Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
Make incredibly tender pulled pork in minutes with the help of your pressure cooker! With this Instant Pot pulled pork recipe, you can prepare a batch of shredded meat perfect for using in a variety of recipes. From BBQ to tacos or even copycat Chipotle bowls, this versatile recipe is super easy to make and perfect for meal prepping.
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What Do I Need to Make This Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe?
Prepared with a handful of simple seasonings, this basic pulled pork recipe is designed to be used in a variety of recipes. That means you can prepare your pork in the Instant Pot using just a few common pantry supplies. To make this pulled pork recipe, you'll need:
- Pork butt roast
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Oil
- Water
How Do I Make This Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe?
Pulled pork usually takes hours to prepare. But who has the time to wait for your shredded meat to finish cooking? With the help of your pressure cooker, you can make a tender batch of pork for meal prepping in just over an hour! All you have to do is follow these easy instructions:
Step One: Prepare the Pork
Remove the pork butt from the netting and coat it with salt and pepper. Set the Instant Pot to saute mode. When the pot is warm, add the oil. Allow the oil to heat up, then place the pork butt in the pot and sear it on each side.
Step Two: Pressure Cook the Pork
When the roast is browned on all sides, turn off the Instant Pot and add the water. Place the lid on the pot and seal the vent. Set the pot to cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. When the cook time is up, do a natural release to remove all the pressure from the pot.
Step Three: Shred the Meat
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When it is safe to remove the lid from the pot, take out the pork butt and transfer it to a plate to cool. Use two forks or an electric mixer to shred the meat, then use it in your favorite recipes.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Tips
Making pulled pork at home doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming! With the help of your Instant Pot and these tips and tricks, you can easily prepare a delicious shredded meat to use in all of your favorite recipes.
- Use pork should or loin. When it comes to picking the best cut of meat for pulled pork, you have two options: pork shoulder (also called pork butt) or pork loin. Pork butt is the most common cut used for pulled pork, but pork loin is also a great option!
- Pick a roast that is already brined. To ensure your pork is tender and juicy after it's finished cooking, try to use a roast that comes in a brine. As you search the grocery store for your roast, look for packages that are vacuum packed in a 12% solution. The brine will add moisture to the meat, ensuring that it stays tender as it cooks.
- Remove excess fat. Some pork roasts come with a large layer of fat along the side or bottom. Before adding the roast to the pot, it's a good idea to remove the layer of fat to keep the meat from becoming too greasy.
- Cut the meat into large chunks. If you're cooking a large pork shoulder in your slow cooker, you may be worried that the meat won't cook through. To help the meat soften more quickly, consider cutting your roast into large chunks before adding it to the Instant Pot.
- Don't forget to sear the meat! It may be tempting to add the meat and liquid to the pot and skip the searing step to speed up the cooking process. But it's important that you take the time to brown each side of your roast before you start pressure cooking it to ensure the roast is flavorful and cooked through.
- Deglaze the pot. After you sear the meat in the pot, it's a good idea to take the time to deglaze your pot to prevent the roast from burning or getting stuck to the bottom of the pan. Simply add the liquid to the pot and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape off the bits of meat that are stuck on the bottom of the pan.
How to Serve Pulled Pork
This versatile recipe is great for so many dinner ideas! After you make your shredded meat, try serving it in these easy ways:
- BBQ sandwiches
- Tacos
- Salad
- Carnitas
- Nachos
- Pizza
- Loaded baked potatoes
- Burrito bowls
- Chili
- Baked beans
- Quesadillas
How Do You Store Pulled Pork?
Since this recipe is so easy to use, you'll want to make an extra-large batch for meal prepping! Luckily, it's easy to store your extra pulled pork to use in a variety of recipes.
For short-term storage, the meat can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To store the meat for longer, allow it to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. When frozen, the pork will stay good for up to three months.
Make sure to allow the meat to thaw completely in the refrigerator. After that, it can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb half pork butt roast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Remove the pork butt from the netting
- Coat pork butt with salt and pepper
- Turn instant pot to saute mode, add the oil. Once hot, add the pork butt and sear on each side.
- Hit cancel, add the water. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the knob is set to sealed
- Hit “manual” and set time to 60 minutes (make sure it’s on high pressure). After the pork has been cooked for 60 minutes at pressure, perform a natural pressure release.
- Remove most of the liquid from the Instant Pot and discard. Shred the pork with 2 forks or an electric hand mixer.
- Eat as is or top with BBQ, add to quesadillas and bowls or use for meal prep.
