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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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How long should I cook a 2 lb pork butt? The hubby and I don’t eat a lot!
Cut it in two equal pieces and cook for the amount of time in the recipe. It’s so good!
Just made this recipe in my new IP. Shoulder did come out very tender, but there wasn’t much flavor. Based on all the great reviews I think I did something wrong. I used chicken stock, so maybe that was the problem. I would make again, but I’ll try it with Dr. Cola next time around and see how it turns out. Thank you for posting.
Hmmm, well the Dr Pepper adds a sweetness. Also, the spice rub at the end is an important part of the process.
New to the Instant Pot, but fairly experienced with the smoker – this is the best pulled pork I’ve ever made!
Really! That’s so awesome! Thank you for letting me know!
Sorry,meant to rate Five Stars!!!
I declared myself a genius after making this pulled pork. Can’t even bring myself to order it at a restauarant as I am usually disappointed when I compare it to this recipe. This is a perfect meal for my family and I have made larger batches and frozen some so it keeps longer. Love the recipe. You are actually the genius, but I’ll still keep taking credit as I serve this to family and friends!
Hi Mike! No worries, you can be the genius! I’m so happy you like this recipe, and I appreciate your review!!
I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. I did not expect this BBQ to be so good, but I gave it 5 stars. I live in South Carolina, and we are serious about our BBQ. In fact, I have dubbed my husband the BBQ King because his slow roasted and smoked BBQ is scrumptious! Surprisingly, this Instant Pot recipe scores a close second to his recipe, but this one does not include a sleepless night maintaining a slow fire and an expensive grill to do the job. Thank you for this awesome recipe! I will definitely be using this one again.
Wow Patti! I am so thrilled to get aa review like this, from someone who knows their BBQ! Made my day! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Thanks for the great recipe. I made it as per your instructions (but added 1 tbsp of liquid smoke) and it worked out great! Will definitely make this one again!
Nice, Mojo! I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for the review!
Super great recipe. Cooking time was spot on, meat was fall apart tender. My husband, a southern boy, loves pulled pork and he thought this was one of the best he’s ever had. Thank you for a great recipe.
Wow Dolly! I appreciate the high praise! Especially from a dear Southern boy! Thank you for letting me know, made my day!
Best pulled pork I’ve ever made! So glad I stumbled upon this recipe! The best part was that I didn’t start the recipe until 4:30 and it was ready at 6pm! Thank you so much!!
Hi Becky! I’m thrilled that you liked this pulled pork recipe so much! I hardly ever made it before getting my IP. Now it’s one of our regulars! Thanks for your review!
I have a 2.5 pound petite shoulder roast that is pre-seasoned. I’d like to go straight from package to pot without cutting into pieces. Would there be any drawback to keeping the roast whole other than the increased cook time? Thanks!
Hi Joanna, if it’s 2.5 lbs, but you are not cutting it, add 10 minutes to the cook time for it to be falling apart. That should do it!