Instant Pot Pulled Pork is seasoned to perfection, and mouthwateringly tender! Make this easy and super flavorful pulled pork using a pork loin roast and have your family's new favorite instant pot pork recipe on the table in an hour!
How Do You Make Pulled Pork?
Pulled pork is a very simple dish to make at home, and there are a few ways to make it even more quick and easy.
Pulled pork recipes start with basic seasonings that you probably already have at home. I like to use a mixture of brown sugar, salt, garlic and onion powder, paprika, pepper, and cumin.
Once you have seasoned your meat, you will mix up your wet ingredients. I prefer to use broth over water for added flavor. Use your favorite type of barbecue sauce, and then a bit of apple cider vinegar. The vinegar not only adds great flavor, but, the acid helps to tenderize the meat as it cooks!
After you have seasoned your meat, and mixed up your wet ingredients it's time to get cooking!
This recipe, in particular, is for the Instant Pot. If you don't have an instant pot, I highly recommend that you try out my Crockpot Bourbon Bacon Pulled Pork and you can find the recipe for that right HERE.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe:
As far as meat, I typically use a pork loin roast. You can also use a pork shoulder if that is your preference. A lot of people worry about a pork roast becoming tender enough. As long as you use the right method and ingredients, it turns out absolutely perfect every time!
My general method has always been to slow cook pulled pork, like in the recipe I linked to above. But, since I've become a huge fan of my instant pot, I wanted to try cooking it that way. Happy to say it turned out great!
If you have time you will add your rub to your cubed pork roast, seal it in a bag, and let it marinate for a good 30-60 minutes before cooking for maximum flavor. When I make pulled pork in my crockpot, I find that marinating isn't necessary because all of those flavors slow cook together for hours. However, for instant pot pulled pork, marinating really is the way to go.
Next, you will heat up your oil right in your pot, sear the meat in batches until browned on all sides. It won't need to be cooked through at that point.
Then, you will want to use a small amount of beef broth to deglaze the bottom of your pot. If you don't you may end up with that dreaded "burn" warning during cooking.
To deglaze, you'll simply pour the broth right into the bottom of the instant pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape all of those brown bits off. This also adds great flavor to continue seasoning your meat as it cooks.
After you deglaze simply add everything into your instant pot, close the lid and valve to sealing. Then, you will cook as directed below for 40 minutes. After your cooking time is up, allow the instant pot to natural release for 10 minutes, then you can quick release.
After your quick release, you are ready to shred your meat, and serve on soft hamburger buns, with your favorite toppings!
Remember if you are looking for the slow cooker method of making pulled pork you can find it HERE. I also happen to adore this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili!
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Check out our video for this recipe below, and be sure to follow along on Facebook where we're always sharing the best recipes!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Packed Brown Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper
- ½ Teaspoon Cumin
- ¼ Teaspoon Cayenne, Optional
- 3 Pound Boneless Pork Roast, Cut into 3-4 inch cubes
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ⅓ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Cups Barbecue Sauce, Divided
- 1 ¼ Cup Chicken or Beef Broth
- 1 Teaspoon Hot Pepper Sauce, Optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne.
- Season the cubed pork with the spice mixture and set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the apple cider vinegar, one cup of the barbecue sauce, the hot pepper sauce if using, and one cup of the broth.
- Turn your instant pot to the saute setting. Add the olive oil and allow it to get hot.
- Add half of the cubed pork to the hot oil and saute for 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the browned pork to a plate and repeat with the remaining half of the cubed pork.
- Turn the instant pot off. Use the remaining ¼ cup of beef broth and a wooden spoon to deglaze (scrape the brown bits) from the bottom of the pot.
- Add all of the meat along with the barbecue sauce mixture to the instant pot.
- Close the lid and set to sealing.
- Cook on manual high pressure for 40 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Remove the meat from the instant pot and shred. Stir in the remaining cup of bbq sauce and serve on buns as desired.
After messing up pulled pork the last few times using other recipes. I was hoping for a home run, and this recipe delivered!! Fall off the bone delicious. I used pork butt, and like the other suggestions, cooked the sauce down. So so good!!
Thanks from a single dad and his daughter for a quick, easy and great tasting recipe!
Hello!
Is a pork loin/center cut the same thing as the pork roast in your recipe?
The first time I made this recipe, I used pork loin cause it was what I had on hand. It came out so good my son requested it again for his 16th birthday party!
I had 10 minutes to put this into the instapot before stepping out the door. I skipped the saute step. When I came home, it was done cooking. It came out delicious. I needed an easy and quick pulled pork recipe. Thank you!
I was wondering if that would work!
Made it… it’s delicious!!!! With puertorican bread and Mayo-ketchup; a hit!
Since your recipe for ribs was such a solid recipe, I decided to try this when I got a really good sale on sirloin pork roast. I made some rolls from scratch yesterday in preparation. The only thing I wished this recipe specified was the 3-4 inch pieces listed as 3"-4" pieces (simply because I'm used to cutting things smaller, so I had to check out the video and skip ahead to verify large chunks), and also at the very last step it says to remove meat and shred, then add final bit of BBQ sauce and serve. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to add that in the juices in the pan to thicken it and then add the meat back in, or just add into the meat. To play it safe, I did neither and slapped a chunk of cheddar on the buns, then the meat, and topped w/a bit of sauce. Still would love to know which route to go, though, as the video didn't show that final BBQ sauce incorporation.
FYI: Tastes delicious! Might add a bit of mustard next time, but the cheddar worked really well.
I made this last night for dinner. I had a pork loin that I needed to cook and wanted a simple recipe to use in the instant pot. It was brilliant! When I went to pull the pork out it was falling apart! The sauce was divine! Absolutely gorgeous food. This will now be a staple in our home. Thank you!
Wry good and soooo tender. This is the best recipe out of 2 other pulled puck recipes I have tried.
So yummy! Thank you!
Do we cook longer for more than 3 lbs of pork?
hello! can i make this with a pork loin? thanks!
My hubby followed the recipe exactly and it is a winner! The kids have been eating it for every meal.
This was absolutely fall apart delicious and tender. I was in need of a last minute pulled pork and when I didn’t have enough time to “low and slow” one, I found this recipe. I’m not embarrassed to say I will be making this again and claiming it was “low and slow”!! Thank you for this recipe.
This is my go to barbeque pulled pork recipe in my instant pot. The whole family loves it!
Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect! Will definitely make this again and again.
can you convert this to a regular crock pot recipe??
can you convert to regular crock pot recipe. I saw the Bourbon Bacon crockpot but loved this particular one.
Fantastic! All day flavor in a couple of hours. Followed to the letter and the meat shredded perfectly!
Just the best! I have nothing else to say
When my husband smokes a large pork butt and or shoulder, I take the left overs place in Insta-pot and use the sauce in this recipe, the only thing I change is instead of broth, I use apple juice. It is absolutely fabulous! Thank you Nichole! A family favorite. It also freezes well.