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
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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!
- 1 Tablespoon Packed Brown Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin
- 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne, Optional
- 3 Pound Boneless Pork Roast Cut into cubes
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/3 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Cups Barbecue Sauce, Divided
- 1 1/4 Cup Chicken or Beef Broth
- 1 Teaspoon Hot Pepper Sauce, Optional
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In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne.
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Season the cubed pork with the spice mixture and set aside.
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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.
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Turn your instant pot to the saute setting. Add the olive oil and allow it to get hot.
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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.
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Turn the instant pot off. Use the remaining 1/4 cup of beef broth and a wooden spoon to deglaze (scrape the brown bits) from the bottom of the pot.
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Add all of the meat along with the barbecue sauce mixture to the instant pot.
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Close the lid and set to sealing.
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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.
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Remove the meat from the instant pot and shred. Stir in the remaining cup of bbq sauce and serve on buns as desired.
Nothing beats this! I can’t wait to give it a try.
This is one of my favorite IP meals!
This pulled pork looks excellent and so juicy!
Yes! Just in time for the weekend 🙂 I like the brown sugar in this!
We love pulled pork at our house!! I can’t wait to try this!!
Please COOK the meal first before you rate it. Why would you give something 5 stars when you haven’t even made the dish? Really??? When searching for a good recipe to try, no one wants to know what a person’s thoughts are on what the recipe “seems’ to be or what it ‘looks’ to be. Just make it, THEN rate it. THAT is most helpful & doesn’t waste other’s time. The rating system is for tbose who actually MADE the recipe.
Get over yourself. Why would you waste your time to be a bully?
Thank you that makes me crazy!!
Thank you for this comment. I actually would like to know if someone cooked it and if IP have any error about bbq sauce. Since it has sugar sometimes IP give a burn notice.
This looks really good! Looks like a new favorite in our house!
This will be perfect for dinner!
If I was to half this recipe for my 3 quart instant pot would I reduce the cook time?
Do you mix the other cup of bbq sauce in after it’s shredded
I do wish you would state how much pork loin (pounds) that you used. Car
Hi, it is listed in the recipe card. Three pounds. 🙂
Hello, If I’m doing this recipe using a 10 lb roast in my insta pot do you have any idea how long to cook ?
3 pounds is stated in the ingredients list.
I made this; we loved it!
How much Cayenne does the recipe call for? It’s in step 1 but not listed in the ingredients.
1/4 Teaspoon, and it is optional 🙂
Thank for the article/recipe.
I second Gwen’s question — do you mix the other cup of bbq sauce in after it’s shredded, use it as an add-on condiment or something else ?
Hi, Greg! Thanks, yes, the additional bbq sauce gets stirred into the shredded meat. The recipe has been updated to reflect that for you 🙂
It doesn’t show cayenne in the list of ingredients or the amount, but it mentions adding it in the directions. Also, I’m assuming the 2nd cup of barbeque sauce is just to add when you shred it up and are going to serve it. I need specific directions for things, so when there are gaps, it makes me unsure if I am doing it right! 🙂
It is 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne which is optional. The remaining bbq sauce is stirred in after the meat is shredded. The recipe has been updated to reflect both of these things 🙂
What a wonderful recipe. I only had 2 lbs of pork, country style ribs boneless and this recipe worked out fine. I really think the marinating in the spices first and browning the cubes made all the difference.
I always follow a recipe in its original form the best that I can, depending on what I have on hand.
I did remove the meat separate from the juices it cooked in, discarded those juices, shredded the meat and added the cup of bBQsauce to the shredded meat. It was plenty moist and held together on the bun.
Thanks again!
Could you just cook the pork loin whole instead of in cubes? Thinking that it would just take about 10 minutes more and result in more succulent meat texture. Have you tried?
I haven’t tried, but you certainly could!
I made this last weekend. It was delicious!
A big part of the flavor came from the browning of the cubes of meat and getting the seasoning all over.
So while you COULD, there is the question of if you SHOULD.
I think it’s worth the extra few minutes to cube the meat.
This came out SO great! I will definitely be making this again.. and again.. lol!
Thanks, Tiffany!! 🙂
What would the cook time be if the pork is frozen and can’t be cut into cubes?
This is a wonderful recipe! I made a double batch of it for my birthday a couple months ago and everyone enjoyed it! I’ve made it twice since then! Thank you so much!
FIVE STARS (site won’t let me rate it)
I just made this and it’s delicious. Great recipe. I like to add chopped serrano chile for a bit more heat. After you remove the meat from the pot, you can turn the instant pot back to the saute setting for a few minutes and boil down the leftover liquid by half, then refrigerate it and skim off the fat the next day leaving just the thick lovely delicious jus. I like to brown the meat, caramelizing it a bit and adding some of this jus back into it for more flavor. We eat this on salads for a lower carb meal.
I really want to try this because it looks great and has very good reviews. But my instant pot has a button for PRESSURE COOK and another for MEAT STEW. Which one should I use for this pulled pork recipe? Thanks.
I would use the “pressure cook” button 🙂
The pressure cook setting is your manual cook setting that is used in many recipes, I was asked to rate this before I posted this comment. I have yet to try it but will rate it after I’ve tried it
I made this. I cut the 4lb butt into 4 pieces, trimmed the most obvious fat off and put the spice rub on. Let it sit overnight. It took 65 min to be pull apart tender. The taste of the pork was great! We did not love the sauce but that is personal preference – bbq sauce is a very regional thing. This one was too vinegary and not sweet enough for us but perhaps some honey added to it would do the trick. I will definitely make the pork again but will probably use a different sauce. Thank you for a great recipe!
I make this but son doesn’t like BBQ sauce. I cook with a little added broth or even apple cider or juice doesn’t matter. Without adding the BBQ sauce it becomes versatile for other meals. I use for pork carnitas. Personally I freeze in portions for a quick weeknight meal on tortillas with grilled veges and cheese.
oops – I just left a review for the wrong thing – I didn’t make this – sorry!!!
Good recipe! This was my first meal in the instapot. It turned out very good, just enough heat.
What is the difference between a pork loin and a pork tenderloin? I really want to make this but I’m not sure what I am exactly supposed to buy for the meat.
Pork loin is the “roast” which is what you want for this recipe. A pork tenderloin is a long and thinner cut of meat.
I super loved this recipe! Lessened the sugar a bit on my 2nd round to make this. But over all i love the rub combination and how it adds the depth of flavour to the dish. Definitely a winner pulled pork recipe!
Could you give me the recipe for your slaw? It looks perfect! Thank you!
Ok!!!! I made this! It took me a little bit more time (manual not cooking) than just throwing everything in the crockpot but everybody tasted the love. I did not add cayenne pepper or pepper sauce because I was going for more of a Hawaiian sweet pork and I used baby Ray’s original and it was bomb.com. I followed this recipe to a T and it was phenomenal. It paired perfectly with Hawaiian macaroni salad and coleslaw. Thank you
Could this recipe be doubled when using a 6 quart Instant Pot?
I’ve made pulled pork before and it was horrible, but this recipe makes an amazing pulled pork even when done by me 🙂 I’ve made this recipe twice now and both times it was amazing!! I love pulled pork again 🙂
We had to double the recipe due to having a family of 7 with a couple teenagers but it still came out amazing! Thank you for a very flavorful recipe! All my kids loved it so that makes it a plus!
Made this the other night and WHOA it’s delicious! Thank you! What are your thoughts on using chicken in place of pork for some meat variety?
Best pulled pork ever! The flavors meld into the pork, instead of the sauce. Definite do again!
This is the best instant pot pulled pork recipe that I have tried! The flavors are perfect and the meat turned out so tender. I followed another reviewer’s suggestion and spooned the grease off of the juices in the pot and then cooked them until reduced by half, then I used a little cornstarch and water to thicken it. We used it as a sauce on our sandwiches and it was fabulous!
How big should the “cubes” of pork be??? The size could have a big impact on cooking time and outcome! Thanks 🙂
Found this recipe and quickly made it tonight. It is great! I used a smoked paprika to give it more smoke and used red pepper flakes. It is so moist and tastes as good as our local Smokehouse restaurant’s recipe.
I’m freezing half and giving to a family I’m helping out due to a medical situation. It will be a perfect defrost and heat meal with coleslaw and beans!
I make this on a regular basis for my son. I follow the exact recipe, minus the hot sauce or cayenne, and it is perfect every time. I usually end up using about twice as much bbq’s sauce after I shred it up, because the meat really soaks it up.
Made this today for the first time. I didn’t put in the hot pepper sauce though. Everyone said it was really good. The pork was so tender it just fell apart, the meat was juicy, and it was just the right amount of sweet. Thank you for sharing this recipe
!!!
How did you determine that this recipe has 47% cholesterol and 70% soduim?
It’s all an automatic estimate made by my recipe plugin. I am not a nutritionist! There are lots of great online nutrition calculators you can use if you feel this isn’t completely accurate.
I made this today and it was great!
I only shredded half if the meat. I will freeze the rest to make another dish. Perhaps the Chili! Thanks k you! This was my sixth try with the IP. Pat
Help. Followed recipe exactly and it tasted great, but was sooo dry! Any tips?
Made it…..the best pulled pork sandwiches ever out of this guy anyway. Kids loved it and it shreds so amazingly easy. Skipped the hot sauce portion fwiw since my family isn’t a huge spicy fan. Highly recommend anyone who has ever made this in a crock pot to go this route… You will never go back.
Followed the recipe exactly and WOW!, it made me a king for the the day. My family loved it. This mouth watering goodness is amazing. If a 57 year old Dad can get this recipe right, anyone can. It’s really easy.
Thank you so much for a fantastic recipe. Hope you have more recipes this good online.
Is this spicy?