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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Mary Johnson
So I dont even have my Instant Pot yet (coming in 2d) but have decided yours will be my first recipe : ) Thank you for the motivation to not let it sit on my shelf as I get more nervous the closer the delivery date (I’m not a good cook). Can you please help with anything specific to change for doing in a 3qt Mini? Thanks!
Sandy
How exciting! The main think for the mini is that you may need to cut some recipes in half. Keep the cook times the same, except where the size/thickness of the food, like meat, is smaller/larger chunks.
Martha Lundy
Hi Sandy~ As I write this mine is in the istant pot cooking. My 8 qt instant pot says never to use it without using 2 1/4 cups liquid. So I added more Dr Pepper. I am cooking a 5.31 lb pork loin. I doubled the rub and cut into 1 pound pieces. My question is will it be tender and should I cook it less time ? I read a comment above that talked about pork tenderloin and am not sure if pork loin and pork tenderloin are the same? I am looking forward to serving this recipe with all the raving reviews you have gotten from it!! Thank you soooo much! ~ Martha
Sandy
Hi Martha, I would cut the loin in half and cook as directed in the recipe card. Tenderloin is a different cut and requires much less cook time, but loin usually needs about an hour.
Jeanne Loving
AMAZING! Definate crowd pleaser!!!?
Love it ❤️ We will be enjoying this recipe
Over and over again‼️?? A+ ??
Thank You,
LeanJeanDancingMachine
Brittany Whitley
This recipe was so easy and SO SO GOOD!!! My husband who is from memphis LOVED it and he is a BIG BBQ critic.
Sandy
WOW! That is major high praise! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Karen R
Glad I came across this recipe. Fantastic!
Sandy
That’s great, Karen! Thank you!
Wendy
Bookmarking this for later, but I just wanted to say, I love that you said “pop” in the recipe! I’m from Michigan, but moved often and always had to adjust to saying “soda” instead!
Stephanie
Hi! I just came across your recipe and i want to try it this weekend. I wanted to make pulled pork on Friday for my daughters birthday party on Saturday. I was hoping to make the pulled pork Friday and store it in the fridge overnight.
Then put it in the Crock Pot at the party on Saturday set to ‘warm’ so people can serve themselves. Would this work or would it dry out since it doesn’t appear to be smothered in BBQ sauce?
Thanks!
Sandy
Hi Stephanie, this recipe actually yields quite a bit of liquid. Use as much of it as you need to keep the meat moist. Maybe keep a container of it near by to add to the crock once in a while. I also have a great BBQ Crockpot version of pulled pork! BBQ Crockpot Pulled Pork