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Instant Pot Pulled Pork is a pork shoulder that has cooked long enough to become super tender, and it has a ton of flavor! Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork is made in a fraction of the normal time!
Delicious pulled pork made in the Instant Pot is good on tortillas, buns, and over your favorite starch (potatoes, rice, etc.).
Originally published on Jan 15, 2018
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
You may not think that pulled Pork made in a pressure cooker would be that great, but let me tell you that it is awesome!
This is an Instant Pot Dump and Start recipe so it is very easy, and takes a fraction of the time that pulled pork normally takes with other cooking methods.
You can make this pulled pork recipe just the way you like it, from spicy to a more mild and sweet barbecue.
The Steps to Make Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Start with a pork shoulder roast that you have trimmed most of the fat off of. Then cut it into 1-pound chunks. Pictured is a 3-pound roast, so I cut it in 3 equal pieces. This will ensure even cooking, and faster results. Use whatever size roast you have, but cut it into the 1-pound chunks.
Rub the spice rub mixture onto all sides of the pieces generously, and place in the pot on top of the onions and liquid (in this case, it’s Dr. Pepper® pop).
When finished cooking, remove the pieces of meat to a bowl and use 2 forks to shred the meat. It will be very tender. Then season a little more, add back some of the cooking liquid, and serve (with your favorite bbq sauce for even more flavor).
How to Serve Instant Pot Pulled Pork
• Make a fabulous Instant Pot Pulled Pork sandwich, served on a soft kaiser roll. Add any toppings you like, or just the meat.
• You can also serve over potatoes or rice.
• Make pulled pork tacos!
• Try Pulled Pork on Mac and Cheese, it’s amazing!
The meat is shredded after cooking and can be used for pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, served over rice, or with potatoes.
Instant Pot Barbecue Beef Roast
Instant Pot Simple Pot Roast
Instant Pot Beef Guinness Stew
Instant Pot Bone-In Ham
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
If you make this delicious pressure cooker pulled pork recipe, please leave me a comment below. Let me know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Equipment
Ingredients
Spice Rub
- 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 3 teaspoons Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoons Cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Powder (optional), for heat
Pork
- 3-4 lbs Pork Shoulder Roast (Pork Butt) Fat trimmed off, and cut in 1lb chunks
- 1 Onion, cut in eighths
- 1 (12 oz) can Dr. Pepper or Cola (or 1 ½ cups chicken stock or water)
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar (or more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon Salt (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Mix the spices together for the rub. Remove 2 Tablespoons of the mix and set aside for later.
- Rub all sides of the pork roast chunks generously with the spice rub. Set meat aside.
- Cut the onion into 8 pieces (cut in half, then cut each half into 4 pieces). Put the onion into the inner cooking pot of the pressure cooker.
- Pour the can of pop (or water/broth) into the the pot over the onion*.
- Set the pork chunks on top of the onions. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the pork.
- Place the lid on and lock into place. Set the steam release knob to the sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook/Manual Button (or use dial) and then the +/- button (or dial) to choose 65 minutes. High Pressure.
- After the cooking time has finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for 15 minutes. Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position (or push button) to manually Quick Release the remaining pressure/steam.
- When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and remove the meat to a large bowl. Use a slotted spoon to get the onions out and add to the meat. Use two forks to shred the meat.
- Sprinkle the reserved spice rub and ½ tsp salt into the meat. Mix well. Taste and add more salt and/or brown sugar, if desired.
- Use a large spoon (or a fat separator) to skim off the fat from the cooking liquid that is still in the pot. Then add ½ - 1 cup of the liquid to the meat and mix in. You can add more of the liquid to the meat if you like it more moist.
- Serve on buns, or over rice or potatoes, or in tortillas.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Resources to Make Pulled Pork Recipe in the Instant Pot
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This was a great rub. We did 14 pounds of pork but between 2 instant pots. I quadrupled the spice recipe. Forgot to hold out some for after the meat was cooked. Used 1.5 cans of Dr.Pepper in each pot, and 1.5 onions each pot. Manual setting for 90 minutes. Yum. Tender and moist, but next timeI might use chicken stock instead of pop.
Sounds good! That bit of rub at the end makes a difference. This is just as good with chicken stock. Thank you for your review!
I have a 6.70 Lbs how long should I cook it for
Katherine, cut the meat into 1 lb chunks. Then add 15 minutes to be safe.
I just made this and it is the best pulled pork I’ve tasted! We decided to use it in nachos this time around, but we’re excited to try it on other things!
Fabulous!
I had to modify the seasoning for personal reasons ( I used smoked paprika, cinnamon and onion salt), and I also used a Guinness instead of the pop. It turned out FANTASTIC! Thanks so much!
Yummy! Love using Guinness in recipes! Thank you for your review!
I recently purchased an Instant Pot and was looking for a pulled pork recipe to make for a family lunch celebrating my Mom’s 77th birthday. I added a little BBQ sauce at the very en. This recipe was a hit, with no leftovers. My Dad told me it was the best pulled pork he’s had. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for posting this. It was amazingly moist and tender.
Fantastic recipe! I just cooked this for my husband’s 70th Birthday dinner, and we both loved it! I used about 5 pounds of pork shoulder roast in the 6 quart Instant Pot. I did not have Doctor Pepper, so I used a bottle of beer, just of fun. It came out great: extremely tender and flavorful. Did not use the cayenne pepper, since he does not like spicey. He is a very happy husband! –Sue
Hi Susan, Happy Birthday to your hubby! I’m glad he enjoyed his birthday dinner that you so thoughtfully made for him! Thank you for your review!
What I have is a T-fal and I could only get it to 40 minutes. I’ll see how it turns out and if it’s not done, cook it a little longer. Thanks! Can’t wait to taste it!
I hope you like it!
Maybe I’m doing something wrong but my pot only goes up to 40 minutes.
Depending on which pot you have, press the Pressure Cook or the Manual button, or use the dial if you have the IP Ultra and turn it to Pressure Cook and press it.
Then use the + or – button, or the dial to select the time in minutes (mine goes to 240 minutes). If you are pressing any other buttons, you may have activated the timer, or something else.
Hey Sandy,
i am trying this recipe today and I have the new instant pot. So there is no manual but there is pressure cook option. Do I cook it in high or low pressure for 60 mins?
Thanks!
Hi, it’s the Pressure Cook button, which defaults to High Pressure. So, cook on High Pressure.