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
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.
Could I dear in a pan then cook in the slow cooker for say 6 hours? Do I need to reduce the amount of liquid?
My instapot is 6.8 quart. Will this handle 3 pd roast?
I never attempted to try to cook BBQ Pork. At 50yrs old, better late than never... was shocked at how could this recipe turned out. It does'nt matter how much I cook its gone be the next day. The kids loved it, the wife loved it and I was amazed how great I am at cooking. Jk it was the recipe... you cant go wrong with this one!
This is really good. Try it!!!
Made this tonight and it was amazing! Wouldn't change a thing.
SO good. Followed recipe exactly and it was a hit with the whole family. Thanks!!!!!
this is our "go to" recipe. No need for any other. love it and so very easy. Thank you!
Excited to try this tonight! Are the calories per serving or for entire meal? Just want to make sure how much I can put on my plate!
So wonderful. My husband came back for seconds which is rare. Followed directions exactly minus hot pepper sauce. This is a keeper for sure.
How much cooking time do you use if roast is frozen?
The rub is the perfect blend of sweet and zesty. It was one of the first recipes in my instapot and I had great success! I felt like I didn't need the second cup of bbq sauce after cooking, but if your preference is for a saucier pulled pork, then go for it! We had instapot collard greens and sweet potatoes with it. It was the perfect meal.
I used a North Carolina style BBQ sauce. Toasted the buns and garnished with a little cole slaw and a couple dill pickle chips. It was excellent. The left over juice in pot from broth and BBQ sauce makes a wonderful addition to sandwich. I saved it to use on left over pork for another meal.
This was overdone and dry for my taste. Perhaps because the cut of meat I used was not three or 4 inches in depth as well. It only came in a piece that was at its thickest about 2 inches. So I believe the cook time was too long even though my chunks of meat were relatively large. I would cut down the cook time by quite a bit. The meat was fall apart… But it was more dry than tender.
This was my first time making pulled pork and it was delicious!! I used pork butt roast but may try tenderloin next time, just to cut down on the grease. I added some chipotle powder, bay leaves and whole peppercorns. I skipped the last cup of BBQ sauce, as there was a lot of liquid at the bottom of the pot. Instead I reduced the sauce and thickened it with a corn starch slurry, and poured that over the shredded meat.
If I have 2lb of meat would i still use same amount of ingrediates for meat?
New to cooking (since husband passed) and new to the Instant Pot, and it came out amazingly! This one's a keeper!
I am so sorry about the loss of your husband. Wishing you peace and comfort of memories and love.
This recipe is delicious! We add a little extra brown sugar (1/4 cup) and make sure to get a nice char on the meat before pressure cooking. The char is key, it adds such a nice texture and flavor!
Thanks Nicole
how large of a pork roast do you use as it may affect your liquid amounts? thanks in advance, ben
sorry after reading the recipe again I see you use 3 pounds of pork loin, my mitsake
I have a 6.8 quart instapot..is that big enough for 3 pds pork roast?
If you have double the amount of pork in the recipe is the instapot cooking time doubled as well or how long should it cook for?
Always use the base time regardless of the amount of food you're cooking (note that it may take longer to come up to temperature but the actual cook time is the same).
We have this often and it’s delicious! I’m planning on making it for New Years Eve but would rather not go to Costco to get the pork roast. I have the pork tenderloin from Costco, would that work? Would cooking times be the same?
Happy New Year!!
Hah, I'm planning to make this for NYE as well! Love this recipe.
Pork tenderloin will work just fine for this, just make sure to get a solid sear on it! Tenderloin usually has more moisture, so either reduce your broth slightly or set some juice aside after cooking before you start pulling.