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Instant Pot Pulled Pork

★★★★★ 5 /5 Updated: 11/16/22
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This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

With only 5 ingredients, this Instant Pot Pulled Pork recipe will become a regular weeknight meal in your home. Not only does the Instant Pot cook it to perfection but it can be prepped in minutes. Instant Pot Pulled Pork makes a great freezer meal and feeds a large number of people.

Make this in the slow cooker using this recipe.

Make smoked pulled pork using this recipe.

Pulled pork in the instant pot

It’s hard to mess up Instant Pot Pulled Pork. In fact, pork shoulder is one of my favorite cuts of meat to cook in the Instant Pot! Coming from someone who has tested hundreds (yes, hundreds) of Instant Pot recipes, that means a lot.

Check out this quick video to see how easily it comes together!

Video Tutorial: How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork

What Ingredients do I need for Instant Pot Pulled Pork?

The ingredients are SO simple! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1, 3-4 lb. pork shoulder (also known as Boston butt), cut into four equal pieces
  • 1.5 cups BBQ sauce (Here is our homemade recipe.)
Ingredients for Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Can I Make This Pulled Pork Recipe in the Slow Cooker?

You know we love flexibility! If you want to make this recipe in the slow cooker, just hop over to our Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork.

How Long Do I Cook Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot?

After a quick google search, you’ll quickly learn that there is a lot of conflicting information on how long to cook pork in the Instant Pot. Here’s the good news: you’ve come to the right place. We’ve tested hundreds and hundreds of Instant Pot recipes and narrowed down how long to cook the most common cuts of meat.

If making a pork shoulder in the Instant Pot, cut it into 4 equal pieces and then cook it at high pressure for 45 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.

If you want to know how long to cook other cuts of meat, I’d strongly encourage you to download and print off our Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart. Tape it up in your pantry for future reference. You can thank us later. 🙂

A Must Have for Instant Pot Users

Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart

After testing hundreds of Instant Pot recipes, we have honed in on the best timing and methods for cooking different types of meals in the Instant Pot.

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Shredded pork shoulder on wooden cutting board

Can I Freeze Pulled Pork?

YES! Like so many of our freezer meal recipes, Pulled Pork works great as a make-ahead freezer meal. It’s important to package it correctly so be sure to use our recommended containers.

FREEZE FOR LATER: Follow steps 1 and 2 in the recipe below. Place the seasoned pork and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce in a gallon-size freezer bag or round container. Seal and freeze (if using a freezer bag, set it in a bowl or round container with a diameter similar to the Instant Pot so it will fit in the pot when frozen). Place the remaining 1 ⁄2 cup BBQ sauce in a small freezer bag or container and the buns in a separate freezer bag. Seal and freeze them alongside the pork.

PREPARE FROM FROZEN: Thaw the sauce and buns. Set the Instant Pot to “Saute” Transfer the frozen meal to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press “Cancel.” Follow step 4, but cook at high pressure for 45 to 50 minutes. (The frozen meat will cook in about the same amount of time as fresh.)

For more information, read our post on How Long to Cook a Frozen Pork Roast in the Instant Pot!

instant pot freezer meal collage

Want More Freezer Meals for the Instant Pot?

We’ve got you covered! Here are 20+ Best of the Best Freezer Meals for the Instant Pot. It includes freezer meal instructions for every recipe.

Instant Pot Freezer Meals

What to Serve with Pulled Pork

My favorite way to eat pulled pork is as a sandwich.

If you want to go gluten-free, eat it without a bun. I serve it with more Killer Homemade BBQ Sauce on the side. Some side dishes that go well with Pulled Pork are:

  • Oven Roasted Broccoli
  • Coleslaw for Pulled Pork or Asian Slaw
  • Easy Hash Brown Casserole
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sandwich with slaw

More Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like

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Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas (From Fresh or From Frozen!)

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THE Cuban Panini

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Greek Pitas with Pulled Pork

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Shredded Pulled Pork in an instant pot
★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Instant Pot Pulled Pork has it all. It’s super easy, budget friendly, makes a large batch, and freezes beautifully. The Instant Pot cooks pork shoulders beautifully. I have no doubt this recipe will be in your regular rotation. 

Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 55+ minutesTotal: 50 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 (3- to 4-pound) pork shoulder (also known as Boston butt), trimmed
  • 1.5 cups BBQ sauce, here’s our homemade recipe

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  2. On a cutting board, cut the pork shoulder into 4 equal pieces (don’t miss this step!). Pat the pork dry with paper towels and rub the pieces with the seasoning mix to coat all sides. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
  3. Place the seasoned pork in the 6-quart Instant Pot. Pour 1 cup of the BBQ sauce over the meat and stir.
  4. Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 45 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes (or longer, if you prefer), then quick release the remaining pressure. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and shred the meat. Return the meat to the pot and stir it into the sauce.
  5. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the meat to the toasted buns and top with the remaining BBQ sauce as desired. Serve.

Freeze For Later:

Follow steps 1 and 2. Place the seasoned pork and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce in a gallon-size freezer bag or round container. Seal and freeze (if using a freezer bag, set it in a bowl or round container with a diameter similar to the Instant Pot so it will fit in the pot when frozen.) Place the remaining 1 ⁄2 cup BBQ sauce in a small freezer bag or container and the buns in a separate freezer bag. Seal and freeze them alongside the pork.

Prepare From Frozen:

Thaw the sauce and buns. Set the Instant Pot to “Saute” Transfer the frozen meal to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press “Cancel.” Follow step 4, but cook at high pressure for 45 to 50 minutes. (The frozen meat will cook in about the same amount of time as fresh.)

Equipment

Fresh Menu Kitchen Reusable Freezer Bags

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Instant Pot

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© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: American Method: Instant Pot

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Making this for a group of people? Here are more recipe ideas for large groups if you need some! You can also check out our 25+ Slow Cooker Recipes for a Crowd if you want more ideas.

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. AvatarTiffany says

    Posted on 9/28/22 at 2:00 pm

    We haven’t eaten this yet, but I tasted a bit before I put it into the freezer and it is delicious! I used BBQ sauce I had on hand, but the added seasonings in the recipe take it up a notch and then some! I used a pork just over 4 lb and it made enough for 2 meals and probably extra for my family of 4.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carla FletcherCarla Fletcher says

      Posted on 9/28/22 at 7:27 pm

      So glad you liked it and took the time to leave a review Tiffany. Having extra is always a plus!

      Reply
  2. AvatarJennifer says

    Posted on 10/22/21 at 2:01 am

    I’d like to make this for a lunch for about 10 people. Can I make it to the point of shredding it the day prior and then just reheat it in the instant pot on the day of the party? If so, what setting would I use on the instant pot to reheat it? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 10/22/21 at 8:04 am

      Yes, you can. Be sure to save the juices it cooked in so you can rewarm the meat in them. It will help it stay moist. And/or add more BBQ sauce to help it stay moist. To reheat in the Instant Pot, I’d probably turn on the Saute setting to the lowest setting and stir the meat around until it’s heated through. Then, I’d switch to the Warm setting. I hope that helps!

      Reply

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