A Note On Cooking Liquids
My favorite cooking liquid for pulled pork is beef broth.
- I prefer using broth instead of Instant pot pulled pork with Dr. Pepper, Coke, or other sodas. While pop is popular, as with bottled sauces, it makes the pork much higher in sugar than is needed.
- Instead, I rub the pork liberally with spices. Once its shredded, I reduce its cooking juices to create a sauce, then sweeten it to taste with pure maple syrup and molasses. The flavor is better, and its better for you too!
- I do not recommend bottled barbecue sauce as a cooking liquid for Instant Pot pulled pork, as thick, sugary, tomato-based products can trigger a BURN warning .
Best Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork is one of the most frequent meals I make in my Instant Pot. First, its super easy to make, full of flavor and it can be served in so many ways. I love a juicy and tender pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw. This recipe has been perfected to be your go-to when you need a delicious pulled pork sandwich.
This instant pot pulled pork recipe uses basic ingredients and can be changed to fit your familys tastes. For example, if you like spicy food, you can add some extra chili powder, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes. And if you want it sweeter, you can add some granulated sugar or honey.
This pork recipe is one of the best ways to use pork shoulder, but you can also use a different cut of meat. In fact, you could also make pulled beef using sirloin, chuck roast, or brisket. In addition, why not use chicken stock instead of beer, soda, or water to make the sauce?
Seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and chili powder, this pulled pork has the right balance of sweet, and savory with just a touch of heat. So good, I just cant have only one sandwich! This is the perfect recipe to make if you are short on time, but want the same delicious flavor of slow-cooked pulled pork.
When Should I Make Pulled Pork
Our Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork is perfect for:
- Quick and easy family dinnerdads and kids alike will rave about this flavorful pulled pork.
- Feeding a crowdhave a houseful of hungry teens or have your neighbors over for dinner? This easy recipe is just right!
Tasty meal after a long daymany of our readers work full time and just need something they can make without much effort. The best thing is this recipe is perfect for such an occasion that can reduce cooking time. Additionally and the meat freezes well in Ziploc bags.
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Start With A Good Rub
Our pulled pork will be getting its flavor start by applying a rub. We use simple ingredients that include brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, ground mustard, salt, pepper and a dash of cayenne. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and add the pieces of pork. Use your hands and toss it all together for a couple of minutes. Make sure that seasoning mixture is well incorporated into the meat.
Tips From The Pillsbury Kitchens
- tip 1 This pulled pork works well stuffed into tacos or pitas, served over rice or mashed potatoes, or piled on buns.
- tip 2 Cutting the pork in several large pieces allows the meat to cook quickly and evenly in the pressure cooker.
- tip 3 This pulled pork is super-versatile! Serve it on its own piled on buns or use it to add big flavor to your favorite tacos and mashed potatoes.
- tip 4 Cutting your pork shoulder into several pieces, rather than placing in the multicooker whole, ensures the meat cooks evenly and quickly.
- tip 5 When releasing pressure naturally, its always a good idea to set the pressure valve to VENTING after the float valve drops down, just to be sure all of the pressure has been released.
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Pork Butt Or Boston Butt Or Pork Shoulder
They’re all the same cuts of meat. I’ve heard the name “pork butt” comes because it is the part of the shoulder that “butts” up against the body of the pig. At least, that’s what I’ve heard – sources differ on the internet. No matter where the names came from, pork butt, Boston butt, and pork shoulder all refer to the same cut of meat, and all will work in this recipe.
What is liquid smoke?
Liquid Smoke is made by burning wood in a low-oxygen environment and distilling the water vapor that is produced. That’s right liquid smoke is actually condensed wood smoke. It’s a side effect of making charcoal, and “wood vinegar,” as everyone else calls it, has been around for centuries.
It’s optional in this recipe, but I like the extra depth of flavor when I add just a little of it to the water before cooking.
How Do You Make Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is a very simple dish to make at home, and there are a few ways to make it even more quick and easy.
Pulled pork recipes start with basic seasonings that you probably already have at home. I like to use a mixture of brown sugar, salt, garlic and onion powder, paprika, pepper, and cumin.
Once you have seasoned your meat, you will mix up your wet ingredients. I prefer to use broth over water for added flavor. Use your favorite type of barbecue sauce, and then a bit of apple cider vinegar. The vinegar not only adds great flavor, but, the acid helps to tenderize the meat as it cooks!
After you have seasoned your meat, and mixed up your wet ingredients it’s time to get cooking!
This recipe, in particular, is for the Instant Pot. If you don’t have an instant pot, I highly recommend that you try out my Crockpot Bourbon Bacon Pulled Pork and you can find the recipe for that right HERE.
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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 its a good one! Here are our favs:
Amount of BBQ Sauce: Love it nice and saucy? Add more BBQ sauce than we suggest? Or, take it to the other extreme and dont use BBQ sauce at all!
Can You Freeze Pulled Pork
I mentioned this earlier so you already know you can freeze pulled pork. Freezing excess Instant Pot pulled pork makes for delicious future meals. It will last for up to 8 months in the freezer. Awesome, right??
As for how to freeze pulled pork, its super easy. All you have to do is
- transfer the pulled pork to freezer-safe meal prep containers or Ziploc or re-usable freezer-safe bags
- leave a little bit of space at the top of the container or freezer bag because pulled pork extends while frozen
- place the airtight containers or Ziploc bags in the freezer.
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Making Easy Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork In An Instant Pot
An Insta Pot is one of the most popular brands of electric pressure cookers. They are easy to use and your Instant Pot can help you create these delicious Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork!
Since this is such an easy recipe, Ive gotten a number of repeat questions over the years. Heres what you need to know:
Can You Freeze Leftover Instant Pot Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
Yes. Take what you wont eat and allow it to cool down a bit, and then transfer into a freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to two months in the freezer.
When you are ready to serve, thaw, and then reheat in a pan on the stove. You might need to add more sauce to help freshen it up, and then serve as you would like, whether a bun or topped on fries.
I think if you are a fan of bbq and love pulled pork, this recipe will be right up your alley! Let me know what you all think in the comments below.
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How To Make Instant Pot Black Beans + 4 Easy Instant Pot Black Beans Recipes
The texture and flavor of homemade black beans dont compare with canned black beans you can buy from the grocery store. So learn How To Make Instant Pot Black Beans.
And discover 4 Easy Instant Pot Black Beans Recipes: plain black beans, Cuban black beans, refried black beans, and black beans with rice. Get the recipes.
How Do I Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork
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What If I Dont Have Dr Pepper
If you dont have a can of Dr. Pepper on hand, no worries! You can exchange the Dr. Pepper in this recipe with Coke or Root Beer. You could even try Cherry Coke.
The soda tenderizes the meat while adding flavor. Adding the soda helps make a tasty meat that falls apart and stays moist.
The soda also serves as the liquid you need for your Instant Pot to come to pressure. Dont worry about needing to add any extra water.
How To Turn This Into A Freezer Meal:
Place roast, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, Dr. Pepper, and BBQ sauce into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 60 days.
When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup of beef broth or water in with the frozen food as cooking liquid.
Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 90-100 minutes .
Do a NATURAL RELEASE when the timer is done I even like to let it sit in the Instant Pot for a few hours so that it falls apart so easily on the bottom of the pot. Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
Looking for more freezer meals just like this? Click here for our top 100 Instant Pot Freezer Meals!
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Instant Pot Barbacoa Tacos With Salsa Verde
Last but by no means least, we have these Instant Pot Barbacoa Tacos with Salsa Verde.
Made with shredded barbacoa beef and a delicious homemade salsa verde, these Instant Pot Tacos are perfect for Taco Tuesday dinners. Get the recipe.
This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork In The Slow Cooker
A slow, but successful way to reheat pulled pork is to use your slow cooker. Yes, it takes a few hours but the pulled pork is delicious and exactly how it was before you stored it in the fridge or freezer. It will take 2-4 hours but the pulled pork will be perfectly heated through and tasty as can be. Heres how to do it:
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Watch How To Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Check out our Youtube Channel. We will show you how to make this Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork.
Each recipe on our channel and blog is tried and true, so you know they will be tasty.
We take you through each recipe, step by step, and show you exactly how to make it. Watch how to make this delicious Instant Pot Smoky Pulled Pork, here.
Ingredients For Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Pork The best cut of meat is either a boneless shoulder roast or butt roast. Other cuts of meat to look for are blade roast, pork butt, or Boston butt. We prefer more marbled pork roast over pork loin for both flavor and texture.
Frozen pork can be used as long as it is cut before freezing. Skip the searing in step 2 and add 5-7 minutes to the cooking time.
Seasoning Pre-made pork rub will work in a pinch, but the easy pork rub in the recipe is next-level and uses spices you likely have on hand!
Liquid Youll need a bit of liquid to create pressure. We love the subtle flavor of root beer adds . Dr. Pepper or cola will work too! Dont have soda? Use chicken broth, water, or apple juice in place.
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Easy Instant Pot Bbq Pulled Pork Tenderloin
This easy pulled pork tenderloin recipe comes together quickly in the Instant Pot. Use my flavorful Kansas City style pulled pork rub to season the meat. This meal cooks in only 45 minutes and the moist, tender Instant Pot pulled pork tenderloin shreds easily with a fork. Youll want this classic BBQ on sandwiches, in tacos or even tucked into lettuce wraps for a healthier pulled pork dinner.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork In The Oven
If you dont want to wait 2-4 hours, you can reheat pulled pork in the oven. Here are the steps:
You can also always reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
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How To Shred The Meat
The BBQ pork chunks will be very tender, making it simple to shred the meat. You can pull the pork on a large cutting board or in a mixing bowl. I find the mixing bowl to be less messy.
The pork might look a little dry at this point, but dont worry. Were going to fix that next!
The braising liquid from the instant pot is perfect for adding moisture to the bbq pulled pork tenderloin, but before you just ladle it out, you want to thicken it a bit.
Adding a cornstarch slurry will make the braising liquid saucy enough to cling to the pulled pork. Thats what were looking for.
Best Damn Instant Pot Pulled Pork
· Last Modified: August 3, 2021
This is the best damn pulled pork recipe ive ever made. Yes, you read that correctly. And its made in an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker!
Pulled pork is something you always see on those barbecue competition shows where people go to great lengths to prepare and cook with all kinds of methods. Most often, these methods require huge pieces of equipment, lots of space , and a ton of time and commitment to make. Now dont get me wrong, you have an opportunity to sink you teeth into pork thats been cooked this way, its an experience thats simply a festival of flavor youll never forget. Many of the best real BBQ joints will start making their pulled pork days ahead of time and when its ready to eat, people line up. And when these places run out of food for the day, thats it until next time.
In the last couple of years, along comes electric pressure cookers such as the Instant Pot and people go crazy for these things! And theres a reason for that because they open up all new possibilities for making incredible food. Pulled pork is tops on my list of favorite foods to make with an Instant Pot. From start to finish, it can be done in under 2 hours. No kidding!
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How To Reheat Pulled Pork
Heres the tricky part. Many people avoid pulled pork meal prep because reheating pulled pork is problematic, to say the least. Pulled pork tends to dry out when reheated. Sigh. No one wants to lose the tenderness and juiciness of pulled pork. And you dont have to.
Remember when I told you not to throw away the leftover sauce? That leftover sauce is the secret to reheating pulled pork and keeping it tender and juicy.
Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Pressure cook the pork for 60 minutes on high pressure. If you are using pork tenderloin, cook it for 45 minutes on high pressure. When the cook time ends, let the Instant Pot sit for 15 minutes to naturally release most of the pressure. A natural release makes the meat more tender, and the pork will continue to cook during this time.
After 15 minutes, carefully turn the steam valve to venting and allow the rest of the steam and pressure to escape. Carefully open the lid of your Instant Pot and shred the pork. If desired, you can thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry. See the full recipe with ingredients and instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
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