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This easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork recipe makes the most amazing BBQ pulled pork to use in sandwiches or on top of nachos! Cooking in a pressure cooker ensures that the meat is tender, juicy and delicious.
Check out the Instant Pot Recipes page to see the full collection of pressure cooker recipes.
This pulled pork recipes is crazy delicious and crazy simple to prepare. You get all of the smoky flavors without having to tend a grill all day. How awesome is that?
Ingredients needed to make Pulled Pork in an Instant Pot
- four to five pounds of boneless pork shoulder/butt cut into large pieces
- brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, sea salt and dried thyme leaves to season the pork
- apple cider vinegar and chicken stock to cook your pork
- bay leaves, onion slices and minced garlic to flavor the pork
- ketchup, mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke to create a delicious sauce to coat the cooked pork
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How to make Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, sea salt and thyme leaves in a small bowl. Set aside.
Cut the pork shoulder/butt into 4 large pieces. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over and all sides of the pork.
Pour the chicken stock and apple cider vinegar into the liner of the pressure cooker, then place the seasoned pork pieces inside. Add the minced garlic, bay leaves and onion slices on top.
Secure the lid and make sure the sealing knob is in the "sealing" position. Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button then use the + or - button to adjust the time to one hour and thirty minutes (90 minutes) on HIGH pressure.
When the pot beeps allow the pressure to release naturally (do not do anything, just leave it alone) until the pin pops. Mine takes 25 minutes. If you are in a hurry you can release the remaining pressure after 15 minutes, but no earlier or your meat will be tough.
Remove the pork pieces and place them in a large bowl.
Shred the pork into smaller pieces with two forks or just twist tongs around to break it up.
Remove all but 1.5 cups of the cooking liquid. (I had a little over 5 cups of liquid.) Set the extra liquid aside just in case you need it.
Add the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, and Worcestershire sauce to the pressure cooker.
Press the Cancel button, then the Sauté button. Stir the sauce to combine and heat until sugar is melted and sauce is hot. Pour the sauce over the pulled pork in the bowl.
Stir the pork and sauce together to combine.
I did not make sandwiches this time, I was craving Pulled Pork Nachos. You could even make some really tasty tacos with this pulled pork!
What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?
Pork shoulder or pork butt are traditionally used for pulled pork. They both have a higher fat content that melts when it cooks which makes it easier to shred and also tender and juicy.
What else can you make with Pulled Pork?
- Pulled Pork Nachos
- Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Pulled Pork Pizza
- Stuffed Avocadoes
- Lettuce Wraps
- Pulled Pork Tacos
How long will Pulled Pork last?
Pulled pork can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days, or frozen for 2 to 3 months.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- When you remove the pork after it has cooked you can keep the onions or discard them, your choice. I kept some, but not all.
- To prepare the pulled pork in a slow cooker, set the time for 7 to 8 hours on LOW.
- If the pork seems dry add additional cooking liquid until you reach your desired consistency.
Additional Instant Pot pork recipes:
- Hawaiian Pulled Pork with pineapple slaw
- Pork Carnitas
- Kalua Pork
- Barbecue Ribs
- Red Chile Pork Tamales
- Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast
Tools used to create this recipe
Enjoy!!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
Seasoning
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons onion powder
- 1.5 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 pound boneless pork shoulder roast also called pork butt
- .75 cup chicken stock
- .25 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 large onion sliced - about 1.5 cups
Sauce
- 1.5 cups cooking liquid
- .75 cup ketchup
- .25 cup mustard I used Dijon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- .5 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, sea salt and thyme leaves in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Cut the pork shoulder/butt into 4 large pieces. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over and all sides of the pork.
- Pour the chicken stock and apple cider vinegar into the liner of the pressure cooker, then place the seasoned pork pieces inside. Add the minced garlic, bay leaves and onion slices on top.
- Secure the lid and make sure the sealing knob is in the “sealing” position. Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button then use the + or – button to adjust the time to one hour and thirty minutes (90 minutes) on HIGH pressure.
- When the pot beeps allow the pressure to release naturally (do not do anything, just leave it alone) until the pin pops. Mine takes 25 minutes. If you are in a hurry you can release the remaining pressure after 15 minutes, but no earlier or your meat will be tough.
- Remove the pork pieces and place them in a large bowl. Shred the pork into smaller pieces with two forks or just twist tongs around to break it up.
- Remove all but 1.5 cups of the cooking liquid. (I had a little over 5 cups of liquid.) Set the extra liquid aside just in case you need it.
- Add the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, and Worcestershire sauce to the pressure cooker.
- Press the Cancel button, then the Sauté button. Stir the sauce to combine and heat until sugar is melted and sauce is hot. Pour the sauce over the pulled pork in the bowl. Stir the pork and sauce together to combine.
Notes
- When you remove the pork after it has cooked you can keep the onions or discard them, your choice. I kept some, but not all.
- To prepare the pulled pork in a slow cooker, set the time for 7 to 8 hours on LOW.
- If the pork seems dry add additional cooking liquid until you reach your desired consistency.
Cheryl Kerspilo says
Ok I just got everything in the instapot and started it but for the sauce, you don't list how much brown sugar to add. For the seasoning you show 3 tablespoons of brown sugar which I did, but the sauce doesn't say brown sugar but in the directions you said to add all ingredients for the sauce and you said brown sugar but no amount shows anywhere. I just put 2 tablespoons because I didn't know how much to add
Lisa Johnson says
Very good guess Cheryl, it is 2 tablespoons. Thank you so much for letting me know, I will go fix the recipe card.