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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Instant Pot Pork

    Instant Pot Pulled Pork

    Published: Apr 30, 2020 · Modified: Jan 28, 2021 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. 28 Comments

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    Instant Pot Pulled Pork is tender and flavorful pork shoulder (also called butt or Boston butt) cooked up quickly in your electric pressure cooker. The pork meat comes out fall-apart tender and makes amazing BBQ pulled pork sandwiches or tacos. It will become your families favorite Instant Pot Pork Recipe!

    BBQ Pulled pork in a white bowl

    This is a complete guide to making pulled pork in your Instant Pot– everything from which cut of pork to buy, and how much to buy, to trimming, seasoning and cooking!

    If you have a pork butt but want to use it in other ways, check out these two recipes: Instant Pot Carnitas or Instant Pot Pork Roast.

    Also, if you love BBQ in your Instant Pot definitely make these Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs or Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken!! You will not regret it!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 Is it Pork Butt or Pork Shoulder
    2 How Much Pork to Buy for Serving
    3 How to Make Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot
    4 Doubling the Recipe
    5 Pulling Your Pork
    6 Serving Pulled Pork
    7 Storing
    8 Other Great Instant Pot Recipes
    9 Did you make this recipe?!
    10 Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

    Is it Pork Butt or Pork Shoulder

    So what do your buy at the store to make pulled pork:

    • pork butt
    • pork shoulder
    • Boston butt
    • Bone-in or boneless

    Buying any of these options will result in the same flavorful pulled pork. Butt, shoulder and Boston butt are pretty much the same thing.

    Fresh raw pork butt, also known as a pork shoulder or boston butt
    Pork Butt, also known as a pork shoulder or Boston butt

    All three are actually cut from the shoulder, hence “pork shoulder”. The pork “butt”, also known as Boston butt, comes from the same area but is a little higher on the foreleg.

    Buying boneless or bone-in is up to you. Both will cook perfectly fine in your Instant Pot. Since you will be cutting the pork butt into cubes, you could cut the bone out if you prefer, but it is not totally necessary.

    How Much Pork to Buy for Serving

    If you are planning on feeding a crowd or just a couple people it is important to know how many pounds of pork to buy. They can vary anywhere from 3 lbs up to 18 lbs.

    The best way to calculate is 3 people (adults) per pound of raw pork.

    How to Make Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot

    We are going to start by trimming the pork butt. Since we are not cooking “low and slow”, like in smoking pork butt, the fat will not render all the way down. The last thing you want in your pulled pork is a big chunk of jiggly fat. Gross.

    Trim as much of the white fat that you can from the outside of the butt. Then cut the meat down into 3 inch chunks.

    If you come across more fat or connective tissue within the meat, cut that out as well.

    raw pork butt
    fat trimmed from the pork butt
    pork butt (or pork shoulder) cut into 3 inch chunks

    In a small bowl mix together your dry rub seasoning. Coat the pork butt pieces completely with all of the seasoning.

    dry rub seasoning for instant pot pulled pork
    fresh pork shoulder cut into chunks and seasoned with dry rub

    Pour 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar into the Instant Pot. This will add flavor to the pork during cooking!

    Optionally place the metal trivet over the liquid. Put the seasoned pork pieces on the trivet or you can place the pork right down in the liquid.

    cooking liquid in instant pot
    cooking liquid and trivet in instant pot
    pork shoulder or butt pieces in the instant pot

    Close the pot and set to cook for 40 minutes.

    Do a natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure.

    cooked pork shoulder in the instant pot

    Doubling the Recipe

    A question I get often is “if I double the pulled pork recipe do I double the cooking time?”. The answer in this case is no.

    Since you are cutting the pork into equal 2-3 inch pieces they will all cook within the 40 minute cook time. No need to add time.

    Just make sure you do not over fill your Instant Pot above the “max fill line” that is marked on the inside of your pot.

    Pulling Your Pork

    Now you will want to “pull” your pork, which is another way of saying shred the pork.

    pulled pork on a baking sheet

    Since the meat will be so tender it is easy to do with two forks. Placing them in the center of a piece of meat and pulling it apart.

    Another easy way to shred meat (this works especially well with chicken) is by using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. That makes really quick work of shredding!! Just make sure you do it while the pork is still warm and only run the mixer for about 30 seconds.

    Serving Pulled Pork

    We like to eat our Instant Pot Pulled Pork on buns with some KC Style BBQ sauce and coleslaw. It also makes amazing tacos or grilled cheeses.

    Pulled pork tossed with bbq sauce

    This Instant Pot Potato Salad and Instant Pot Corn on the Cob make killer side dishes for pulled pork sandwiches!

    Storing

    Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    You can freeze leftover pulled pork very easily!! Place the cooled pork in a freezer safe bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing in 2 cup portions.

    Other Great Instant Pot Recipes

    If you love using your Instant Pot, here are some more amazing recipes to check out for your next dinner!

    • Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Beef
    • Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice (Crock Pot too!)
    • 30 Minute Instant Pot Chicken Chili
    • Instant Pot Italian Beef
    • Instant Pot Beef Pot Roast – Complete Guide
    • Instant Pot Beef Ragu
    • Creamy & Flavorful Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    Instant Pot pulled pork in a white bowl

    Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

    Instant Pot Pulled Pork is tender and flavorful pork shoulder (also called butt or Boston butt) cooked up quickly in your electric pressure cooker. The pork meat comes out fall-apart tender and makes amazing BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.
    LISTEN TO THE AUDIO RECIPE WITH THE PLAYER BELOW.
    4.67 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Pressure and Release Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 323kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients

    Pork and Cooking Liquid

    • 3-5 lb. fresh pork butt (also called pork shoulder or boston butt)
    • 1 cup water or chicken broth
    • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider

    Dry Rub Seasoning

    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
    • 1 ½ tablespoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon dry mustard

    Serving as Pulled Pork Sandwiches

    • favorite BBQ sauce
    • buns
    • optional: coleslaw and pickles
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    Instructions

    • Start by mixing the dry rub.
      In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon dry mustard.
      Stir it together so there are no clumps remaining. Set aside.
    • Trim and cut your pork butt.
      With a sharp knife trim most of the white fat or connective tissue from the pork butt. Cut the whole butt into 3 inch chunks.
      As you cut it open if you find more areas of fat, remove those too.
      pork butt (or pork shoulder) cut into 3 inch chunks
    • Season the pork.
      Sprinkle and press the dry rub on all sides of the cut pork.
    • Pour the cooking liquid in the Instant Pot.
      Add 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to the pot. Optionally place the trivet over the liquid.
    • Add the seasoned pork to the Instant Pot.
      Place all the seasoned pork pieces in the pot (in the liquid or on the trivet)
    • Close the lid and set to cook
      Pop the lid on your IP and turn the pressure valve to seal. Set to cook for 40 minutes.
      Do a 10 minute natural release and then release any remaining pressure with a quick release.
    • Shred and serve!
      Remove the pork from the pot, discard the liquid (or you can use some to pour over your pork if you like)
      Take two forks and shred the pork. Mix with your favorite BBQ sauce and serve on buns or tacos or pizza or nachos!!
      shredded pork

    Notes:

    SERVING: Plan 3- people (adults) per 1 pound of pulled pork.
    STORING: Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    You can also freeze leftovers in freezer baggies for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing in 2-3 cup portions.
    PORK ROAST: If you have a pork butt (shoulder) and want to make Pork Roast, check out this post for Instant Pot Pork Roast with Veggies & Gravy
    DOUBLING THE RECIPE: If you have a larger pork butt or want to use two, you do not need to double the cooking time. Since you are cutting the pork into equal 3 inch pieces it will cook in 40 minutes. 
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments
    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1935mg | Potassium: 821mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tanya

      December 10, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful. Great recipe.

      Reply
    2. Jane

      July 17, 2022 at 10:01 am

      5 stars
      This recipe for pork shoulder in the Instant Pot came out amazing! It was absolutely delicious, quick and easy and we just put it on Kings Hawaiian buns with sweet baby Ray’s barbecue sauce. It was epic and is a repeat winner! Thank you for turning me onto this!!

      Reply
    3. Robin

      March 30, 2022 at 10:08 am

      I have used this recipe many times. But each time I am confused on the time to cook it. I’m using a large instapot, usually 7-8 lbs pork butt. Basically Double recipe. But – should I increase cook time. Is there a “rule of thumb” per lbs – for a roast that is cut in chunks?

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        March 30, 2022 at 10:49 am

        Since you are cutting the larger cut of pork into smaller pieces you can just use the standard cook time of 40 minutes, plus a 10 minute natural release. If you left the pork in one large piece, like this Instant Pot Pork Roast, then you would need to increase your cook time based on the pounds.
        Even if you use 7-8#’s of pork, as long as you are cutting it into smaller 3-4 inch pieces you can use the 40 minutes cook time.

        Reply
        • Robin

          March 30, 2022 at 11:17 am

          Thank you!
          Would also relate to similar recipes suck as chicken breast and beef assuming I am using smaller pieces like this?

          Again – thank you for your recipes – I have never had a fail!

        • Tanya

          December 10, 2022 at 2:22 pm

          Hello Susie,

          I’ve made your recipe a few times now. Everytime it has been wonderful. This time I don’t have apple cider. Is it okay to skip?

        • Susie Weinrich

          December 10, 2022 at 3:11 pm

          Definitely! It will still be delish

    4. Frankc

      October 16, 2021 at 5:25 pm

      Didn’t work for me. Pork came out tough as hell.

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        October 18, 2021 at 8:54 am

        What kind of pork did you use? It should have been fall apart tender and definitely not dry.

        Reply
      • El

        November 28, 2021 at 4:45 am

        Often if that happens it just wasn’t in for long enough. I’d switch my instant pot over to slow cook and leave it for another six hours or overnight!

        Reply
    5. valeria

      September 04, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe a couple of times. It is my recipe to go to for pulled pork. Thank you so much. It all makes sense and very flavorful. I’ve made it for 4th of July, and this weekend for labor day. 🙂

      Reply
    6. Brianna Scott

      August 10, 2021 at 1:48 pm

      How would you reheat leftovers that have been frozen? I was thinking the oven? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        August 11, 2021 at 10:37 am

        You can absolutely reheat it in the oven. Pop the frozen pork in a baking dish and cover with foil. Warm at 350 until heated through, time will depend on how it is frozen. If it is frozen in individual shreds it will take less time than if it is in one block.

        Reply
        • C James

          October 09, 2021 at 6:58 pm

          What setting do I put my IP on? Stew, slow cooker?

        • Susie Weinrich

          October 10, 2021 at 11:51 am

          You will use the “pressure” or “manual” setting, you can also use the meat setting. All will work.

    7. Clare

      July 29, 2021 at 9:26 am

      I was planning on making this tonight for my family! But I just noticed the trivet that’s needed in the instant pot. I do not have the trivet – will that make a big difference in the recipe/outcome?

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        July 31, 2021 at 8:50 pm

        It will still work just fine without it!!

        Reply
    8. Clare

      July 26, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      Can I use this recipe and slow cook the pork instead? Sometimes it’s easy to set it and forget it in the morning!

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        July 31, 2021 at 8:46 pm

        Sure… I think for about 4 lbs of pork shoulder you should cook on low for 8 hours.

        Reply
    9. Robin

      June 14, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      Took a tad bit longer to cook, but it was good and moist. Yummy bbq sandwiches and wraps! Served with pineapple coleslaw.

      Reply
    10. Daniel

      February 13, 2021 at 11:51 pm

      I disagree with the time pwr pounds! Had an 8 pound pork butt cooked for 2 hours and mostly the center was tough and rubbery!

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        February 14, 2021 at 8:35 am

        I am so sorry that happened. Did you cut it into a couple smaller pieces?

        Reply
        • Jeannette Arras

          January 27, 2022 at 5:05 pm

          2 stars
          Mine was froze and I cut in half an hour later still tough . Put it back on . I wish I had read the responses first

    11. Katrina

      January 16, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      Can I use this recipe with a bone in pork shoulder

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        January 16, 2021 at 9:21 pm

        Absolutely! You can cut the meat off of the bone or cut around the bone and still put the bone in with the larger pork chunks.

        Reply
    12. Maddie

      December 26, 2020 at 9:23 am

      5 stars
      This was the first recipe I made in my Instant Pot and it turned out perfectly! We made pulled pork sandwiches (and nachos with the leftovers). Thank you for the complete guide!

      Reply
    13. Amber

      December 02, 2020 at 3:12 pm

      What pressure setting do you use? I am going to try high, I hope that is correct.

      Reply
      • Susie

        December 02, 2020 at 6:37 pm

        Yes! You are correct.

        Reply

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