The Best Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

This hearty, crowd-pleasing instant pot pulled pork is perfect for game day or a quick and easy dinner on a busy weeknight! The best thing about this BBQ pulled pork recipe is that it utilizes a pressure cooker, so the pork shoulder is fall-apart tender in just over an hour with very minimal prep work!

 

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

• The flavors of this instant pot pulled pork are AMAZING! The instant pot does what no other cooking appliance can – cooking a pork shoulder in about an hour until it’s super tender and falls off the bone! It’s got just the right amount of BBQ flavor and the perfect shredded, yet juicy texture.
• The convenience of this meal just can’t be beat! The instant pot does all the work making this an almost hands-off dinner. You just have to season the pork shoulder, give it a quick sear, and let it go. The end result is perfectly shredded BBQ pork.
• It’s an easy meal prep recipe. Meal prep doesn’t just have to be egg bites and salad in a jar. It can also be tender, shredded BBQ pork! The beauty of this pork is that it just gets better with time, can be easily stored in the fridge, and reheats beautifully!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Pulled Pork

• Pork Shoulder: Pork shoulder is a somewhat fatty cut of meat that tastes best when cooked low and slow (or in an instant pot!) If you can’t find it, a good substitute is pork butt (AKA “Boston butt”). You can use boneless or bone-in pork shoulder. For this recipe I used boneless, so if you’re using bone-in you’ll want to grab a 3-3.5 pound roast.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is used in the rub because it caramelizes when seared and traps moisture in your pork. You can use normal, white sugar if you must, but you’ll miss some of that deep, molasses flavor.
• Spices: Paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper are the makings of most traditional BBQ recipes. If you don’t have one of them, you can skip it, but add a pinch more of the others. If you’re into cooking meats, I highly recommend throwing together a batch of my easy dry rub. You can use that in place of this mixture of spices for a very similar result in flavor.
• Beer/Broth: You can use either beer or chicken broth to introduce the moisture the pork shoulder needs to cook well, without diluting the flavor. You can also use veggie broth if you prefer.
• BBQ Sauce: The brown sugar and spices are going to enhance whatever BBQ sauce you use, so choose your favorite for a delicious flavor foundation.
• White Wine Vinegar: Vinegar brightens and balances the pork shoulder in this recipe. It also helps to boost the flavors of the spices. You can use white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.

How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork

In a small bowl combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder. You could also use my homemade dry rub recipe.

Season the pork roast on all sides, gently rubbing the seasoning into the roast.

Add oil to the instant pot and turn it to sauté. Once hot, sauté seasoned pork roast on all sides until a dark golden-brown crust forms.

Combine beer, BBQ sauce, and vinegar in a large measuring cup and pour it over the roast in the IP.

Seal the lid on the instant pot and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes. Then press the quick-release button to allow the remaining steam to escape. Shred pork with two forks, discarding any fat or gristle.

Serve on a toasted brioche bun, drizzle with BBQ sauce, and pile on the coleslaw or cilantro lime slaw!

Tips for Making the Best Pulled Pork

• Season the pork thoroughly and evenly. Be sure to coat every inch of the pork shoulder with that delicious seasoning mixture or dry rub.
• Give it time to sear. The sear is going to make a huge difference in the overall flavor of the shredded pork. Allow the pork the time to adequately create a dark golden brown crust on the outside of the meat.
• If your pork shoulder is too big to get a good sear in the Instant Pot, cut it into chunks and sear it in batches. Searing the pork introduces a lot of those complex flavors that good BBQ is known for, so don’t skip it!  
• You might be tempted to skip the natural release and just manually release the steam to save time – don’t do this! The natural release gives the meat time to rest and will allow it to become more tender and stay juicy.
• If you like crispy edges on your pork, spread the shredded pork across a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle it with a bit of the cooking liquid, and broil it for a couple of minutes.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Instructions

• If you don’t have an instant pot, you can make this pulled pork recipe in a slow cooker too!
• Just sear the pork on the stove first, then move it to the slow cooker.
• Cover it in the BBQ sauce mixture and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours or until it shreds easily.

Serve Pulled Pork Sandwiches With

• street corn pasta salad
• cilantro lime slaw
• chipotle slaw
• slow cooker mac and cheese
• quick pickled veggies
• cornbread casserole
• roasted potato salad
• kale Caesar pasta salad

FAQ

Why is my pulled pork tough in the instant pot?

Chances are good it just needs a bit more cooking time! Once the pork is cooked through, it will shred super easily. If it doesn’t, add some more cooking time and then give it another try. Be sure there is enough cooking liquid so that it can cook adequately. Also, be sure to use the natural release method instead of the manual release.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook pulled pork?

Both ways are delicious, honestly! It all depends on which kind of kitchen appliance you have at home and how much time you’ve got. The prep instructions are virtually the same – seasoning and searing the pork shoulder – and the only difference is the instant pot will cook the pork in about an hour, whereas the slow cooker will take 4-8 hours.

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in?

My favorite cooking liquid is a combination of beer or chicken broth, BBQ sauce, and white vinegar. This is the best way to maximize the amount of flavor that’s being infused into your shredded pork.

Making Pulled Pork Ahead of Time

This instant pot shredded pork recipe is the perfect make-ahead meal! Whether you want to throw it together for game day or reheat it as an easy lunch throughout the week – this pulled pork fits the bill! The flavors just get better with time and it reheats beautifully.

Storing Leftover Pulled Pork

Store leftover pulled pork and its juices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Freezing Pulled Pork

Freeze pulled pork and its juices in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Reheat pulled pork in a large saute pan or saucepan over medium heat. Add the juices from the pork or your favorite BBQ sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

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