Instant Pot Pulled Pork (+Video)
Instant Pot Pulled Pork BBQ starts with a delicious rub and comes out so tender! Make this easy pulled pork that is perfectly cooked in about an hour!
A FASTER WAY TO MAKE PULLED PORK
Instant Pot Pulled Pork BBQ starts with a delicious rub seasoning and comes out so tender! Make this easy pulled pork using a pork butt or a pork loin and it is guaranteed to become your new favorite instant pot pork recipe. It’s perfectly cooked, tender and shredded in less than an hour! Serve topped with my Southern Cole Slaw for a complete southern pork sandwich.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I like to use a mixture of brown sugar, salt, garlic and onion powder, paprika, chili powder and cayenne powder (don’t worry, it’s not spicy!) It’s the same seasoning recipe I use for my Grilled Pork Ribs!
It adds a bit of sweetness but also helps to tenderize because of the acid and carbonation. Root beer, Dr Pepper and Coca Cola are my favorites to use.
Don’t have an Instant Pot? No problem! I highly recommend that you try out my Crock Pot Pulled Pork.
Although pork shoulder and pork butt come from the same region of the pig, they are actually cut from opposing ends of the shoulder region. Pork shoulder is cut from thinner end of the shoulder and contains slightly less fat. Pork butt, on the other hand, is cut from the thicker end of the shoulder and is meant to be shredded. It is also typically cheaper in cost that the pork shoulder but both can be used for pulled pork.
When purchasing the pork butt, you’ll need to find one that is nice and pink with a good marbling of fat (fat is flavor!) You’ll also need to make sure that it fits into the size of the Instant Pot you own. For this recipe, I am using a 6.5 quart Instant Pot so I purchased a smaller 3 pound pork butt to ensure it fit into my pressure cooker.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- homemade pork seasoning rub
- boneless pork butt (pork shoulder)
- soda (root beer, Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola)
- apple cider vinegar
- your favorite BBQ sauce or Homemade BBQ Sauce
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT PULLED PORK:
First things first, don’t start cooking the meat from cold. Pull the pork butt out of your refrigerator a few hours before you are going to cook it. Then remove any packaging (do this part over the sink since there will be a lot of liquid.) Then, using paper towels, dry off the pork butt. Set aside.
Mix up the seasoning rub. Cook’s Note: This makes a lot of rub so you’ll probably only need half. Just put the other half in a mason jar or Ziploc bag and save for later.
Sprinkle this rub all over your pork shoulder. Make sure to rub it in really well. Cook’s Tip: Want even more flavor? Rub the pork butt, wrap in plastic wrap and stick in the refrigerator over night. Take out a few hours before cooking then continue with directions.
Into the bottom of your electric pressure cooker, pour in your can of soda and apple cider vinegar. Stir together. Then add your seasoned pork butt. If you are using, pour half the bottle of BBQ sauce over the pork butt.
Secure the pressure cooker lid and set the pressure release valve to “SEAL”.
Set on manual high pressure for 60 minutes (you’ll want to estimate abut 20 minutes per pound.) Once the cooking time is finished, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes (most pressure cookers will switch to a keep warm setting and start counting down how long it is on that setting – this is actually naturally releasing the pressure as well.) After 10 minutes, do a quick release.
Remove the meat from the instant pot and shred using two forks (discarding any liquid left in the Instant Pot.) Remove any fatty bits. Add remaining barbecue sauce to the shredded pork and stir.
If you have leftovers, try using it to make Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese or Sheet Pan Pulled Pork Fries.
CRAVING MORE PORK RECIPES? TRY THESE!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork (+Video)
Ingredients
For the seasoning rub:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
For the pork:
- 3 pound boneless pork butt
- 1 can soda (root beer, Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola)
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Pull the pork butt out of your refrigerator a few hours before you are going to cook it. Then remove any packaging (do this part over the sink since there will be a lot of liquid.)
- Using paper towels, dry off the pork butt. Set aside.
- Mix up the seasoning rub. Sprinkle this rub all over your pork shoulder. Make sure to rub it in really well.
- Into the bottom of your electric pressure cooker, pour in your can of soda and apple cider vinegar. Stir together. Then add the seasoned pork butt. Pour half the bottle of BBQ sauce over the pork butt.
- Secure the pressure cooker lid and set the pressure release valve to "SEAL". Set on manual high pressure for 60 minutes. Note: you'll want to estimate abut 15-20 minutes per pound.
- Once the cooking time is finished, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes (most pressure cookers will switch to a keep warm setting and start counting down how long it is on that setting – this is actually naturally releasing the pressure as well.)
- After 10 minutes, do a quick release.
- Remove the meat from the instant pot and shred using two forks (discarding any liquid left in the Instant Pot.) Remove any fatty bits.
- Add remaining barbecue sauce to the shredded pork and stir. Serve on a soft hamburger bun, topped with cole slaw.
Video
Notes
- When purchasing the pork butt, you’ll need to find one that is nice and pink with a good marbling of fat (fat is flavor!). You’ll also need to make sure that it fits into the size of the Instant Pot you own.
- For this recipe, I am using a 6.5 quart Instant Pot so I purchased a smaller 3 lb. pork butt to ensure it fit into my pressure cooker.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Can I use diet root beer, or is it best with regular soda?
Vey good and very easy. I used a 4 pound boston butt cut into 4 pieces. I didn’t have the cayenne pepper or the onion powder but it was good without it. I am new to the Instant Pot having only boiled peanuts in it before, but the directions were easy to follow. This recipe is a keeper.
I did this with a huge [6lb] bone-in shoulder roast in my 8 liter instant-pot. I did it with Dr.P and the only thing I added was a teaspoon of ground coriander to rub. It was one of the most delicious pork roasts I have ever had, no kidding…
This was really easy .. I did 4 lbs. In about an HR and a half…came out amazing..thank you..
Would you up the time if using a bone-in pork butt?
Could you share your cold slaw recipe as well? It looks so good too. I really enjoy your website!
My husband loves loves loves pulled pork and I just recently found a recipe for root beer pulled pork and thought, that sounds fabulous! I just bought an Instant Pot and now, finding your recipe, which includes a root beer choice, I am thrilled! I love that the Instant Pot makes meat so tender in no time….thank you for sharing your recipe!
Woo hoo! Love hearing that!! Thanks so much!
I have only seen very large pork butts at my local grocery store. They are too big to fit in my instant pot. It’s probably a silly question but do I just ask the butcher to cut a smaller portion? Thanks!
Hi Sara! You can go with a boneless pork butt or you can have your butcher trim it down for you. Let him know your dilemma and they can usually figure out a way to cut it down for you without losing all the flavor!
Could I use boneless country style pork ribs instead? I have 4.5# and how long do I cook it?
Can u share the slaw recipe because it looks amazing too!!!
As always, these look scrumptious!! Thanks for sharing!
Hope you love it if you try it!
I had to make this after you posted it yesterday morning – ha! This recipe is legit. I made it exactly as directed and I am so thrilled to have that delicious rub leftover to make more. I think we are all hooked. Delicious. Thanks for another hit, Brandie!
Woo hoo! Yay! So happy it turned out for you Faith! Thanks for coming back to leave your feedback! 🙂
Brandie, I did not know that a pressure cooker and an instant pot were the same appliance! I was going to research and figure out which one I should buy but then I saw your post. lol. Thank you SO much for your support of American farmers! I came back a couple years ago from another viewpoint to appreciating conventional farming.
Thank you SO much for your sweet comment Aileen! This Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker stuff can get confusing – ha! Honestly, it’s taken me a while to get used to it and feel comfortable using it. So, I try to pass on any useful information. Also, I am so glad to hear your thoughts on farming. It is something I am super passionate about and I enjoy talking to people of all points of view about it. If I don’t know the answer – then I go to the experts to get the answer for you! Thanks for taking the time!
INSTANT POT PULLED PORK RECIPE
I don’t have electric pressure cooker. What would be the temperature and time for regular crock pot? thank you.
Hi Lenora! I included links above with the crock pot version. Here it is again for you 🙂 https://www.thecountrycook.net/pulled-pork-slow-cooker/
Wish directions were given for those of us who do not have an Instant Pot
Hey Carolyn! There are two links to a Crock Pot version right up in the post there. Here it is again. 🙂 https://www.thecountrycook.net/pulled-pork-slow-cooker/
Thanks! Can hardly wait to try the recipe.
Oh, YUM! I love me some pulled pork BBQ. Thank you Brandie for sharing this recipe.
Claudine in Fort Worth, TX
Thanks so much Claudine! Hope you love it!