Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

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Instant Pot Pork Roast is tender, flavorful, and oh-so simple. It’s an instant pot pork shoulder recipe that’s ready in under 2 hours and makes enough to freeze for many meals to come.Gluten-free, dairy-free.

If you are looking for a delicious & simple meal, you will want to try our pork roast instant pot recipe ASAP! This recipe only uses a few ingredients and doesn’t require a lot of effort BUT it makes a flavor-bursting dish that everyone in your house will love. What more could you ask for from a recipe?!

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

Recipe Ingredients

  • 6poundspork shoulder, or pork butt thawed
  • 1cupbeef broth
  • 2tablespoonscumin
  • 2tablespoonschili powder
  • 2tablespoonsonion powder
  • 2tablespoonsgranulated garlic
  • 2tablespoonspaprika
  • 1tablespoonsalt
  • 1teaspoonpepper

Step by Step Instructions

You can use a variety of seasonings, but this is our ultimate favorite flavor combination.

  • cumin
  • chili powder
  • onion powder
  • granulated garlic
  • paprika
  • salt
  • pepper

To start, add a pork roast to your Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (2)


Once the meat is in place, you can pour the beef broth over it, followed by a combination of spices. For a delicious flavor, my go-to combination includes cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. These seasonings work harmoniously to enhance the taste of the pulled pork. However, don’t hesitate to experiment with different seasonings based on what you have available in your pantry. Flexibility in adjusting the seasonings allows you to customize the flavor profile to your liking.

TIME SAVER: Make a large batch of this spice combination & keep in a sealed container. Then, it will be ready to go anytime you need a flavorful seasoning for a recipe.

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After adding all the seasonings, place the lid on the base of the Instant Pot or pressure cooker and ensure it is securely closed. The cooking time may vary depending on your specific model, so refer to the instructions provided with your device. For instance, in my case, I set the Instant Pot to cook for 2 hours when preparing 6 lbs of meat. It’s essential to follow the recommended cooking time guidelines for your particular equipment to achieve the desired results.

COOKING TIP: For faster cooking time, cut the pork roast into large chunks. This will cut the cooking time to ~1.5 hours for 6 lbs of meat and ~45 minutes for 3 lbs of meat.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (4)


Once the pressure has been released and the lid unlocks, carefully remove the lid from the Instant Pot. Using two forks, shred the tender meat into smaller pieces, ensuring it is evenly distributed. Now, your instant pot pork roast recipe is ready to be enjoyed! I personally find it convenient to make a large batch and freeze the leftovers, as they can be used in various creative ways to serve my family a delicious meal.

Which Cut Of Pork Is Best For This Recipe?

For use in an Instant Pot, the best cut of pork to use is a boneless pork shoulder or pork butt. These cuts are known for their marbling and higher fat content, which helps keep the meat moist and tender during pressure cooking. The collagen in the meat breaks down during the cooking process, resulting in a flavorful and succulent pork roast. Additionally, the pork shoulder or pork butt is well-suited for slow cooking methods like the Instant Pot, as it becomes incredibly tender and easily shreds for pulled pork-style dishes.

Can I cook Frozen Pork Roast in the Instant Pot?

Yes! One of the great benefits of instant pot cooking is its speed – making it safe to cook frozen meat.
To cook a pork roast from frozen add 20-30 minutes of cook time.

Substitutions & Additions

  • Boost flavor. Searing the meat before cooking it in the Instant Pot can add flavor and enhance the dish. To sear the pork roast, pat it dry, heat olive oil in a skillet or the Instant Pot on high heat, and brown the meat on all sides for 2-3 minutes per side. This step creates a flavorful crust and caramelization. Remove the roast then deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
  • Add vegetables. To incorporate potatoes and carrots into the pork roast in the Instant Pot, you can peel and chop the carrots into chunks or thick slices and do the same with the potatoes. Once the pork roast is seasoned and in the Instant Pot, simply add the chopped carrots and potatoes around the meat. The vegetables will cook alongside the pork, absorbing the flavors of the spices and beef broth. This allows them to become tender and flavorful, complementing the juicy meat.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Layer with your favorite taco toppings in a taco shell
  • Serve with microwave mashed potatoes
  • Pair as a main dish with my Cheesy PotatoesorZucchini Crisps
  • Toss on top of nacho chips with melted cheese & toppings
  • Scoop onto a bun for a pulled pork sandwich
  • Add to a cheesy pizza crust or flatbread
  • Mix into a batch ofApple Jalapeño BBQ Saucefor BBQ pulled pork
  • Toss with roasted veggies and top with gravy or balsamic glaze

How To Make Pork Roast In The Crockpot

If you’re looking for a variation on cooking methods, you can make a pork roast recipe in a crockpot. It’s a great option for slow cooking, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. Use cuts like boneless pork shoulder or pork butt, season with spices and herbs, and add vegetables or liquids like broth. Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours or high for 6-8 hours or until the pork is tender and easily pulls apart. Remember to follow food safety guidelines and cook the roast to the recommended internal temperature.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe into instant pot bbq pork?

For sure! Simply add in a cup or two of your favorite BBQ sauce after cooking!

Why Did My Roast Turn Out Tough?

A pork roast can turn out tough due to various factors. Insufficient cooking time can result in undercooked collagen and connective tissues, leading to toughness. Cooking at too high of a temperature can also cause toughness. Inadequate moisture during cooking can result in a drier and tougher roast. Additionally, using a tougher cut of meat, such as pork shoulder or pork butt, without giving it enough time to break down can contribute to toughness. To improve tenderness, adjust cooking time and temperature, ensure sufficient moisture, and consider using more tender cuts or tenderizing techniques like marinating or brining.

How Long Does Pork Take Per Pound In Instant Pot?

On average, pork takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound to cook in an Instant Pot. However, factors like the size, thickness, and cut of the pork, as well as whether it’s bone-in or frozen, can influence the cooking time. For bone-in roasts, you may need to add a few extra minutes per pound, and when cooking from frozen, it’s recommended to increase the cooking time by about 50%.

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Storage and Reheating Instructions

When storing leftover pork roast from the Instant Pot, allow it to cool before packaging it into meal-sized portions. Use airtight containers or freezer bags, label them with the contents and date, and store them in the refrigerator if consumed within a few days, or in the freezer for longer-term storage. Thaw frozen pork in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on the microwave. Follow food safety guidelines and discard any spoiled or excessively stored leftovers.

Leftover pork can be reheated covered on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot. It is recommended to add a few tablespoons of broth or water when reheating to prevent the pork from drying out.

If frozen, allow pork to thaw in the fridge overnight then follow the reheating instructions.

More Instant Pot Recipes

  • Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
  • Chinese Honey Chicken
  • Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
  • Shredded Chicken
  • Instant Pot Chicken Stew
  • Loaded Potato Soup
  • Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs
  • Mississippi Chicken (Instant Pot)

More Pork Recipes

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (7)

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Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe

Instant Pot Pork Roast is tender, flavorful, and oh so simple. It's an instant pot pork shoulder recipe that's ready in under 2 hours and makes enough to freeze for many meals to come.Gluten-free, dairy-free.

Pin RecipePrint Recipe

4.43 from 45 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings 16

Ingredients

  • 6 pounds pork shoulder, or pork butt thawed
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons cumin
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Place the meat and seasonings into the instant pot. Place meat in instant pot or pressure cooker. Add beef broth and top with spices. For 6 lbs. of meat cook on high pressure for 2 hours, for 3 lbs. of meat, cook for 1 hour.

    6 pounds pork shoulder, or pork butt thawed, 1 cup beef broth, 2 tablespoons cumin, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 tablespoons onion powder, 2 tablespoons granulated garlic, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper

  • ⭐️Cook. Once the cooking time is up, do a quick release until the float valve goes down or natural release. Shred with two forks, removing any excess fat or bones. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

  • Serve. Serve with mashed potatoes or on your favorite rolls (gluten-free if needed).

Video

Notes

For a faster cooking time, cut the pork roast into large chunks. Cut cooking time for 6 lb. roast to 1.5 hours and for a 3 lb. roast 45 minutes.

Frozen Pork Roast Instant Pot Instructions:

To cook a pork roast from frozen add 20-30 minutes of cook time.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

  1. Place meat in slow cooker and top with spices (broth is not needed unless you are using pork tenderloin).
  2. Cook low 8-10 hours or high 6-8 hours.
  3. Shred with two forks, removing any excess fat or bones.

CCK Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 580mg | Potassium: 744mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1491IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 4mg

If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below!

Then follow us on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. We love seeing what you come up with!

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pulled pork tough in the Instant Pot? ›

The slow release will keep the meat tender. An immediate release can be why your Instant Pot pulled pork is tough.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook pulled pork? ›

Slow cooking the meat means it never has the chance to toughen up and will be extra silky and tender. Pressure cooking is faster, though you may lose a little bit of the tenderness. If you're going for the pressure cook method, be sure to get a pork shoulder or pork butt, as opposed to a pork loin.

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in? ›

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

Can you finish pulled pork in the Instant Pot? ›

The liquid allows the build up of pressure. Without it, the shoulder would just burn. After the Instant Pot finished, I pulled the shoulder out and allowed it to cool off and rest for about 15 minutes. The Instant Pot did the trick and the pork was completely tender and fall apart.

What is the secret to tender pulled pork? ›

Apple cider vinegar: Adds a little tanginess and helps to tenderize the pork. Without it, the pork tastes flat. Adding the vinegar wakes everything up. Fish sauce or Worcestershire: Seasons our cooking liquid and adds a nice burts of umami, which makes the pulled pork even more delicious.

Does pulled pork get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Cooking pulled pork for a longer time can help to break down the collagen and connective tissue, making the meat more tender, but there is a point at which the meat can become overcooked and dry out.

What happens if you pressure cook pork too long? ›

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

Can you overcook pork for pulled pork? ›

By the way, just as it's possible to overcook beef in a beef stew, it's quite possible to overcook pulled pork. You want your pork to be pull-apart tender—an indication that the connective tissue has broken down—but not so cooked that the muscle fibers themselves start to lose structure and turn to mush.

Can you overcook pulled pork on low? ›

On low heat, cook for 8-10 hours; on high heat, cook for 5-6 hours. The pork should be fork-tender and easily shredded. Can you overcook pulled pork in a slow cooker? Yes, overcooking can lead to dry, tough meat.

Why do you put vinegar in pulled pork? ›

After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat. It also helps mellow out the darker, gamier-tasting parts of the butt. This makes enough for a 8 pound pork butt/shoulder.

Why add apple cider vinegar to pulled pork? ›

Why add apple cider vinegar to pulled pork? Pulled pork relies on both the vinegar's acidity and the low-and-slow cooking process to tenderize the meat, breaking down the protein to give the dish its signature moist, fall-apart texture. Cider vinegar also provides a tangy counterpoint to the fatty pork.

How do I get more flavor in my pulled pork? ›

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

What do you spray on pulled pork while cooking? ›

Combine the apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and shake. After smoking for 4 hours, spritz the pork with the apple cider vinegar mixture once per hour to help keep the meat moist.

Should I spritz my pulled pork? ›

The best time to spritz your meat while smoking is just after the bark has formed. The bark on meat generally forms about 1:30 to 2 hours into your cook. It is important to spritz the meat every half hour to 45 minutes to prevent it from drying out.

Should pulled pork be cooked in liquid? ›

In a Dutch oven: Put the meat in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot, pour in just enough liquid (broth, beer, or anything else) so the meat is partially submerged, then cover it and let the pork cook slowly in a low oven for a few hours.

How do you make pulled pork not tough? ›

Typically, when you make pulled pork, you'll cook it in barbeque sauce or another acidic ingredient like vinegar, citrus, or Worcestershire sauce, which work to tenderize the pork. Now think about soda like any other marinade, working to help break down the meat for pull-apart results.

How do you soften hard pulled pork? ›

Place some stock in a pan, about 1/4 inch, add the pork, cover with a lid and heat over medium heat, won't take long. You can also use thinned BBQ sauce as well or just plain water if you don't have stock or bouillon.

Does pressure cooked pork make tender? ›

You want to use the tough cuts of beef or pork. When you cook via a pressure cooker, moisture is required. Combine that with a sealed lid, the steam can't escape. This is a moist cooking method and will breakdown a lot of the connective tissue, tenderizing the tough cuts.

How do you stop pork from being tough? ›

Brine the pork to maintain moisture by soaking it in a mixture of salt and water, baking soda, vinegar or even milk. You can also pour hot water over the loin to shrink the rind, which can enable better absorption of brine, milk, oil or marinade.

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