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Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep!

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

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Instant Pot Pulled Pork

I know a lot of people worry about using the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. There are just some recipes that get messed up too easily, need monitored, etc. When it comes to cooking pulled pork in the Instant Pot a lot of those worries just don’t apply.

The Instant Pot keeps meet super moist so you don’t have to worry about drying out your pork. If it’s not quite finished when you open it up you can always put it back in for another few minutes to finish the cooking process…that means you also don’t have to worry about it being undercooked.

One of the main reasons I like to use the Instant Pot for pulled pork is that I get perfectly shreddable pork shoulder in far less time than I’d need on a smoker, in the oven, or even in the Crockpot!

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

What do I need to make pulled pork in the Instant Pot?

These are the ingredients you will need to make my Instant Pot pulled pork recipe. It’s pretty simple and the flavors translate really well to just about any other cooking method. If you are looking or a spice and seasoning rub for your pork you can use these ingredients and this method and then cook it however you like!

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

Do I have to use pork shoulder?

The shoulder is the most flavorful part of the pig. However, the meat is tough because the shoulders are a hard working muscle group since they’re carrying around the whole rest of the animal!

Shoulder meat is perfect for pulled pork because it’s high in fat and connective tissue as well. The low heat, slow cooking process lends itself nicely to dissolving all of that and the flavors are absorbed into the meat. Using pork shoulder is a no-brainer for me when I’m making pulled pork in the Instant Pot.

Another great reason to use pork shoulder is that it’s a more inexpensive cut of pork. Other boneless pork cuts are more pricey and you really don’t need that to have a great result when making pulled pork.

That being said, you can use whatever cut of pork you like, just keep in mind that some cuts of boneless pork do not do well with this type of cooking process. Pork loin for example should be cooked quickly even though it’s a larger cut of meat!

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

How do I make Instant Pot pulled pork?

  1. Combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder and salt and pepper in a bowl. Rub on pork.
  2. Set Instant Pot to saute setting and pour olive oil into the inner pot.
  3. Add pork to the heated inner pot and brown on all sides for about 2-3 minutes each.
  4. Turn off saute setting and remove pork from inner pot – place on a separate plate and set aside.
  5. Pour half of water into inner lid and remove any brown bits that are stuck to the bottom of the inner pot.
  6. Place pork back into inner pot.
  7. In a bowl, mix together remaining water and brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and tomato paste.
  8. Pour vinegar mixture into the inner pot.
  9. Close the lid to the Instant Pot and set on manual high pressure for 40 minutes.
  10. Once time is up, open the valve for quick release.
  11. Open the Instant Pot’s lid and remove pork from inner pot. Place in a large bowl.
  12. Use two forks to shred the pork. Add barbecue sauce and mix.
  13. Serve on hamburger buns or as a main with salads of your choice. Enjoy!

 

How much does this recipe make?

It will depend on your pork shoulder, each one is different! Typically this is about four – six servings. If you use a larger shoulder you might end up with closer to eight servings.

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

Can I make this recipe and freeze it?

You can absolutely make this ahead of time and freeze it for later use. Pulled pork freezes really well and if you add some of the cooking liquid to your containers or bags it will reheat just as flavorful and juicy as when you put it away!

I love to have some of this on hand to reheat for a quick dinner when I don’t have something else prepare or my meal plan is lagging. It’s also nice to have in the freezer because the kids can pull it out, defrost, and make themselves something without my help!

Printable Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe:

Yield: 6 Servings

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed and divided
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 pounds boneless pork
  • 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 ¾ cups water, divided
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup barbeque sauce

Instructions

  1. Combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder and salt and pepper in a bowl. Rub on pork.
  2. Set Instant Pot to saute setting and pour olive oil into the inner pot.
  3. Add pork to the heated inner pot and brown on all sides for about 2-3 minutes each.
  4. Turn off saute setting and remove pork from inner pot - place on a separate plate and set aside.
  5. Pour half of water into inner lid and remove any brown bits that are stuck to the bottom of the inner pot.
  6. Place pork back into inner pot.
  7. In a bowl, mix together remaining water and brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and tomato paste.
  8. Pour vinegar mixture into the inner pot.
  9. Close the lid to the Instant Pot and set on manual high pressure for 40 minutes.
  10. Once time is up, allow for a QPR.
  11. Open the Instant Pot’s lid and remove pork from inner pot. Place in a large bowl.
  12. Use two forks to shred the pork. Add barbeque sauce and mix.
  13. Serve on hamburger buns or as a main with salads of your choice. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 607Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 633mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 41g

This easy pulled pork recipe is linked up to Meal Plan Monday at Julia’s Simply Southern.

Do you have other Instant Pot recipes I can try?

I do have a few Instant Pot recipes that I think you will enjoy, here they are…let me know which ones are your favorite!

The Instant Pot is great for making pulled pork. It locks in the flavors and juices and keeps everything super tender and moist. It also takes the time and guess work out of cooking pulled pork perfectly. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is also great for meal prep! 
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