Instant Pot Pulled Pork
This Instant Pot Pulled Pork is the full proof way to achieve flavorful, tender pulled pork in about one hour! It’s so easy to make and it’s great for meal prep!
My family loves pulled pork, so I make it often and incorporate it into a variety of recipes.
My slow cooker pulled pork and this Hawaiian pulled pork are delicious options, but both recipes take up to 8-10 hours to cook. This means that the pork needs to get cooking early in the morning so it’s ready for dinner.
I’m not always that organized, so that’s where my trusty Instant Pot comes in.
This Instant Pot Pulled Pork is incredibly tender after about one hour of cooking time, which means I can decide to make it any time of day.
I love that my pressure cooker gives me options for the days that I don’t always have my ducks in a row.
It’s always nice to have options. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Pressure cooker pulled pork is tender, juicy and cooks up in a fraction of the time as traditional cooking methods.
- This is the perfect meal prep dinner! The pork can be utilized in an abundance of recipes or it can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- This recipe can be customized with your favorite braising liquid and seasonings.
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes:
- Pork. Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the perfect cut for this recipe. The recipe calls for a 4 lb. roast, but it’s fine if it’s a bit smaller or larger.
- Seasonings. I’ve used a simple seasoning blend of smoked paprika, brown sugar and cumin, but you can customize this recipe with what you have on hand or use your favorite store bought seasoning.
- Liquid. A combination of apple cider vinegar and water is used for the pulled pork. The acid in the vinegar helps tenderize the pork and also adds a nice tangy flavor. The liquid can be substituted with your favorite liquid including apple cider, beer, chicken or vegetable stock.
- Sauce. The pork is nice and flavorful all on its own, or you can toss it in my homemade bbq sauce or your favorite store bought brand.
How to cook pulled pork in the Instant Pot
This Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is incredibly easy to make and it requires minimal prep.
The pork butt is cut into pieces for faster cooking, seasoned with a simple rub, then browned and pressure cooked to tender, flavorful perfection.
Pro tip: For best results, do not skip the browning step as it creates a nice crust on the pork and adds incredible flavor. You may need to brown the pork in batches depending on its size.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Combine the smoked paprika, sugar, cumin, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Quarter the pork and season on all sides with the spice mixture.
- Brown the pork on sauté mode for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Deglaze the pot with the apple cider vinegar and water, scraping up brown bits, and add the pork back to the pot.
- Cook at High Pressure for about one hour, then quick release the pressure (allow the pressure to release naturally if you prefer).
- Shred the pork and toss with a bit of the liquid from the pan to moisten or with your favorite bbq sauce.
FAQs
The pork shoulder is the best cut of meat to use for pulled pork due to the high fat content and flavor.
The pork shoulder roast is normally split in half — one half is the Boston butt and the other half is the picnic shoulder. Either one is a great option for this recipe.
The Instant Pot and Crock Pot are both fabulous options for cooking pulled pork, but when time is a factor, the Instant Pot is the sure winner.
Pork shoulder takes up 8 hours to become tender when cooked low and slow in the crock pot, so if you don’t get it going early in the day, it may not be ready for dinner.
It takes about one hour to cook in the Instant Pot however, which is a huge time saver. The Instant Pot also seals in flavor, which is permeated throughout the pork during the cooking time.
A 4lb. pork shoulder roast that’s been quartered will take about one hour to cook in the Instant Pot. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your roast.
If the pork shoulder is not tender after 60 minutes of cooking, it is not done yet. Continue cooking another 15-30 minutes or until tender enough to shred with a fork.
Serving suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to serve this tender Instant Pot pulled pork. See some of my favorite ways below.
- Toss shredded pork with your favorite bbq sauce and serve in a sandwich topped with coleslaw. And don’t forget the air fryer sweet potato fries or roasted sweet potatoes.
- Serve it at your next barbecue with grilled corn on the cob, mac and cheese and broccoli slaw salad.
- It makes a great filling for loaded baked potatoes or air fryer potato skins.
- Serve it as tacos topped with tomatillo salsa and guacamole. It’s also a fabulous filling for green enchiladas or chicken enchiladas. If you love carnitas, my slow cooker pork carnitas are a great option as well!
- Serve as a burrito bowl over cilantro lime rice with black beans and pico de gallo.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: For best results, do not skip the browning step as it creates a nice crust on the pork and adds incredible flavor. You may need to brown the pork in batches depending on its size.
- You can always skip the browning step, but I recommend it as it adds a nice crust on the pork as well as more flavor.
- The vinegar and water may be replaced with the liquid your choice. Beer, apple cider or chicken and veggie stock are all great options.
- This is a great meal prep recipe! The pork will keep for up to 3 days in an air tight container in the fridge or it may be frozen for up to 3 months.
More Instant Pot recipes you’ll love:
- Instant pot beef bourguignon
- Instant pot chicken and rice
- Instant pot chicken wings
- Corned beef and cabbage
- Instant pot Guinness beef stew
- Instant pot ribs recipe
- Instant pot short ribs
- Instant pot shredded chicken
- Instant pot white chicken chili
- Instant pot whole chicken by The Roasted Root
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lbs. pork shoulder roast cut into 4 large pieces and trimmed of excess fat*
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar sub with coconut sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar see notes for substitutions
- 1/2 cup water
- Barbecue sauce or your favorite sauce for serving
Instructions
- Place the smoked paprika, brown sugar, cumin, salt and pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine, then season the pork with the spice rub on all sides.4 lbs. pork shoulder roast, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil, then once heated add the pork. Brown on each side for 1-2 minutes, working if batches if necessary. Remove the pork.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the apple cider vinegar and water to the Instant Pot and deglaze the bottom of the pot.1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water
- Add the pork back to the pot and secure the lid. Set to High Pressure for 1 hour (note — it will take 15 minutes or so for the Instant Pot to come to pressure). When the pork has cooked for 1 hour, quick release the pressure and remove the lid when safe to do so (you may allow the pressure to release naturally if you prefer). If the pork is not tender, cook for another 15-30 minutes until tender enough to shred with a fork.
- Remove the pork using a slotted spoon and place on a cutting board. Shred with a fork and place in a bowl, discarding any excess fat. Toss with the desired amount of heated barbecue sauce if desired and enjoy!Barbecue sauce or your favorite sauce
Notes
- Pro tip: For best results, do not skip the browning step as it creates a nice crust on the pork and adds incredible flavor. You may need to brown the pork in batches depending on its size.
- You can always skip the browning step, but I recommend it as it adds a nice crust on the pork as well as more flavor.
- The vinegar and water may be replaced with the liquid your choice. Beer, apple cider or chicken and veggie stock are all great options.
- This is a great meal prep recipe! The pork will keep for up to 3 days in an air tight container in the fridge or it may be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This post was originally published in January 2019. The photos have been updated to include step by step photos and the post has been modified to include more recipe information.
20 Comments on “Instant Pot Pulled Pork”
Can a pork loin be used in place of the pork shoulder?
Yes I’m sure it can. I haven’t tried it, but it should be roughly the same cooking time (depending on it’s size of course).
This came out great!! I had never made pulled pork before and I was surprised how well it came out and that I didn’t mess it up. I followed it exactly step by step and I’m glad I did. This will be great for all sorts of meals.
I’m glad this recipe worked for you and thank you for your feedback!
Just tried this recipe and didn’t do the browning first 😩 but saves the day by spreading it out on a sheet pan under the broiler for a little while to get some crispy bits. Thank you for the great recipe!
That is how you get it done — I like how you improvised! Thanks for the review and I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
This recipe is a go to for me! The family loves it and it turns out every time! I serve it with the broccoli slaw and there are never any left overs with my crew!
The same thing happens in my house! Glad you love it too!
this recipe was delicious and so easy. i will definately make it again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Teresa and thank you for leaving your feedback!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I followed the recipe as given and my first pulled pork turned out fabulously…HMMM…GOOD!
This makes me so happy Freda! I’m glad it was a success and thank you for the feedback! 💛
We do slow cooker pulled pork a few times a month, but now that I have my instant pot I’ve GOT to try your recipe!
Pulled pork is such a great meal because there’s always leftovers right? I hope you get to try it in the IP soon!
This was excellent and I passed the recipe and love of my instant pot on to my parents too!
Thank you!
Thanks for the review Yolanda and I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Who doesn’t like a pulled pork sandwich, you are right perfect for the Super Bowl.
Thanks Karen!
I’m definitely trying this one some time soon! I love pulled pork in my slow cooker but I’ve been looking for a good instant pot recipe for busy weeknights. Thanks for sharing! Pinned!
I have much better success with the pressure cooker when it comes to pulled pork. I hope you get to try it Leanne!