The Best Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork

As much as slow cooker pulled pork is worth the wait, some weeknight dinners call for a quicker option that’s just as hands-free. My Instant Pot pulled pork recipe delivers tenderized, sweet-and-smoky BBQ pulled pork in just 45 minutes. I make this shredded pork recipe with succulent pork shoulder, store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce, and a few pantry-friendly spices.

Once cooked, the pork is perfectly juicy, full of flavor, and easy to shred with very little effort on my part. It’s delicious stuffed into pulled pork sandwiches, but I just know you’re going to find all sorts of ways to enjoy this easy Instant Pot pulled pork, whether it’s for meal prep, game day food, or otherwise!

Everything You Want In an Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

• Juicy pork in a fraction of the time. This Instant Pot pork becomes fall-apart-tender without spending hours in the oven or slow cooker. Even though it definitely tastes like it simmered all day!
• Traditional BBQ taste. It still has all the same sweet, savory, smoky depth of flavor that you love in barbecue recipes like crockpot BBQ chicken.
• Crowd-friendly and perfect for meal prep. BBQ pulled pork stores well and freezes like a dream. It’s great for party planning and makes delicious leftovers for reheating during busy weeks.
• Endless serving ideas. From pulled pork sandwiches to nachos and mac and cheese, this easy pressure cooker pulled pork comes with so many ways to serve it! I also love using leftovers to make pulled pork loaded fries or piling them onto baked potatoes.

What You’ll Need

• Pork shoulder – One 3-4 pound boneless pork shoulder with the fat trimmed off.
• Seasonings – I make a simple pork seasoning blend with garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Olive oil – For searing. Feel free to use your preferred oil.
• BBQ sauce – Use your favorite, whether you like it sweet, spicy, or tangy. I love Stubb’s Original as far as bottle, but this bourbon BBQ sauce is great if you want to use a homemade sauce.
• Brown sugar – You could also use granulated sugar or honey.
• Apple cider vinegar – To brighten the flavors. White or red wine vinegar also works.
• Broth – The Instant Pot requires liquid in order to avoid throwing a burn notice. I use low-sodium chicken broth.

How to Make BBQ Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot

This has quickly become my go-to method for making pulled pork whenever a last-minute craving strikes. I can load everything into the Instant Pot, hit cook, and let the pressure cooker setting work its magic. This pulled pork recipe turns what’s usually an all-day affair into a quick, 45-minute dinner:

• Season the pork. First, mix salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and oregano. Rub the seasoning mix all over the pork.
• Brown the pork. Next, add olive oil to the Instant Pot and set it to Sauté. Once the oil has heated, add the pork and sear on all sides, about 3-5 minutes per side.

• Prepare the sauce. Meanwhile, mix the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Reserve half a cup of the sauce for later and pour the rest of it over the pork.
• Cook. Lastly, add the chicken broth to the Instant Pot. Then, set it to Pressure Cook on High for 45 minutes.

• Release the pressure. When the cooking time is up, do a natural release for 10 minutes, then turn valve to the vent position. Once the float valve has dropped, remove the lid.
• Shred the pork. Now, transfer the pork to a bowl and use two forks to shred it into small chunks (optionally, you can then transfer the shredded BBQ pork to a baking sheet and broil it for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown, like you would for Mexican pork carnitas).
• Toss with sauce. Finally, add the reserved BBQ sauce to the pulled pork and mix to combine.

Expert Tips

Now that we’ve gone over the recipe steps, take note of these helpful hints and tips for making this easy pressure cooker dinner.

• Broil the pork for crispy edges. I love sticking the freshly shredded pork under the broiler. Just 8-10 minutes enhances the flavor of the meat and adds crispiness.
• Naturally release the pressure. For slow-cooked dishes like pulled pork, I always recommend doing a natural pressure release rather than a quick release. This helps all the yummy flavors set in and intensify.
• Use pork shoulder or butt. Try to avoid using a cut of pork leaner than shoulder or butt. The higher fat content makes everything as meltingly tender as possible!

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay good for up to 3 days. It can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave.
• Reheat. You can also reheat it in the Instant Pot by selecting a high pressure cook time of 0 minutes. By the time the Instant Pot comes to pressure, the pork will be nice and toasty!
• Freeze. Pulled pork freezes well, if stored properly. Keep it in an airtight container with minimal extra space to avoid freezer burn. Alternatively, you can store it in a sealed plastic freezer bag with all the air squeezed out. Enjoy frozen pulled pork within 2 months and thaw it out in the fridge before reheating.

Make It a Meal

Instant Pot pulled pork is delicious served in salads, tacos, wraps, sandwiches and more! Imake sliders with gluten-free buttermilk biscuits or gluten-free Hawaiian rolls.

• Pulled pork sandwiches: Pile your pulled pork on gluten-free hamburger buns or make them grinder-style on gluten-free hot dog buns.
• Potato salad: Planning a barbecue or potluck? A big bowl of creamy potato salad is classic!
• Salad: I love this mayo-free apple broccoli salad. Pork and apples are such a perfect combo.
• Coleslaw: You can never go wrong with classic coleslaw and smoky pulled pork.

More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

• Instant Pot Pulled Chicken
• Instant Pot Ground Beef Tacos
• Barbecue Beef
• Instant Pot Ribs
• Instant Pot Orange Chicken