Tender, fall-apart pork, with just the right amount of spices and seasoning, using an Instant Pot. Learn how to make this Easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe! Serve this Instant Pot Pulled Pork with Oil and Vinegar Coleslaw, and Creamy Coconut Rice.
Why This Recipe Works
Pulled Pork used to take hours to prepare in the oven, which heated up the entire kitchen. Using an Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, you can prepare the pulled pork in a fraction of the time and keep your kitchen cool in the process.
The Pulled Pork Seasoning I came up with is the perfect complement to pork. It's a little sweet, a little spicy, and loaded with flavor! I highly recommend you take the time to prepare it. However, if you want to be stubborn, (😉) you can use your favorite pork seasoning instead.
The end result is tender, juicy pork that can be piled high in pulled pork sandwiches, topped with my delicious Oil and Vinegar Coleslaw!
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Pork Roast — You'll need a 3.5 to 4-pound Pork Butt or shoulder.
- Seasoning — I recommend using my pulled pork seasoning recipe. You can also make your own spice blend or buy another pulled pork seasoning.
- Wine — I add a dark red wine to the Instant pot to cook the pork in. You can use your favorite wine or even broth.
- BBQ Sauce — BBQ sauce adds a nice finishing touch. Sometimes I use my own BBQ sauce recipe, and other times I use whatever I find in the fridge. You can do the same.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1 | Season Meat
Slice pork roast into quarters, and sprinkle generously with my Pulled Pork dry rub Seasoning. Sprinkle one tablespoon at a time, until all the pieces are evenly coated. Save leftover rub for another use.
Step 2 | Sear Meat and Sauté Onions And Garlic
Choose "Saute" setting on your Instant Pot. ADD one tablespoon of oil. Brown meat on all sides, using another tablespoon of oil, as needed. Add the last tablespoon of oil, sauté the onion until caramelized. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Step 3 | Add Wine And BBQ Sauce
Pour wine into the pot and deglaze the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add meat and cover with barbecue sauce. Lock lid and set the vent on the Instant Pot to "Sealing." Choose the pressure cooker setting and set the timer to 60 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, do a natural release.
It will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure.
Serving Suggestions
Serve in a roll, with additional barbecue sauce, lettuce, and onion. You can also use the shredded pork to make tamales, in enchiladas, breakfast burritos, and more!
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
Instant Pots are perfect for when you are short on time. This recipe took one hour and thirty minutes from start to finish.
Ten minutes to prep and sear the meat, five minutes to bring up the pressure in the pot, 60 minutes to cook, and approximately 20 minutes for natural pressure release.
My other pulled pork recipe (which I cook in the oven) takes three hours to prepare.
The best cut of meat for pulled pork is the pork shoulder, which can be found under the following names: Boston butt or roast, and the picnic roast.
These cuts are marbled with fat, and perfect for slow cooking, or for this Instant Pot pulled pork recipe.
A cheaper option is to purchase pork strips. This also saves you the time of dividing the roast into sections, since the strips can be seared as is.
Most people use some kind of rub when making pulled pork. I personally use my own dry rub seasoning mix. Most dry rubs combine a mixture of brown sugar, spices, and herbs, including my own.
If you don't want to make your own, you can try something like Flying Swine All-Purpose Rub. As far as adding liquids to the Instant Pot, you have different options.
- If you don't want to make my dry rub seasoning, you can use a store-bought brand, for example, this one.
- To give the pulled pork a slightly crunchy texture, place the shredded pork in a baking dish, drizzle with pot liquids, and broil until some of the pieces have crispy edges.
- Instead of wine and barbecue sauce, try an equal amount of broth, beer, and even coffee. Get a little crazy, why don't you?
Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3½ lbs. pork roast
- 1 recipe pork rub for pulled pork and ribs (see my recipe)
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic (sliced)
- 1 cup burgundy wine
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Slice pork roast into quarters, and sprinkle generously with my Pulled Pork dry rub Seasoning. Sprinkle one tablespoon at a time, until all the pieces are evenly coated. Save leftover rub for another use.
- Choose "Saute" setting on your Instant Pot. ADD one tablespoon of oil. Brown meat on all sides, using another tablespoon of oil, as needed. Add the last tablespoon of oil, sauté the onion until caramelized. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Pour wine into the pot and deglaze the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add meat and cover with barbecue sauce. Lock lid and set the vent on the Instant Pot to "Sealing." Choose the pressure cooker setting and set the timer to 60 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, do a natural release.
- Serve in a roll, with additional barbecue sauce, lettuce, and onion. You can also use the shredded pork to make tamales, in enchiladas, breakfast burritos, and more!
Notes
- If you don't want to make my dry rub seasoning, you can use a store-bought brand, for example, this one.
- To give the pulled pork a slightly crunchy texture, place the shredded pork in a baking dish, drizzle with pot liquids, and broil until some of the pieces have crispy edges.
- Instead of wine and barbecue sauce, try an equal amount of broth, beer, and even coffee. Get a little crazy, why don't you?
Kelly Methey says
This sounds so good. I am intimidated by my Instant Pot. I will have to “Cowboy Up” and try this recipe as I love pulled pork! I know this will be delicious because all your recipes are!
Hilda Sterner says
I can show you!
Andrea Buck says
Made this for a potluck tonight! I had almost four pounds so I added ten minutes...delish! The smell while it was cooking was heavenly! Didn't need to add any additional sauce...I didn't even use a bun!
HildaSterner says
Awesome to hear! Thanks for coming back to share the results. Really appreciate the feedback! ?
Andrea Buck says
Perfect timing! I'm taking pulled pork to the bunco potluck tomorrow. Will report back!
HildaSterner says
Yay, can't wait to hear back! Thanks, Andrea!