Pressure Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Sierra

After shredding it, put it in a tray and stick it under the broiler for 5 minutes. Makes a huge difference in texture.

Anna

Just realized that this recipe doesn’t tell you to add the pork back into the pressure cooker!

spcavenee

Used the barbecue sauce and slaw recipes from the link shown, and after figuring out I needed to return the pork to the pressure cooker, kicked in a decent amount of hot sauce when making the barbecue sauce, based upon a few comments it was too sweet. Quite pleased with the end result. I used right around 4 pounds of pork shoulder (pre-trimmed weight), and 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce wasn't sufficient, used between 3/4 cup and 1 full cup.

Anaïs

That was my first homemade pulled pork and I loved it!! This recipe is fabulous and so easy. After receiving some very good advice from a few friends I have decided to season the meat and let it rest for ~6 hours or so. I then seared the meat in my cast iron skillet, put aside, then cooked the onion and deglazed using beer (winter ale) rather than a soda. Dump everything in pressure cooker and followed all instructions. Best choice I have made this week ;).

Carroll

To all those folks reminding us to be sure to put the pork back in the pot. The recipe NEVER told you to take it out before it was ready to shred!

Cfraser

Don't forget to put the pork back in. Used Lillie's hot smoky sauce and had pineapple coleslaw on the side. Would make again.

Bobbi

You don't have to add the pork back in. At this point in the recipe it is finished cooking. You're just shredding it and adding the sauce.

Mathew

This was amazing, the only addition that I made was I used some chipotle powder with the paprika to give a little heat with the smoke (1tsp paprika/1tsp chipotle). I thinned out my favorite store bought bbq sauce with maple syrup, bourbon, and apple cider vinegar. Serve this on some Frito's Scoops and you've got an easy, delicious appetizer/game food!

David

"Add the onion to the pot. Add the soda and stir to thoroughly scrape up the browned bits at the bottom of the pot. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for one hour."Might want to call out that all pork should be added back to the cooker at this point.

avp

First time using my instant pot and was very pleased with the results. Added some brown sugar, cumin, and smoked paprika to the rub. I browned the pork and sautéed the onions on my stovetop. Deglazed the pot with a little apple cider vinegar before adding the pork back in. Natural release took about 30 minutes. Finished with Stubb’s smokey mesquite bbq sauce.

Miranda

Delicious. A lot depends on the bbq sauce you use! Really try and cut off the fat before you fry - it will save you taking it off when you shred the pork!

LA

My grandmother would say add a bay leaf when cooking the meat...to which I would say, "Yes ma'am."

amelia

I like to add a little bit of liquid smoke to the soda to give it a Smokey flavor.

Christina

Could this recipe work with beef or chicken?

e

Added 1/2 cup of sriracha with the bbq sauce

EugeniaH

I love this recipe! I'll be making it for Superbowl Sunday '24 (along with the obligatory coleslaw), and of course I'll use Kansas City Barbecue Sauce! Go Chiefs!

taz

Pork loin - cook 15- 20 min?

Gayle

Made this for the first time today, 90% followed the recipe. As someone else suggested, I used a dark beer instead of a soda. I also subbed some of the spices for what I had on hand and used a 7# shoulder. This recipe is excellent. It pulled beautiful. The only thing I can think of for those who needed to put it back in the pot is they didn’t allow the natural release time. Mine just melted off the bone.

Cindy

Actually, it never says to take the pork out, so it doesn't need to be put back in. In my attempt to make this a bit healthier, I used the rack that came with my pressure cooker to hold it up off the bottom but sadly it wouldn't pull. The next time, I left it in the bottom and worked like a charm but was swimming in fat. Ah, well, ç'est la vie.It turned out delicious the second time, so I should have stuck with the original

kitty

As expected, a three pound butt made lots of pulled pork for two people. The first night it was served on buns with Stubb Smokey Mesquite, the second night was tacos with bbq sauce and fixins, and the final dinner was pineapple fried rice without bbq sauce on the pork (used a soy sauce mixture). We enjoyed all 3 ways. This is a good dish if you like to do food prep for a few days.

meggins

Best use of the Instant Pot yet! Thank you!

Kim

Easy and good. Used a 8 pound bone-in pork shoulder, took a little more time browning meat and cooked on high presure for 2 hours, 15 minutes and allowed for natural release of presure. So good.

SteveD

The first time I made this, I used one of my favorite smoky rubs and it just OK. I made the rub as written tonight and it was fabulous. I used 1 tsp each of hot smoked and sweet smoked paprika, Dr. Pepper, and Montgomery Inn sauce (essentially a KC style) offering hot sauce on the side. Best pulled pork I’ve ever made by a wide margin.

Rotmanpr

A winner. So easy as opposed to slow cooking. Very tender. Be careful to not use sweet BBQ sauce; masks the flavour somewhat but be generous with the sauce. We added some hot sauce for a kick.

MikeyBee

Pretty much made as directed using pork butt which has a bit more marbling than shoulder. Real tender and easy to mash up with a potato ricer. 1/2 cup of brown sugar BBQ sauce gave just enough without masking the pork flavor.

Dewey Cheatem And Howe

I'd maybe hold some of the seasonings back until it is cooked. Pressure cooking tends to obliterate any seasoning during cooking. Putting under a broiler for 5 minutes after cooking helps also.

amelia

I like to add a little bit of liquid smoke to the soda to give it a Smokey flavor.

Vicki Abel

Excellent as is. Made it for someone who smokes his pork first and then shreds it and he was amazed it was pressure cooker!

Jay Rogers

That's about 220C

House Elf

The recipe gives a few different soda options. Which works best and why?

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Pressure Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook pulled pork? ›

Slow cooking the meat means it never has the chance to toughen up and will be extra silky and tender. Pressure cooking is faster, though you may lose a little bit of the tenderness. If you're going for the pressure cook method, be sure to get a pork shoulder or pork butt, as opposed to a pork loin.

Can you overcook pulled pork in a pressure cooker? ›

The temperature inside a pressure cooker is about 250F at full pressure, which can easily overcook meat if you're not careful. It'll be stringy and dry.

Why is my pork still tough after pressure cooker? ›

If you find that your instapot pulled pork is tough after cooking, it's likely because you did a quick pressure release instead of a natural pressure release.

What is the secret to tender pulled pork? ›

Pulled pork is perfect for the slow cooker. Cooking the pork low and very slow is the secret to the juiciest and most tender pulled pork.

What happens if you pressure cook pork too long? ›

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

Should pulled pork be fully submerged? ›

Pour 1 1/2 cups liquid, such as low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, tomato juice, light or amber beer, white or red wine, orange juice, or a mix of several liquids (and optional liquid smoke) over the pork. The pork should be only partially submerged, with some of the pork remaining above the surface of the liquid.

Why is my pulled pork hard to pull? ›

The congealing and hardening of fat and connective tissue will make pulling more difficult as the temperature drops. Pulling while the meat is still hot allows you to serve it with the least amount of fat that drains away and the meat that has been neatly separated from fat, tissue, and skin.

Does pulled pork get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

You can slow cook it in a slow cooker or oven at a low temperature for several hours until it's fully cooked and tender. This will help break down the tough connective tissues and collagen in the meat, resulting in a succulent and tender pork belly.

Does pressure cooked pork make tender? ›

You want to use the tough cuts of beef or pork. When you cook via a pressure cooker, moisture is required. Combine that with a sealed lid, the steam can't escape. This is a moist cooking method and will breakdown a lot of the connective tissue, tenderizing the tough cuts.

Why is my pulled pork not soft? ›

BBQ Host explains that 205-210 degrees Fahrenheit yields perfectly tender pork, but cooking over 210 degrees causes the meat to dry out and toughen up. While cooking your pork, be sure to reserve the juices, fat drippings, or cooking liquid if you're the type to set it and really forget it.

How long does it take to soften meat in a pressure cooker? ›

There's another aspect of pressure cookers to consider too. Steam penetrates food easily under pressure. So connective tissues in cubes of beef for soups or stews soften in 15 minutes or less, and a pot roast will be medium-rare in 30 minutes.

How many hours does it take to cook pulled pork? ›

With your smoker running steady at 225 degrees F, you can typically plan about 2 hours of cook time per pound of pork. For example, an 8-pound pork shoulder will take about 16 hours from start to finish. Quick note! Every cut of meat is a little bit different, so plan ahead for variations in cook time!

Should I sear pork before pressure cooking? ›

Sear the roast before pressure cooking to enhance the flavors and create a caramelized crust. Sear for 4 minutes on each side. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the Instant Pot pork roast is cooked to the desired internal temperature (145°F/63°C for medium).

How much water do you put in a pressure cooker? ›

Add Liquid

“Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water. When learning how to use a pressure cooker, make sure the unit is never more than two-thirds full of liquid, so the steam has enough space to accumulate.

Why is slow cooking better than pressure cooking? ›

Slow cookers can take less fashionable cuts of meat and really make something special. They offer the advantage of adding extra depth to your cooking. Adding red wine, herbs & spices to the slow cooker can take your dish to another level. Slow cookers are energy efficient.

Can you cook pulled pork too slow? ›

Of course you can slow pork too long. You can overcook anything, even with moist heat. Once the meat has cooked completely, become tender and the collagen transforms into gelatin, further cooking will only pull moisture from the meat. It will just become dryer and dryer, even if it is partially submerged in liquid.

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