Grilled Pork Roast Cooking Guide

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grilled pork roast

If you’re looking for a show-stopping centerpiece for your backyard barbecue, a whole roast is a great choice. It takes a little longer than chicken drumsticks and most steaks, but the time you put into the grill will pay you back with delicious flavor and a tender texture.

Consider tossing the roast on to make the most of the leftover heat after wrapping up the fast cooking cuts you want to serve. You’ll have a perfect grilled pork roast to enjoy immediately or save for later.

Which Cut of Pork Roast?

Some cuts of pork will toughen up on the grill or need such a long cooking time that the meat will fall apart into shreds by the end. Unless you want to make pulled pork for barbecue, stick to tenderloins, sirloins, and trimmed butt roasts. 

Shoulder and full butt roasts work well for long cooking times and making pulled pork. The other pork roasts will become tender but keep a dense texture that allows for slicing without falling apart.

What Type of Grill to Use?

Because pork is a lean meat and even well-marbled roasts have relatively little fat, you should use a grill that has a water chamber to add moisture to the process. A smoker grill can work well for cooking a pork roast for this reason even if you don’t plan to add smoking pellets or wood.

Most grill experts recommend zone cooking for a pork roast. This method calls for heating or lighting part of the grill and leaving another area on low. This allows you to get a crust on the exterior over high heat and then move to the cooler area for the rest of the cooking.

If your grill doesn’t support this kind of zoning already, you can mimic the effect yourself by moving the grates to different positions or adjusting how you pile your charcoal.

smoker grill

Flavor Variations

You can flavor a grilled pork roast with almost any rub or seasoning mix you prefer. It’ll taste great with the addition of certain herbs and spices that bring out the natural sweetness of the meat.

Seasonings

Brown sugar is a common ingredient in seasoning mixes intended for pork roast because it highlights the existing flavors without tasting too sweet. It’s also a great accompaniment to smoky chili-based flavor combinations and classic seasoning options like Chinese Five Spice.

Cumin is also an ideal spice to pair with pork. It has a savory flavor that keeps the pork from veering too far into the sweet category. Don’t forget the garlic as well, although you’ll want dried granulated or powdered garlic rather than the fresh minced kind that will burn on the grill.

seasoned pork roast

Marinades

Due to the thickness of the cut of meat, it’s helpful to marinade a pork roast before tossing it on the grill. Using a marinade with enough salt to create the brining effect will keep the meat juicy even though an extended cooking period.

You’ll also introduce a lot of extra flavor to the surface by tossing in ingredients like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, fresh minced garlic, and your favorite spices.

marinated pork roast

Rubs

For a thicker crust of flavor than sprinkled seasonings alone will create, mix your spices together and rub them onto the surface of the roast. Pre-mixed pork roast rubs tend to taste good on the grill, but mixes made for steaks or other grilled meats may work even better.

You can also put your own rub together by tossing in a well-rounded mix of both spices and herbs like oregano, thyme, and savory.

pork roast rub

How to Grill Pork Roast

Step 1: Prepare the Roast

If you want to brine or marinate the meat, place it in a lidded glass container the night before you plan to cook and add the liquid. Aim to marinate the roast for around 8 to 12 hours.

If you’re not marinating the meat, take it out one hour before you plan to cook. Let it come to room temperature, then pat the surface dry with a paper towel before applying your seasoning or rub.

Step 2: Prepare the Grill

Set up your grill for zoned cooking. Place one grate low to the heat source or switch one side to high heat, then set the other side for low heat with the grate or heat control. If you’re using charcoal, get it started and spread it so one side has the majority of the coals and the other only has a thin layer. Let the grill come up to temperature.

Step 4: Grill the Pork Roast

Start the pork roast over high heat, turning every few minutes to ensure there are not too many flare ups or burning of the fat layer. You want a good sear on each side, so aim for around 5 to 7 minutes of high heat cooking on each side. Transfer the roast to the low heat side and let it cook with the grill shut for about 1 to 1.5 hours. Aim for an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

Step 5: Let the Pork Roast Rest

Remove the meat from the grill and let it rest on a cutting board with a loose layer of aluminum foil or a lid to cover it. After the roast has rested for about 10 to 15 minutes, slice it and serve.

Tips for the Best Grilled Pork Roast

Don’t overcook the pork roast. It will likely have a light pink color in the center. Use an accurate instant read thermometer rather than color or texture to determine when the roast is done.

Grilled Pork Roast Recipe

grilled pork roast

Ingredients

  • 1 pork tenderloin or sirloin roast, around 2 lbs
  • 2 tablespoons of your favorite seasoning mix or rub

Instructions

1. Remove the pork roast from any marinade and let it come to room temperature, which takes about an hour. Apply any seasonings or rubs you want to use.

2. Get the grill heated up while you wait for the roast to reach room temperature. Set up two cooking zones, one with high heat and one with low heat.

3. Place the pork roast on the grate over high heat first and sear for 5 to 7 minutes per side. Move the pork roast to the low heat side and give it 1 to 1.5 hours to roast.

4. Check the internal temperature regularly after the 1 hour mark. When the meat reaches 145 degrees F, remove it from the grill and let it rest with cover for about 15 minutes.

Conclusion

Add something new to your summer grilling rotation with this pork roast recipe that can feed a crowd. Don’t forget your picnic favorites like coleslaw, potato salad, and rolls on the side to complete the meal.

grilled pork roast

Grilled Pork Roast

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Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ~2lbs pork tenderloin or sirloin roast
  • 2 tbsp of your favorite seasoning mix or rub

Instructions
 

  • Remove the pork roast from any marinade and let it come to room temperature, which takes about an hour. Apply any seasonings or rubs you want to use.
  • Get the grill heated up while you wait for the roast to reach room temperature. Set up two cooking zones, one with high heat and one with low heat.
  • Place the pork roast on the grate over high heat first and sear for 5 to 7 minutes per side. Move the pork roast to the low heat side and give it 1 to 1.5 hours to roast.
  • Check the internal temperature regularly after the 1 hour mark. When the meat reaches 145 degrees F, remove it from the grill and let it rest with cover for about 15 minutes.
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