Favorite Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
My Favorite Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe is flavorful, tender, juicy and will leave you wanting more! It’s prepared with a flavorful rub and cooked in your favorite BBQ sauce.
If I do say so myself, my Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe is mouth-wateringly delicious! It’s prepared by rubbing a flavorful blend of spices all over the pork before browning it on all sides. Then it’s cooked in the Instant Pot in my favorite homemade BBQ sauce. Mmmmmm!
Once the roast is done, you transfer it to a large cutting board and shred with two forks. Add more BBQ sauce and serve on buns. This is the best easy dinner and the leftovers are just as good if not more.
Ingredients
For the rub
- brown sugar
- paprika
- chili powder
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- salt
See recipe card for quantities.
For the pork
- pork shoulder or butt
- olive oil
- spice rub (recipe included)
- chicken broth
- pineapple juice
- BBQ sauce (You can use your favorite or try my homemade recipe!)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
For the rub
Step 1: Add brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper and garlic powder to a medium mixing bowl.
Step 2. Mix ingredients together until combined. Set aside.
For the pork
Step 1: Cut pork into large chunks with a sharp knife.
Step 2: Using your hands, rub the spices all over each piece of pork.
Step 3. Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot and add the olive oil.
Step 4. Once the olive oil is hot, add the pork to the Instant Pot. (You will have to brown it in batches.)
Brown each side about 2-3 minutes per side in batches until all of the pieces are browned.
Step 5. Once all of the pork is browned, transfer to a plate and turn off the sauté.
Add a little bit of the chicken broth to the pot and deglaze with a wooden spoon so that there is nothing sticking to the bottom of the pot. (If you leave anything burnt on the bottom, you may get a burn notice once you start pressuring-cooking your pork.)
Step 6. Add your metal trivet to the Instant Pot.
Step 7. Add all of the pork back to the Instant Pot.
Step 8. Pour the remaining chicken broth, pineapple juice and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce over the pork.
Step 9. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure it is in the sealed position.
Set the Instant Pot to cook for 1 hour on high pressure.
Step 10. Once the cook time counts down and the pot beeps indicating time is up, leave it alone. Let the pressure release naturally. You’ll know that the pressure has released once the float valve pops down into the lid, making a clicking sound.
Once the pressure is released, remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
Step 11. Transfer the pork onto a large cutting board.
Step 12. Using two forks, shred the pork, discarding any fat attached.
Step 13. Transfer pulled pork to a medium bowl and add another cup of BBQ sauce. (Save remaining 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce for serving.)
Step 14. Mix until combined. You can add some of the juice from the pot if you need to, but mine comes out very juicy.
Step 15. Serve on buns with more BBQ sauce and coleslaw if you like it! Enjoy!
Hint: I recommend saving some of the juice from the pot at the end. You may want to add some to leftovers if the pork has dried at all.
Variations
- Tacos or burritos – you can add pulled pork to taco or burrito shells for pulled pork tacos. You can add your favorite cheese, more BBQ sauce and coleslaw.
- Nachos – use pulled pork to make BBQ pulled pork nachos. You can add cheese, jalapeños, more BBQ sauce, bacon and sour cream.
- Sliders – instead of serving pulled pork sandwiches on regular-sized buns, make sliders. They are a fun change and kids love them!
Equipment
- Instant Pot/Electric Pressure Cooker
- large, sharp knife
- kitchen tongs
- medium and large glass measuring cups
- measuring cups and spoons
- small and medium mixing bowl
- small whisk, optional
- large cutting board
- wooden spoon
Storage
Store leftover pulled pork covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Pulled pork can be frozen in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Top tip
Don’t skip browning the pork. It really gives it a delicious flavor and texture.
Related
Looking for other dinner recipes? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite recipes to serve with pulled pork:
Favorite Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
- Instant Pot/ Electric Pressure Cooker
- large, sharp knife
- kitchen tongs
- medium and large glass measuring cups
- measuring cups and spoons
- small and medium mixing bowl
- small whisk, optional
- large cutting board
- wooden spoon
For the rub
- 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the pork
- 3-4 lb pork shoulder or butt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 recipe spice rub recipe included
- 1/2 cup (124g) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup (100g) pineapple juice
- 2 1/2 cups (429g) BBQ sauce You can use your favorite or try my homemade recipe!
For the rub
- Add brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper and garlic powder to a medium mixing bowl.
- Mix ingredients together until combined. Set aside.
For the pork
- Cut pork into large chunks with a sharp knife.
- Using your hands, rub the spices all over each piece of pork.
- Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot and add the olive oil.
- Once the olive oil is hot, add the pork to the Instant Pot. (You will have to brown it in batches.)
- Brown each side about 2-3 minutes per side in batches until all of the pieces are browned.
- Once all of the pork is browned, transfer to a plate and turn off the sauté.
- Add a little bit of the chicken broth to the pot and deglaze with a wooden spoon so that there is nothing sticking to the bottom of the pot. (If you leave anything burnt on the bottom, you may get a burn notice once you start pressure-cooking your pork.)
- Add your metal trivet to the Instant Pot.
- Add all of the pork back to the Instant Pot.
- Pour the remaining chicken broth, pineapple juice and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce over the pork.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure it is in the sealed position.
- Set the Instant Pot to cook for 1 hour on high pressure.
- Once the cook time counts down and the pot beeps indicating time is up, leave it alone. Let the pressure release naturally. You'll know that the pressure has released once the float valve pops down into the lid, making a clicking sound.
- Once the pressure is released, remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
- Transfer the pork onto a large cutting board.
- Using two forks, shred the pork, discarding any fat attached.
- Transfer pulled pork to a medium bowl and add another cup of BBQ sauce. (Save remaining 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce for serving.)
- Mix until combined. You can add some of the juice from the pot if you need to, but mine comes out very juicy.
- Serve on buns with more BBQ sauce and coleslaw if you like it! Enjoy!
I love making dinners in my Instant Pot. It makes weeknight dinners so much easier. This pulled pork was honestly SO delicious. The combination of the rub and the BBQ sauce really kicks up the flavor.
If you have tried my recipe, please let me know in the comments below!
Sweet regards,
Michele
