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    You are here: Home » Instant Pot Recipes » Best Damn Instant Pot Pulled Pork

    Best Damn Instant Pot Pulled Pork

    Last Modified: September 24, 2024

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 490 reviews

    This is the best damn pulled pork recipe i’ve ever made. Yes, you read that correctly. And it’s made in an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker!

    Pulled pork sandwich served with pickles and coleslaw.

    Pulled pork is something you always see on those barbecue competition shows where people go to great lengths to prepare and cook with all kinds of methods. Most often, these methods require huge pieces of equipment, lots of space (outdoor space), and a ton of time and commitment to make. Now don’t get me wrong, you have an opportunity to sink you teeth into pork that’s been cooked this way, it’s an experience that’s simply a festival of flavor you’ll never forget. Many of the best real BBQ joints will start making their pulled pork days ahead of time and when it’s ready to eat, people line up. And when these places run out of food for the day, that’s it until next time.

    A few years ago, along came electric pressure cookers such as the Instant Pot, and people went crazy for these things! And there’s a reason for that – because they open up all new possibilities for making incredible food. Pulled pork is tops on my list of favorite foods to make with an Instant Pot. From start to finish, it can be done in under 2 hours. No kidding!

    Choosing the right pork

    We start with a pork butt roast. This can also be called pork shoulder. You can get either bone-in or boneless. If you find ones that are vacuum packed and the packaging indicates that the pork contains a 12% solution, this means that the roast is brined. Those are the best to use. Meat is brined this way to maintain tenderness and juiciness. You can always make your own brine, but that’s a topic for another day. Go with the brined meat if you can. If the meat has a noticeable fat layer on it, you’ll want to trim any excess away.

    I generally like to use a roast that’s 4lbs. I cut the meat into 4 pieces of equal size, cutting out the bone if it has one.

    Start with a good rub

    Our pulled pork will be getting it’s flavor start by applying a rub. We use simple ingredients that include brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, ground mustard, salt, pepper and a dash of cayenne. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and add the pieces of pork. Use your hands and toss it all together for a couple of minutes. Make sure that seasoning mixture is well incorporated into the meat.

    Sear the meat

    Barbecue flavors can be complex and one of the keys of great BBQ is the slow roasting/smoking of the meat. Since we can’t do that, we’ll create complex flavors of our own by searing the meat. We do this by adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the Instant Pot and setting it to the saute mode. Once it’s hot, we carefully add our chunks of pork. I generally like to do 2 chunks at a time. It’s just much easier to work with in batches like this. Use tongs and gently place the chunks into the hot oil. Let the meat sear for about 2 minutes and turn over to get the other side for another couple of minutes. Get the sides too if possible. After searing the meat, remove from Instant Pot and set aside on a plate. We then need to deglaze the pot. This is very important! After sauteing, press cancel and add ½ cup of chicken broth to the pot. Use a wooden spoon and scrape all the bits off the bottom of the pot. It should take about a minute or so. Make sure to get it all and do not discard anything! All this goodness is part of the flavor for our pulled pork.

    Pressure cook with Chicken Broth

    Chicken broth is the perfect liquid for pressure cooking pork. It adds flavor that you simply cannot get with water. To round out the flavors, we’ll be adding some Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke. These flavors work together to bring about a boldness and savory aspect that you’d normally get from the smoking/slow roasting methods of traditional BBQ. Naturally we’re going to emulate those flavors and the combination of Worcestershire and Liquid Smoke in the pressure cooker works wonders.

    After you’ve deglazed the pot, add the rest of the wet ingredients and place the chunks of pork directly into the liquid. Don’t stack it, spread it out as best possible. Secure the lid, close the vent and pressure cook on high for 1 hour. After the hour is up, let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes you can quick release any remaining pressure.

    Pull the Pork

    Carefully remove the chunks of pork from the Instant Pot to a large bowl. The pieces may fall apart and that’s just fine. Once all the pork pieces are in a bowl, use two forks to shred the pieces.

    Add Favorite BBQ Sauce and Serve

    At this point, your pulled pork will already be full of flavor. Just try a piece and you will be amazed! You can serve just like this (with some of the juice from the pot drizzled in). Or, you can add your favorite BBQ sauce. Add the sauce in small amounts to start. You don’t want the pork swimming in the sauce, but rather the sauce complimenting the pork.

    One of my very favorite ways to enjoy pulled pork is with some BBQ sauce and heaped onto a good piece of white bread. Use a fork to enjoy this open-faced sandwich approach. Add a little coleslaw on top, too, for added flavor and texture. Be sure to have some pickle slices on the side too.

    Storage and Reheating

    Storing your homemade pulled pork correctly is key to keeping it delicious for leftovers! Here’s my quick guide to ensure your pulled pork stays fresh and tasty:

    In the Fridge:

    • Let it cool down to avoid any steamy container situations.
    • Store it in an airtight container or zip-lock bag.
    • Get it in the fridge within two hours of cooking.
    • It’ll stay good for 3-4 days, so you’ve got meals ready to go!

    In the Freezer:

    • Cool it off, then portion it out into freezer bags or freezer safe air tight containers.
    • Don’t forget to label with the date; it’s good for up to 6 months!
    • Thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to dive back in.

    Microwave Reheating Instructions:

    1. Prep: Place the pulled pork in a microwave-safe dish.
    2. Moisturize: Sprinkle a little water or broth over the pork to keep it moist. Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap to trap steam.
    3. Heat: Microwave on high for about 2-3 minutes. Halfway through, stop to stir or rearrange the pork for even heating.
    4. Check: Ensure the pork is heated through. If not, continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until hot.

    Stovetop Reheating Instructions:

    1. Prep: Put the pulled pork in a skillet or saucepan.
    2. Moisturize: Add a splash of broth, water, or barbecue sauce to help it stay moist during reheating.
    3. Heat: Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
    4. Check: Once the pork is simmering gently and heated through, it’s ready to serve.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can this recipe be doubled?

    Make sure your pressure cooker is large enough for larger amounts. You do not want to go past the fill line. To double the recipe, just go ahead and double all the dry rub ingredients. You’ll have to do the searing in multiple batches. Make extra sure to get the bottom of the pot scraped up of any stuck-on bits. Increase the chicken broth to 2 cups. Cooking time will be the same.

    I don’t have an Instant Pot! What can I do?

    You can make the Best Damn Oven Pulled Pork or the Best Damn Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.

    Can this be made with chicken?

    You bet it can! Check out our recipe for Best Damn Instant Pot Pulled Chicken!

    Is there a substitute for liquid smoke?

    The liquid smoke, even in its small amount, is an ingredient that really elevates the flavor of this recipe. If you don’t have it, simply leave it out. Alternately, you can use smoked paprika in place of regular paprika.

    Print

    Recipe

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    Instant Pot pulled pork recipe

    Best Damn Instant Pot Pulled Pork


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 490 reviews

    • Author: Recipe Teacher
    • Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
    • Yield: 6-8 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    The most amazing, tender, juicy and delicious Instant Pot pulled pork recipe.


    Ingredients

    • 4lb Pork Butt Roast, boneless or bone-in
    • 3 tbs light brown sugar
    • 2 tsp kosher salt
    • 1 tsp ground mustard
    • 1 tsp black pepper
    • 1 tsp onion powder
    • 1 tsp paprika
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
    • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
    • 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tsp liquid smoke
    • 2 tbs olive oil
    • ½ – 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce.

    Instructions

    1. Trim excess fat from pork roast and cut into 4 same-size chunks.
    2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together. Add pork roast chunks to rub mix and coat well.
    3. Add 2 tbs olive oil to Instant Pot and set to sauté mode. Once it indicates hot, add 2 pieces of the pork. Sear on each side for about 2 minutes each. Remove pork and set aside on a plate. Repeat with remaining pork pieces.
    4. Once pork is seared and removed from pot, press cancel and add ½ cup chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Make sure to scrape up all the bits. Then add remaining chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke.
    5. Place pork chunks directly into the liquid in the pot, spacing out as best possible. Secure lid and make sure vent is set to sealing position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. Then let pressure release naturally for 20 minutes or until pin drops.
    6. Remove pork to a large bowl and shred with 2 forks. Add your favorite BBQ sauce as desired. Or use the juice from the Instant Pot – it’s loaded with awesome flavor!

    Notes

    To double the recipe, double the dry rub ingredients and increase broth to 2 cups. Cooking time will be the same. Make certain to not fill the pot past the fill line.

    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 60 mins
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Pressure cooker
    • Cuisine: American BBQ

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    Recipe for Instant pot pulled pork
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    1. Dianne W says

      November 14, 2021 at 9:56 pm

      Love love love this recipe. Just a thought have you ever swapped the pork for beef in this recipe??

      Reply
    2. Dee says

      November 14, 2021 at 6:26 am

      Hello. Has anyone made this without the liquid smoke and if so how did it turn out?

      Reply
      • RecipeTeacher says

        November 15, 2021 at 12:38 am

        If you don’t have the liquid smoke, just leave it out. It will still be awesome. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Suzanne says

      November 07, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      Holyeeeeeeee cow. This was amazing!!!! Thank you thank you thank you! This is a permanent staple in my recipe rotation now!!

      Reply
    4. Sara Bowling says

      November 06, 2021 at 4:17 pm

      I would agree with the time issue. 2 hours minimum. With trimming and chunking the pork, rubbing and getting a good sear on the pieces. I also only do 50 minutes but cut my chunks smaller. I find I can do pretty much any amount with that method.

      That said, this is amazing. I’ve made it several times. No sauce required, so much flavor! And they are great for tacos, pork sandwiches with slaw, I even pile it on sweet potatoes with some avocado. It’s amazing stuff!

      Reply
    5. Felicia says

      November 01, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      I made this and was totally surprised with the outcome. I’m usually not impressed with recipes, but this one had me in total shock. I didn’t need the BBQ sauce AT ALL!. It is just me and I will be using this recipe more often. Thank you so much!

      Reply
    6. Ron Davis says

      October 26, 2021 at 6:26 pm

      Scrumptous!! Thanks Jason!

      Reply
    7. Vannessa says

      October 20, 2021 at 1:22 pm

      I made this last night for the first time with a side of coleslaw and rice, and my family loved it! Lots of leftovers to make tacos with tonight. Thank you very much for putting this recipe together; it is a gem and I’ll keep it in my favorites. I did use the same amount of coconut sugar instead of brown sugar and it came out just fine (just in case anyone needs the substitution). I also had a little more meat than what was called for so I made extra dry rub, used the same amount of chicken broth and cooking time and it worked out well. This was pretty easy and I finally got to use the pork butt taking up space in my freezer (I was intimidated to cook it up). Anyway, keep doing what you do and thank you again for the awesome recipe!

      Reply
    8. CHill says

      October 18, 2021 at 5:13 pm

      The 1st time I made this… Everyone loved it!
      We’d expected more guests that night, ended up w leftovers my family enjoyed all week!! We were sad when it ran out.

      Dont skimp on the sauteing, its all well worth it in the end!
      This time, using a 6 lb cut, cut into 3 pieces, I recommend goin closer to a 3 to 4 minute saute per side.
      Enjoy.

      And thanks for the recipe!!!

      Reply
    9. Peggy Jarvie says

      October 09, 2021 at 4:06 pm

      I love this recipe! Easy and delicious, and another great reason to use my instant pot. I have one quibble, and that’s the times you set out. With cutting and trimming the pork, and searing at 2 minutes a side (4 sides, two pieces of pork at a time) it’s much more than 10 minutes prep time. Probably closer to 50 minutes from taking the pork out of the fridge to the pressure cooking starting. And then, of course, the 20 minutes natural release time. I’ve made this several times, and now give myself two and a half hours from start to table. It’s so delicious, and I never use barbecue sauce, since the sauce it cooks in is so great.
      Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    10. Susan Sellers says

      October 05, 2021 at 6:38 pm

      Today is Tuesday, October 5, 2021 and I made this barbecue pork recipe for dinner tonight and my entire family and I thought it was delicious!
      I’m very glad that I found your recipe because it challenged me to use my Instant Pot for the second time. This recipe is definitely a keeper and thank you very much.

      Reply
      • RecipeTeacher says

        October 06, 2021 at 10:24 am

        Thanks so much, Susan!

        Reply
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    Jason of Recipeteacher.com

    Hi, I’m Jason and i’m here to help you make easy, delicious homemade recipes. My approach is to provide the easy-to-understand instructions, use simple ingredients, and have you make the best meals possible.

    More about me →

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    Recipe for the best damn Instant Pot pulled pork
    Recipe for Instant Pot electric pressure cooker pulled pork
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