Make this easy pressure cooker pulled pork and use it in tacos, sandwiches, or a pulled pork sandwich with rainbow coleslaw and pineapple to make a truly delicious summer entertaining meal. It's a super versatile meat and recipe!
[This recipe was originally posted in November 2018. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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Table of contents
How will this Instant Pot pulled pork make your life easier?
This pressure cooker pulled pork is so easy. Throw it + salt + an onion + garlic into a pressure cooker/Instant Pot. Let it cook for about 60 minutes, then shred it to make lots of different dishes for the week.
Even though I usually create 1-2 serving recipes, this pulled pork recipe that makes 12-ish servings is a great option, even if you're cooking for one.
Make it and enjoy it in different dishes (ideas below!) throughout the week or freeze for later.
How to enjoy:
- Make it into pulled pork sandwiches. Sandwiches with pressure cooker pulled pork are great with BBQ sauce, this red wine vinegar slaw, and a thick slice of pineapple
- Add it to tacos like these veggie tacos, or make it into a burrito bowl
- Add it to a salad like this grapefruit & avocado salad or this beet & arugula salad.
- Serve with roasted vegetables.
What makes this pulled pork recipe so good?
- Pork shoulder
- White onion
- Garlic
How do I make this Instant Pot pulled pork?
Start making your pressure cooker pulled pork by cutting a 2 lb pork shoulder into 2-3 pieces. Spray bottom of Instant Pot bowl with cooking spray. Place pork pieces in pressure cooker bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Add white onion, garlic, water.
Cover with lid, and set to MEAT/STEW setting and set timer to 40 minutes.
When timer goes off, open valve to quick release steam. Once steam is done releasing, open lid. Check doneness of your pressure cooker pulled pork by gently shredding with your fork, if it shreds easily, it's ready.
Cook 10 more minutes if not.
Transfer meat to a bowl to shred. You can turn the Instant Pot back onto SAUTEE to reduce the sauce, and add to shredded meat. Refrigerate meat or add to a dish to eat immediately.
Substitutions/Tips
- Wipe oil around pressure cooker bowl if you don't use cooking spray.
- Don't brown meat before cooking. I've tried it both ways and didn't notice a difference in the final product.
- Check doneness of meat by shredding with a fork. If meat breaks apart easily, it's done, if not. Reseal lid and cook for another 10+ minutes.
- Other Great Add-ins: Add chiles or carrots and celery for 2 different flavor profiles. Toss your pressure cooker pulled pork in BBQ sauce for a classic dish or add salsa to use in tacos or taco salad.
FAQ
Either works, just make sure to add enough water if you're making pressure cooker pulled pork so it doesn't burn, and remains tender. Making Instant Pot or pressure cooker pulled pork is faster than slow cooker pulled pork.
4-5 lbs of pork shoulder should cook for about 40-50 minutes in a pressure cooker. Cook smaller cuts for less time. Add seasonings and water to it.
No need to brown the meat before cooking it, I feel like the flavor is similar either way.
This pulled pork recipe is great, so are these recipes- Instant Pot (IP) Mushroom Chicken Soup, IP Chicken and Yellow Rice, IP Fish from Frozen, IP Chicken Fried Rice, IP "Boiled Potatoes", IP Lentil Stroganoff, and IP Crispy Chicken Wings.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Onion: Spicy Pickled Onions, Turkey Pumpkin Chili, and Instant Pot Mushroom Chicken Soup.
- Pork Shoulder: cook it all and freeze for later, or divide into smaller portions and freeze for later.
Did you make this pressure cooker pulled pork? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- cutting board
- knife
- tongs
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 2-3 pounds pork shoulder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ whole white onion roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Cut a 2 lb pork shoulder into 2-3 pieces. Spray bottom of Instant Pot bowl with cooking spray. Place pork pieces in pressure cooker bowl, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Add ½ whole white onion (ends chopped off) and 2 cloves of garlic then add 1 cup of water to bowl.
- Cover with lid, and set to MEAT/STEW setting and set timer to 40 minutes.
- When timer goes off, open valve to quick release steam. Once steam is done releasing, open lid.
- Transfer meat to a bowl to shred. You can turn the Instant Pot back onto SAUTEE to reduce the sauce, and add to shredded meat.
- Refrigerate meat or add to a dish to eat immediately.
Notes
- Wipe oil around pressure cooker bowl if you don't use cooking spray.
- Don't brown meat before cooking. I've tried it both ways and didn't notice a difference in the final product.
- Check doneness of meat by shredding with a fork. If meat breaks apart easily, it's done, if not. Reseal lid and cook for another 10+ minutes.
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Tisha says
Love pulled pork! That rainbow coleslaw is gorgeous!!!
Rebecca says
me too! and thanks! it's delicious
Vicky says
I love using my pressure cooker to make pork for tacos and gives me another idea for the shredded pork. I bet the the slaw really gives this a great flavor as well.
Rebecca says
totally! and ahhhh pressure cookers are amazing for shredded pork. sooo amazing
kim says
These look so perfect! I love all of the colors and that you made it in the instant pot.
Rebecca says
thanks so much!
Claudia Lamascolo says
Oh wow now this is calling my name I love sandwiches with slaw and this bbq is perfect! I love the sweetness of the pineapple
Rebecca says
me too! thanks
Tina says
I remember making something like this a long time ago, it was so good. Going to have to make this one, definitely going to print this and save. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca says
that's awesome! thanks for letting me know, Tina
jill conyers says
My family would love this. Looks delicious Rebecca.
Rebecca says
Thanks Jill!
Farrah says
These look so good! Love that you can make em in an instant pot!!
Rebecca says
right?! IPs are THE BEST
Rachel says
I love my instant pot and I love that I already pinned this for later because I need to make it!!
Rebecca says
yay! let me know how it turns out
Deborah Brooks says
My son would love this on a sports practice night. Looks easy and tasty
Rebecca says
ohh ya! it's totally kid friendly 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
These sammies look out of this world delicious! Definitely need to get an Instant Pot and whip these up!
Rebecca says
yes! instant pots are awesome! there are so many things you can do with it
Elysia | Haute & Healthy Living says
I LOVE pulled pork!! This looks like such a great recipe! I always use my slow cooker and haven't yet experimented with an instant pot! Maybe I should start so I can make awesome recipes like these!
Rebecca says
yes! it's exactly the same except takes 90 minutes instead of hours and hours
Swati Saxena says
Ip has made our lives so easier isn't it? Your pork pulls apart sandwich looks so delicious and filling.
Rebecca says
right?! so much easier! and thanks
Claudia Lamascolo says
I just love how colorful and full of flavors this is!
Rebecca says
thanks!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
I've made pulled pork in my slow cooker but haven't ventured to make it in my instant pot. Not sure why as your pork looks so delicious! Don't you just love the IP? I'm glad you've ventured before me in the IP PP realm, so now I can follow your recipe!!
Rebecca says
yay! enjoy 🙂
Katie Uhran says
This looks absolutely amazing and I think my stomach just started growling! I want to make this all summer long! Pinned for later...Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca says
thanks katie!
Veena Azmanov says
What a delicious instant pot pulled pork sandwiches! I simply cannot wait to try it! Very interesting combination of ingredients. I am saving this recipe for later. YUM!
Rebecca says
thanks! make sure to tag #nourishnutrico if you make it 🙂
Pam says
We are all about pulled pork around here. I haven't jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon yet, but the more I see that you can do with them, the more I want one.
Rebecca says
there are so many things you can do with them 🙂 but you can also use a slow cooker too