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
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin
- 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne, Optional
- 3 Pound Boneless Pork Roast, Cut into 3-4 inch 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
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 1/4 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!
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 🙂
Could this recipe be doubled when using a 6 quart Instant Pot?
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 you give me the recipe for your slaw? It looks perfect! Thank you!
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!
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.
Good recipe! This was my first meal in the instapot. It turned out very good, just enough heat.
oops – I just left a review for the wrong thing – I didn’t make this – sorry!!!
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.
Thank you so much for this post! I was going through the comments to find if someone didn’t use the BBQ sauce! (My husband doesn’t like it either!)