1-hour Instant Pot Pulled Pork is so fall-apart juicy, tender, it tastes like it cooked all day! It makes the best Pulled Pork Sliders for game days and celebrations.
This Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is a relatively quick way to cook pork butt or shoulder and end up with juicy, tender, mouthwatering pulled pork in about an hour. The pressure cooker makes the pork turn out as juicy and tender as it would if was slow cooked, smoked, braised, or roasted. The Instant Pot makes a generally tough, inexpensive cut of meat like taste and feel like it cooked all day!
Instant pot pulled pork recipe ingredients
- oil - use any neutral cooking oil
- bone-in or boneless pork shoulder or pork butt
- kosher salt - or sea salt
- smoked paprika - or classic paprika
- garlic powder
- black pepper
- chicken broth - or preferred cooking liquid
- Worcestershire sauce
What’s the best pork for pulled pork?
Pork butt and pork shoulder are commonly used for pulled pork, but they’re not to be confused as the same cut.
Pork butt (also called Boston Butt) has more fat marbling through the meat than pork shoulder. The marbled fat renders as it cooks, tenderizing the protein, giving it that fall-apart, melt-in-your-mouth, juicy shredded pork.
The less fat-marbled pork shoulder (picnic shoulder) will absolutely work for a pulled pork recipe. It's a leaner cut since it's less marbled with fat, which could make it a tougher cut that may not fall apart as easily as pork butt.
How to season pulled pork for the Instant Pot
Pressure cooker pulled pork seasoning is so...personal. You can keep it super minimal with salt and pepper, or add your favorite rub. You could go spicy or sweet, or go regional with Asian, Mexican, Cuban flavors …the sky really is the limit!
The rub for this Instant Pot pulled pork consists of paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. There's NO sugar and it’s not spicy at all, so it’s family-friendly and super versatile to use any way you like.
More GAME DAY RECIPES from Kitchen Girl
How to make Instant Pot pulled pork
Pulled pork is super easy to make and the Instant Pot makes it even easier! It's ultimately hands-free and turns out the juiciest, crowd-pleasing pot of delicious grub in 6 simple steps.
- cut - trim some of the surface fat from the pork butt or shoulder and cut the larger piece into smaller chunks (about 1 lb each) for easier handling during the process.
- season - first salt, then the seasoning rub 30 minutes - 24 hours in advance
- sear - this builds flavor and texture. It's not required, but I do recommend it.
- deglaze the pot - add the liquids to the pot and scrape the beautiful brown bits off the bottom (also called deglazing and it make "liquid gold").
- pressure cook - 45 min pressure cook with 15 min natural pressure release (NPR).
- pull - use two forks to pull pork into smaller pieces.
Pork roast pressure cooker time per pound
According to the Instant Pot cooking time chart, pork roast gets 15 minutes of pressure cook time per pound. My recipe uses 3 lbs of pork and pressure cooks for 45 minutes, which yields perfectly cooked, delectable pork that melts in your mouth.
Creative ways to enjoy Instant Pot pulled pork
- as a topping for nachos, tacos, enchiladas, or poutine
- alongside our cheesy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- piled up on Pulled Pork Sliders with bbq sauce, coleslaw, pickles, and fried onions
What to serve with pulled pork
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Garlicky Roasted Mushrooms
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Smashed Potatoes Recipe
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Classic Potato Salad
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
- Macaroni Salad
More easy pork recipes
Tools needed
- mixing bowl
- 6 quart Instant Pot
- tongs
- baking sheet or platter and two forks (to pull the pork)
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Oil
- 3 lbs Boneless Pork Butt (or shoulder), cut to fit into the cooker
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 ½ cups Chicken Broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
RECIPE VIDEO
Equipment
- serving platter
- two forks or other utensils (to pull the pork)
Instructions
- Add OIL to the Instant Pot and press “Saute”.
- Sprinkle SALT on both sides of the PORK.
- Combine PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, and BLACK PEPPER, then rub into the PORK until well-coated.
- When the display reads “Hot”, sear both sides of PORK pieces and transfer to a plate.
- Pour CHICKEN BROTH and WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE into the pot, scraping the browned bits off the bottom to deglaze.
- Add the seared PORK pieces back to the cooker, secure the lid, and press “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” on HIGH for 45 minutes.
- When pressure cook cycle is done, allow a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). Flip the pressure valve to the "venting" position and release any remaining steam.
- Transfer pork to a plate or tray. Use two forks to pull the pork into smaller pieces.
Pulled Pork Serving and Storage Instructions
- Serve warm scooped onto sliders or sandwiches, nachos, tacos, pasta, you name it!
- Refrigerate pulled pork in an airtight container up to 5 days or freeze up to 90 days.
- Reheat pulled pork via microwave by placing it in a heat-safe dish and reheat on medium-high in one minute intervals until warmed through.
Recipe Notes from TKG
Pork butt and pork shoulder are commonly used for pulled pork, but they’re technically not the same cut. Pork butt (also called Boston Butt) has more fat marbling (which tends to make it juicier) while pork shoulder (picnic shoulder) has less fat marbling, so it's a leaner cut and is still delicious, but may not "fall apart" in the same way. Pork roast pressure cooker time per pound According to the Instant Pot cooking time chart, pork roast gets 15 minutes of pressure cook time per pound. My recipe uses 3 lbs of pork and pressure cooks for 45 minutes, which yields perfectly cooked, delectable pork that melts in your mouth. How to serve Instant Pot pulled pork
- as a topping for nachos, tacos, enchiladas, or poutine
- alongside our cheesy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- piled up on Pulled Pork Sliders
-
- homemade bbq sauce
- coleslaw
- homemade pickles
- fried onions
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Lisette says
We love this recipe. I've made it twice now. Tonight we had it on poutine with fried onions, mushrooms and peppers. Next time, we will have it on a baked sweet potato. My husband loves it in sandwiches.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayyy Lisette! So glad to hear it 🙂 Pulled pork on poutine = decadence! I'm simply honored Thank you!
Jeff says
Hands dowwwn one of the best recipes we've made in the Instant Pot Makes the best tacos, sandwiches, mac and cheese, and delicious straight outta the pot with a fork. Will make again and again!
The Kitchen Girl says
I'm so glad you love this pulled pork as much as I do! I can't decide which one of those things I like the best. Whichever one I'm eating at the time...that's my favorite
Lisalia says
Yummy! Love it! Thanks for this delicious and easy to make pulled pork!
The Kitchen Girl says
You're so welcome, Lisalia! Thanks and enjoy 🙂
Nathan says
Wow, fantastic! Huge fan of pulled pork and I love the convenience of doing it in an instant pot!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Nathan! Glad you love pulled pork too 🙂 So easy in the Instant Pot!
Cate says
These sound so simple and delicious, thanks for this recipe can't wait to try it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Cate...enjoy!
Dannii says
This looks amazing. Perfect in a sandwich with loads of slaw.
The Kitchen Girl says
Glad to hear it, Dannii! We love pulled pork with slaw too! And BBQ sauce
veenaazmanov says
This is so well cooked. Moist and juicy and truly mouth melting and flavorful.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay Veena! So glad to hear it! Instant Pot Pulled Pork is the juiciest way to cook it
Michelle says
Love it! Super easy to make, and there's so many uses for it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Michelle! Glad to hear it 🙂 And yes, soooo many great ways to use pulled pork!
Katie says
This looks wonderful!! Can't wait to try it.
The Kitchen Girl says
Glad you think so, Katie! Enjoy 🙂
Sharon says
Making this pork recipe in the instant pot is the key to making it so tender it just falls apart. Perfect for sandwiches or on it's own.
The Kitchen Girl says
Sharon ... yusssss! Thank you 🙂 It truly is my favorite way to make pulled pork, especially because it's basically hands-free!
Toni Dash says
A new favorite at my house! Everyone loved it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayy! So glad to hear it Toni 🙂 It's a fav at our house too!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Thank you for the recipe, it was absolutely delicious and we all loved it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay Shadi! You're so welcome ... so glad to hear it 🙂