce.
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Shred the pork once completely tender and mix with the cooking liquid.
The slow cooker does all the work for incredibly moist pulled pork.
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Pork Butt
An Instant Pot speeds up pork butt dramatically:
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Cut in half: A 9 lb pork butt may need to be cut in two to fit in the pot.
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Season: Rub pieces all over with a spice rub. Brown in batches if desired.
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Pressure cook: Lock the lid and cook on high pressure for 90 minutes TOTAL time.
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Natural release: Allow the pressure to come down on its own for 10-15 minutes before quick releasing.
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Check for doneness: Meat should be fall-apart tender. If not, cook for 15-30 minutes more.
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Shred: Once completely tender, shred pork with forks and toss with pan juices.
With the high pressure, cook time stays short regardless of size. Just be sure to natural release.
Serving Juicy Pulled Pork
Once the 9 lb pork butt is cooked, here are some serving ideas:
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Toss or drizzle with BBQ sauce just before serving for added flavor.
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Pile it onto burger buns with slaw and pickles for amazing sandwiches.
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Top baked potatoes, nachos, tacos, or fries with tender shredded pork.
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Stir leftover pulled pork into baked beans, soup, chili, or pasta sauce.
No matter which cooking method you choose, perfectly cooked pulled pork from a 9 lb pork butt makes for amazing tacos, sandwiches, pizza, nachos, and more! Adjust the spice rub and sauces to your tastes. The ample fat and collagen rewards you with insanely juicy, fall-apart pork that is sure to please any crowd.
I made Oven-Roasted Pork Shoulder
FAQ
How long does it take to cook a 9 lb pork roast at 250 degrees?
How long to smoke a 9 pound pork shoulder at 225?
Should you wrap a pork butt?
How long do you cook a 3 pound pork butt roast?
If your pork butt roast is smaller than 6 pounds, you can still use this recipe successfully, just shorten the cooking time slightly. For a 3-pound pork roast, start with the heat at 450°F for 20 minutes, then turn the heat down to 250°F and continue to cook for 4 to 5 hours until the middle of the roast registers 180°F.
How long does it take to cook a pork butt?
Once your pork butt is seasoned and trimmed, it’s time to cook it low and slow until it reaches an internal temperature of 190-200°F. This can take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 40 minutes per pound depending on the cooking method you choose. Remember to let the pork rest for at least 15 minutes before carving to ensure a juicy and tender meat.
How long do you cook a pound of pork?
Place the pork on a wire rack in a roasting pan and roast for about 40 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 180°F. Once done, let the pork rest in the pan under tented foil for at least an hour. Then, heat your oven to 500°F and put the pork back in without foil to allow the skin to brown and puff up for about 15-20 minutes.
How long do you slow cook a 9 lb Pork Butt?
When using a slow cooker method for cooking a 9 lb pork butt, slow cook for 6-8 hours if you split the meat in half or about 8-10 hours if you left the pork butt whole. The trick to good pulled pork is cooking low and slow! We want all the collagen and connective tissues to break down and give us that tender, delicious texture.