Instant Pot Pulled Pork

This Instant Pot pulled pork is chunks of meat coated in spices, then pressure cooked to tender and juicy perfection and served with BBQ sauce. An easy way to get that classic pulled pork flavor with minimal effort!

When I need dinner on the table without a lot of fuss, I turn to family favorites such as sesame noodles, chicken tetrazzini and this simple yet delicious pressure cooker pulled pork.

Pulled pork is a classic dish for good reason – it has minimal ingredients, plenty of rich flavor, and can be used in so many different ways. This Instant Pot pulled pork cooks in a fraction of the time when compared to slow cooker or smoker pulled pork, yet still tastes totally amazing!

How do you make Instant Pot pulled pork?

Start by cutting a piece of pork shoulder into 3-4 large chunks. Mix together a homemade spice blend to use on the pork. Heat a little oil in the Instant Pot, then brown the meat on all sides. You may need to work in batches. Coat the browned meat in the spice rub. Place chicken broth and BBQ sauce in the bottom of the pressure cooker, then whisk to combine the two. Place the pork back in the pot, then seal the pot. Cook the pork, then let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. Manually release any pressure that’s left, then open the pot. Shred the meat with two forks. Add more BBQ sauce until you reach the desired flavor and consistency, then serve.

How long do you cook pork in the Instant Pot?

A tougher cut of pork such as pork shoulder will take 60 minutes to tenderize in the Instant Pot. Leaner cuts of meat, such as pork tenderloin, will take less time to cook. An average one pound pork tenderloin will cook in just 5-7 minutes. For any marbled cut of pork that you’d use for this particular recipe, you’ll want to plan on an hour.

What is the best cut of meat to use for pulled pork?

For the most delicious pulled pork you want to choose a cut of meat with some marbling for flavor, and to keep the pork from drying out. The best cut of meat for pulled pork is pork shoulder. You can choose bone-in or a boneless roast. Retaining moisture is not as much of a concern when making pulled pork in a pressure cooker; however, pork shoulder will still give you the best taste and texture. If you can’t find any pork shoulder, you can use pork country ribs with good results.

Tips for the perfect dish

• Browning the meat adds a few minutes to the prep time, but it brings a lot of extra flavor to the pulled pork, so it’s worth it.
• Homemade spice rub is best, but you can use store bought in a pinch.
• Cutting the roast into a few larger pieces helps it to cook quickly and evenly.
• For an extra level of flavor, you can add up to a teaspoon of liquid smoke if you have it on hand.
• This recipe can also be made in a slow cooker. Coat the meat in spices and brown as directed, then cook for 8 hours on low with the broth and BBQ sauce. Shred the meat, add more BBQ sauce, then serve.

CAN YOU FREEZE PULLED PORK?

You can freeze pulled pork for up to 3 months. Store the cooked pork in either a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container. The frozen pork should be put in the refrigerator to thaw the night before you plan to serve it. Reheat your pork in a pan on the stove over low heat until it’s warm.

I serve this pressure cooker pork all the time on sandwiches, then we use any leftovers later in the week for other dishes such as pasta, salads and chili. It’s a must-try recipe!

More Instant Pot recipes to try

• Easy Instant Pot Chili
• Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms
• Instant Pot Beef Stew
• Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Carnitas

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Video

5 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

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AuthorSara Welch

This Instant Pot pulled pork is chunks of meat coated in spices, then pressure cooked to tender and juicy perfection and served with BBQ sauce. An easy way to get that classic pulled pork flavor with minimal effort!

Time

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Total Time1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Course Main

Cuisine American

Serves 6

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

For the spice rub

• ▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

For the pulled pork

• ▢ 3 1/2 pounds pork shoulder cut into 3 or 4 pieces
• ▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ▢ 3/4 cup chicken broth
• ▢ 2 cups BBQ sauce divided use

Instructions 

For the spice rub

• Place all of the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.

For the pulled pork

• Turn the Instant Pot to Saute mode and add the oil the pot.
• Place the pieces of pork in the pot in a single layer; you may need to work in batches.
• Cook the pork for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove the pork from the pot and turn off Saute mode.
• Sprinkle the spice rub all over the pork pieces.
• Place 3/4 cup of chicken broth and 1 cup of BBQ sauce in the Instant Pot; whisk to combine.
• Return the pork pieces to the pot. Seal the pot and set to manual high pressure for 60 minutes.
• After the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then manually release the pressure.
• Remove the top of the pot. Remove the pork from the pot and use two forks to shred the meat. Mix the remaining cup of BBQ sauce into the shredded pork, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 769mg | Potassium: 761mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 752IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg

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