Published 3/11/2024 • Updated 6/30/2024 We love this method of cooking pork in my house because you get the most perfectly tender pulled pork in half the amount of time 🙌🏻 This might be my all-time favorite Instant Pot pork recipe and I’m so excited for you guys to whip this up in no time for your family and friends to enjoy. I’ve made this Instant Pot pulled pork countless times since we first posted this in 2020 and my family loves it so much — especially since it’s so versatile. We’ve eaten it on a bun, in a bowl, as nachos, the list goes on! The end result of this pulled pork is similar to if you slow-cooked it low and slow for hours and hours (similar to our slow cooker pulled pork), but it truly takes a fraction of the time. Our famous pork dry rub is used for a base flavor and then it’s slathered in bbq sauce.
What is the best cut of meat to use for pulled pork?
First things first, let’s chat about what cut of pork you need for this recipe! Like our Instant Pot Carnitas, this recipe calls for a boneless pork shoulder roast. Make sure you find a roast that is around 2.5 – 3 lbs. The reason why we suggest a pork shoulder roast is because it has a good amount of fat in it, making it the perfect cut of pork to shred. Did you know – a boneless pork shoulder roast is also referred to as a pork butt and Boston butt?!
Can I use a pork tenderloin for this recipe?
Unfortunately, we don’t recommend using a pork tenderloin for this recipe. Pork shoulder is a fattier cut of meat, which allows it to be “shredded.” If you are interested in a delicious pork tenderloin recipe, we recommend trying our Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin!
How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Make this wonderful pulled pork in the Instant Pot in just 6 easy steps! Here’s a quick rundown for yah.
How long do you cook pork in the Instant Pot?
A 3 lb. boneless pork shoulder roast will take around 90 minutes on high with a quick release. Remember that the Instant Pot takes time to build pressure, so it will take around 15 minutes to start counting down from 90. Our cook time might seem a little higher than other recipes on the internet, but that’s because we aren’t huge fans of the natural release. We like to quick-release whenever possible! Furthermore, fattier cuts of pork can’t really be overcooked, so don’t worry! Can you use a bigger roast? Yes, of course, you can! 1. Just make sure it fits in your Instant Pot and 2. Use 90 minutes as a starting point and go from there. You can always check how tender your roast is after 90 minutes and put it back in for longer if it’s not quite there yet. Why won’t my pork pull apart? It is likely that your pork won’t pull apart because it hasn’t cooked long enough. If this is the case, continue cooking your pork shoulder for 5-10 more minutes.
Make this pulled pork your own!
Shredding Size: Shred the pork as big or as little as your heart desires. BBQ Sauce: Hoping to keep this gluten-free or keto? Use your favorite BBQ sauce that suits your needs. Remember, that this pork will take on the flavor of the BBQ sauce you use, so make sure it’s a good one! Here are our favs:
Annie’s Original BBQ Sauce Homemade BBQ Sauce (Fit Foodie’s signature recipe!) Target’s Good and Gather Honey BBQ Sauce
Amount of BBQ Sauce: Love it nice and saucy? Add more BBQ sauce than we suggest? Or, take it to the other extreme and don’t use BBQ sauce at all!
How to Serve Instant Pot Shredded Pork
Get creative with your IP pulled pork and use it in SO MANY WAYS.
On a bun – channel your inner pulled chicken sandwich and get your favorite bun and serve your pulled pork with some creamy coleslaw. In a meal-prep bowl: we have the most delicious pulled pork meal-prep bowl recipe that this Instant Pot Pulled Pork would go delicious with! As the meat of a taco: instead of adding bbq sauce, eat your pulled pork as tacos! Check out our Instant Pot Pork Carnitas for some inspo. In a lettuce wrap: looking to keep things low carb? Serve this bbq pulled pork in a lettuce wrap! As the base of chili – instead of mixing in bbq sauce at the end, simply use the pulled pork for the meat in chili. Check out the flavors in our Instant Pot Pork Chili. In a burrito: whether you’re craving a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs or a Mexican burrito with rice and beans, this pressure cooker pulled pork would be such a filling!
Storage
Store pulled pork in an air-tight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
Pulled Pork Recipes
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Pulled Pork Carnitas Smoked Pulled Pork Tacos Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder
Reheat: reheat in the microwave on high or pan fry on the stovetop.
Instant Pot Pork Recipes
Instant Pot Pork Roast Instant Pork Carnitas Instant Pot Pork Chops Instant Pot Pork Chili Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
