My mom is pretty much obsessed with pork roasts. We had a big family and every Sunday she would make a big meal. It was almost always one of three things. Beef Roast, Baked Cracker Chicken, or this Easy Baked Pork Roast.
This is not a recipe to be used with a boneless pork loin or tender loin cut. This recipe is for butt portions, shoulder portions, or any other bone in large pork roast you find at your grocery store. you want this roast to have some nice marbling going on.
The good news is that you can almost always find a butt or shoulder bone-in pork roast for under $1.50 a pound, so it also makes for an affordable option when you want some good old meat and potatoes comfort food.
Choosing a roast with nice marbling makes for a delicious moist roast with just the right amount of crispy salty-ness on the edge pieces.
Those crisp, salty edge pieces were a hot commodity at our dinner table and I would always try to sit as close to the meat plate as I possibly could so as soon as the prayer was over I could quickly grab a nice big edge piece.
My other favorite thing about making this Easy Baked Pork Roast is the gravy. I have a separate post that teaches you how to make gravy out of almost any meat drippings. It’s easier than you think. No need to be intimidated by making gravy. I always make the drippings from this roast into gravy and serve it with the meat over mashed potatoes or white rice.
Use leftover meat for Taco’s, Chimichanga’s, Barbecue Pork Sandwiches, or Disapearing Casserole
- 1 large pork roast, butt or sholder bone-in (6-8 lbs)
- Salt and Pepper
- Sprinkle Salt and Pepper into the baking dish of your choice. I use a dutch oven style pan, but if you don't have one you can use a 9x13 pan or a roasting pan
- Place the roast in the pan and generously salt and pepper the top and sides if you can get to them. When I say generously I mean you should be able to see the salt on the roast. A good 4 tsp or so depending on the size of your roast.
- That's it, just salt and pepper, now put the roast, uncovered into a 350 degree oven for 3½ to 4 hours. (Smaller roasts may only need 3 hours or If you are using a frozen roast you may need to let it go for an additional 30-60 minutes.)
- When it is done cooking remove it from pan and let it rest for about 20-30 minutes before slicing. (I cover it with foil when it is resting.
- Use drippings in pan to make gravy.
Nichole
April 18, 2016 at 4:40 pmThis is making my mouth water! What temperature should I set the oven at?
Maria
April 18, 2016 at 9:45 pmlol, oops! 350 degrees. I just fixed the recipe to have the bake temp. Thanks for letting me know. If I know I am going to be gone (like to church) for 3 1/2 or 4 hours and I want to start it before I leave I set the oven to 300 or 325 depending on how big the roast is and then it is fine to cook for the extra time without getting overdone.
Nancy Goddard
May 6, 2016 at 10:14 pmLove to come home from church to the smell of a good roast cooking in the oven. Yum! Will try the meatloaf tomorrow. Sounds slurpy durpy good!!!!!
Maria
May 10, 2016 at 9:12 pmYou are going to love both of them 🙂 Slurpy Durpy, I like that!
Kitty
December 16, 2016 at 8:38 amDo you add any ater?
Kitty
December 16, 2016 at 8:39 amWater
Maria
December 17, 2016 at 2:33 pmNo I don’t, but I always pick a fairly fatty roast. This is not a great way to cook a lean pork roast, it will come out dry. But it is amazing if you cook a roast with some good marbling or a fair amount of fat.
Mary
May 17, 2016 at 10:46 pmWhat a simple, delicious, easy meal. Looks so good. Pinned.
Maria
May 21, 2016 at 10:45 amIt really is, your going to love it and the leftovers make great pulled pork sandwiches. This is my favorite recipe for them. https://reallifedinner.com/pulled-pork-with-easy-homemade-bbq-sauce/
steph
August 1, 2016 at 6:28 pmdoing this soon! could i slow cooker this for 6 hours?
Maria
August 2, 2016 at 1:45 pmYes, but part of what makes this roast delicious is the crispiness that baking it in the oven naturally produces. It will not have that when cooked in the slow cooker, but it will still be a delicious roast. 🙂 Just make sure to salt and pepper generously.
Kitty
December 16, 2016 at 8:51 amWater
Also Marie, what is baked cracker chicken?
Maria
December 17, 2016 at 2:32 pmHi Kitty,
I’ll have to remember to take pictures next time I make it. My mom made it all the time. She would crush soda crackers and add a little salt and pepper. Then she would dip pieces of bone-in chicken in butter and then in the crushed crackers and bake it. She would always make gravy from the drippings. It was one of her go-to sunday dinner meals when I was growing up.
Lynn Baker
May 18, 2016 at 8:02 amI am so excited to get your newsletter with recipes. I love cooking and baking and am always looking for new ideas to try. I surely will be trying these Coconut Cream Pie Pastry Bites real soon.
Maria
May 21, 2016 at 10:44 amThanks Lynn. I love the coconut cream pastry bites!!!
marg goodall
June 10, 2016 at 9:44 pmEvery Sunday my mom would put a roast of some kind in the oven before before we went to church and when we came home the house smelled sooo good
Maria
June 11, 2016 at 8:58 pmMe too. 🙂
JANET EVNS
June 15, 2016 at 12:22 pmI cook a pork roast with sauerkraut in the bottom of the pan. Cover with foil for about 3hrs @ 350*. The last hour I take out the bone and slice the roast then add potatoes, carrots and sliced onion. Salt and pepper and add about 1/2 cup sugar over all. Continue cooking until all vegetables are tender.
Martha Pylant
July 13, 2016 at 6:59 amI just cooked one of these last week. I was reading the comments about make the gravy, the way I make my gravy is by taking a sifter and sifting about a cup to two cups of self rising flour into the water ( I usually make sure the water is about half way on the roast. I stir the flour and water really good and then put my roast in. Salt and pepper! Cook on 300 for about 3-4 hours covered.
During the cooking process the flour I added makes the gravy while cooking! It is delicious ! The last hour of cooking I add the carrots, onions, potatoes and sometimes I will add mushrooms! Complete meal in one pan. You will need a rather large roasting pan to hold everything but it is worth it!
Maria
July 21, 2016 at 11:11 pmSounds awesome, I will have to try that. Thank you!
Beth H, Ison
July 12, 2016 at 11:19 pmI love roast pork. Great easy recipe.
Carrte
September 26, 2016 at 4:24 pmDo you add any water to the pan
Maria
September 26, 2016 at 6:36 pmNo, I do not add water.