Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Pork

5 from 5 votes

Jun 15, 2018, Updated Aug 01, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork recipe is out of this world. It turns out mouthwateringly flavorful meat that’s tender, juicy, and coated in a savory-sweet BBQ sauce that’s just the right amount of spicy.

With just a few minutes of prep time, this super easy Instant Pot recipe turns out the juiciest, most flavorful BBQ pulled pork you’ve ever tasted. Packed with sweet, savory, smoky flavors (with the perfect kick of spice), you’re going to want to put it on everything. Pulled pork sandwiches, pizzas, scrambled eggs, you name it!

I love that it only takes an hour and a half total, and it tastes like it’s been slow-cooking all day. AND it’s ALL done in the Instant Pot, which makes clean-up super quick and easy. So tie on your apron, fire up your Instant Pot, and get ready to experience a culinary miracle.

Why This Recipe Works

Slow-cooked results in just over an hour. Pork shoulder is a tougher cut of meat that requires extended cooking times to break down to the tender, shreddable texture you think of when you think “BBQ pulled pork”. But not with an Instant Pot! This recipe only takes an hour and a half! A fraction of the time it would take a slow cooker, oven, or smoker to do the job.
Juicy and flavorful. The Instant Pot does a great job of locking flavor and moisture into the meat, yielding pork that is incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful every time.
All in one pot. Everything for this BBQ pulled pork (even searing the meat!) is done in the Instant Pot, which means zero juggling of pots and pans and WAY less cleanup.

Overhead image of Instant Pot pulled pork in a bowl near a ramekin of BBQ sauce.

Ingredient Notes

Here’s what you’ll need to make this Instant Pot pulled pork recipe. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

For the spice rub

Chili powder
Paprika – Feel free to use more or less depending on your level of spice tolerance.
Ground cumin – The cinnamon adds a warmth and subtle sweetness to the pork that I love.
Garlic powder
Salt
Ground black pepper

For the pork

Boneless pork shoulder – You can use bone-in pork shoulder or pork butt, but I have been using boneless pork shoulder for years. I find it yields the best taste and texture.
Garlic – This really makes it. You’ll git slits in the meat and shove whole garlic cloves inside. The garlicky flavor really gets to every inch of the pork that way.
Olive oil – You can use avocado oil or another neutral cooking oil instead.
Yellow onions – Red onions, white onions, or shallots would also work.
Honey Barbecue Sauce – I went with a homemade BBQ sauce, but you could use a store-bought version if you’d like.
Water – You could also use low-sodium chicken broth to add a little extra flavor. The added moisture in the Instant Pot helps ensure that the pork doesn’t burn.

How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Time to fire up the Instant Pot! Here’s a quick look at how to make this glorious one-pot meal. For more detailed instructions, scroll to the recipe card below.

Prep the pork. Cut the pork into 3-4 pieces.
Make the spice rub. Whisk together the chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Season the pork. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork. Cover the meat and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Fun with garlic. Cut slits in the pork and insert the garlic cloves in the slits.

Searing seasoned portions of pork shoulder in an Instant Pot. — Sear the pork in the Instant Pot.

Loading an Instant Pot with seasoned and seared pork shoulder, onions, barbecue sauce, and water. — Sear the pork in the Instant Pot.

Brown the pork. Set the Instant Pot to saute and add the oil. Sear the pork until nicely browned on all sides.
Load the Instant Pot. Add the onions, 1 cup barbecue sauce, and water to the Instant Pot; stir to combine.
Cook. Seal the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 1 hour, followed by a natural release.
Reduce. Transfer the pork to a cutting board, set the Instant Pot to saute, and simmer the sauce until it has reduced by half.
Shred. Shred the pork.
Put it all together. Stir the shredded pork into the reduced sauce.
Serve. Serve warm with the rest of the BBQ sauce on the side.

Closeup image of Instant Pot pulled pork.

Tips for Success

Let the rub do its work. After rubbing the spices all over the pork, let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will give the spices a chance to infuse flavor into the meat.
Don’t skip the sear. It might be tempting just to load everything into the Instant Pot and cook it. Don’t. Sear the meat first. It only takes a few extra minutes and the caramelization the pork gets really adds to the flavor of the finished dish.
Brown in batches. The pork won’t sear properly if the Instant Pot is crowded, so sear it in batches if you need to. You want each piece to have plenty of room to breathe.
Natural release. Resist the temptation to manually release the pressure in the Instant Pot. Instead, wait for it to naturally release. The pork will continue to cook and tenderize during that time, yielding more tender, juicy results.
Be patient. When reducing the sauce, let it reduce all the way down to half its original volume. The flavors will deepen, and the sauce will get nice and thick. If you cut the time short, your sauce will be watery and less flavorful.

Overhead image of Instant Pot pulled pork in a bowl near fresh cilantro.

Ways to Use BBQ Pulled Pork

I highly encourage you to make a big batch of this BBQ pulled pork and use it in EVERYTHING throughout the week! Throw it in a burger bun or between slices of fluffy Focaccia. Use it as a pizza topping, in your breakfast hash, or in a salad. You can even enjoy it caveman style with a side of this Red Cabbage and Carrot Slaw. Oh, and it’s super good in my famous Brunswick Stew. So many options!

More Pork Dinner Ideas

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It