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 is delicious and super tender pork shoulder. The meat can be used for pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, served over rice, or with potatoes.
- 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
- 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)
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Mix the spices together for the rub. Remove 2 Tablespoons of the mix and set aside for later.
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Rub all sides of the pork roast chunks generously with the spice rub. Set meat aside.
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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.
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Pour the can of pop (or water/broth) into the the pot over the onion*.
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Set the pork chunks on top of the onions. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the pork.
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Place the lid on and lock into place. Set the steam release knob to the sealing position.
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Press the Pressure Cook/Manual Button (or use dial) and then the +/- button (or dial) to choose 65 minutes. High Pressure.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Serve on buns, or over rice or potatoes, or in tortillas.
*To add a more spicy kick, add a chipotle in adobo sauce added in with the cooking liquid.
Resources to Make Pulled Pork Recipe in the Instant Pot
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David
Hi there
I actually don't have a pressure cooker. Is there a good alternative method I could use that would only require the most basic of kitchen items (oven, pots/pans, stove etc). Many thanks from a broke college student!
Sandy
Hi David. Why don't you try this version for the oven: Pulled Pork.
Christina
Very good! The whole family loved it. I had it over rice, the kids chose buns, and hubby had corn tortillas and everyone was happy. The 6 year olds (twins) said it was "Epic"! We will make it again.
Sandy
Hi Christina! Having the kids call it EPIC is high praise, indeed! Thank you!
Kim
Sandy, you've got another winner. We're fans of the potato and ham soup and now this yumminess! Thank you!!
Sandy
Yay! So happy you liked it! Thank you.
Maggie
This pulled pork was delicious!!!! I had an 8 lb pork butt bone in and did like you recommended - doubled the spices, cut the meat but let it cook off of the bone, and kept the liquid the same. Because of the bone, I added an extra 5 minutes to the cook time because I wanted to make sure the meat was cooked through. It still came out very moist and tender. My family loved it! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Sandy
Sounds yummy! I'm glad it worked well for you!
W&B
Sandy, we put your 80 min Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Recipe against a 14 hour kettle smoke... It was a fantastic night!
Thank you for sharing your talents with us!
Sandy
That was pretty fun! Wish I lived in your neighborhood! I was a little nervous, not gonna lie. Whew!
Lori Davis
This was absolutely hands down the best pulled pork I have ever eaten. Super flavorful and very moist. No BBQ sauce was even needed!
I used a 3 1/2 pound pork butt and the cook time per the recipe was perfect.
I’ll never use any other recipe. The rub was sweet and smoky. Nice flavor.
Sandy
Thank you, Lori! I'm so happy you liked this recipe so much!
Lori O.
I have 5 pounds of pork left over from a pig roast. Could I use this in the recipe and what modifications would you suggest?
Sandy
I'm assuming the pork is already cooked? If so, I would adjust the seasonings based on what the pork was seasoned with when it was cooked. I would use an onion, the soda, and cook for 11 minutes, high pressure, as long as the pork is cut into large pieces, and not 1 big piece. Maybe five 1 lb chunks.