Instant Pot Pulled Pork: The Most Tender Pork Ever (Seriously)

Listen, if you’re still out here slow-cooking pulled pork for 8 hours, I have one question for you: why? We live in the future. We have an Instant Pot. And thanks to this glorious invention, you’re just 40 minutes away from the most melt-in-your-mouth, juicy, flavorful pulled pork of your life.

This recipe is so good, it might make you want to start a BBQ food truck, break up with dry pork forever, or at the very least, send a thank-you text to whoever convinced you to buy an Instant Pot in the first place.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ 40-Minute Magic – Forget the all-day wait. This Instant Pot method locks in flavor and tenderness in no time.
✔ Unreal Flavor – A smoky, slightly sweet spice rub + tangy BBQ sauce = perfection.
✔ Meal Prep Hero – Eat it on buns, tacos, rice bowls, or straight out of the fridge at 2 AM (no judgment).

This is it without any pulling effort, just removing it straight from the instant pot! So tender!

A Quick Pulled Pork History Lesson (Because We Love Fun Facts)

Pulled pork is basically America’s OG slow food. It has roots in Indigenous cooking methods, where meats were slow-smoked over pits for maximum tenderness. Then Spanish settlers rolled in, saw what was happening, and thought, Yeah, we’re stealing this idea. Fast-forward a few hundred years, and now we have regional BBQ rivalries, backyard smokers, and—thankfully—Instant Pots to do the hard work for us.

How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork (AKA The Best Pork of Your Life)

Step 1: Spice It Up

In a small bowl, mix up your flavor bomb:
✅ Brown sugar
✅ Paprika
✅ Garlic & onion powder
✅ Salt, pepper, cumin
✅ A whisper of cayenne (optional, but 🔥)

Rub it all over the cubed pork. Yes, cube it! This helps it cook faster and soak up all the goodness.

Step 2: Sear for Flavor

Set your Instant Pot to sauté, add some olive oil, and let it get hot. Brown half of the pork, turning to get all those crispy, golden edges. Repeat with the rest. (Don’t skip this step—searing = flavor!)

Step 3: Make It Saucy

In a bowl, whisk together:
✅ Apple cider vinegar (adds that signature tang)
✅ BBQ sauce (use your fave!)
✅ Hot sauce (if you like things spicy)
✅ Broth (to keep things juicy)

Pour this magic potion over the pork, scrape up those tasty brown bits from the pot (deglazing = free flavor), then close the lid.

Step 4: Let the Instant Pot Do Its Thing

• Set to high pressure for 40 minutes.
• Let it naturally release for 10-30 minutes (patience is key!) before doing a quick release.
• Open the lid and bask in the aroma of greatness.

Step 5: Shred & Sauce It Up

Take the pork out, shred it with forks (or your hands if you’re feeling bold), and stir in more BBQ sauce because life’s too short for dry meat.

Step 6: Serve & Devour

Pile it onto buns, tacos, or nachos. Put it in a bowl and eat it straight. No rules—just good food.

Final Thoughts

This Instant Pot Pulled Pork is:
🔥 Crazy tender
🔥 Packed with smoky, tangy BBQ flavor
🔥 Faster than traditional pulled pork but just as delicious

Make it once, and you’ll never go back to the slow-cooker life. Trust.

Now go forth, make this pork, and let your taste buds ascend.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

You’re just 40 minutes away from the most melt-in-your-mouth, juicy, flavorful pulled pork of your life.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:13 minutes mins

Cook Time:40 minutes mins

10 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr 3 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 T Packed Brown Sugar
• 2 t Paprika
• 2 t Garlic Powder
• 2 t Onion Powder
• 1 t Salt
• 1 t Pepper
• 1/2 t Cumin
• 1/4 t Cayenne Optional
• 2-3 Pound Boneless Pork Loin Roast Cut into 3-4 inch cubes
• 2 T Oil of Choice (I use Avocado)
• 1/3 C Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 C Barbecue Sauce Divided
• 1 1/4 C Water
• 1 t Bouillon Chicken

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne.
• Season the cubed pork with the spice mixture and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, one cup of barbecue sauce, and one cup of water mixed with bouillon.
• Turn your Instant Pot to the sauté setting. Add the avocado oil and allow it to get hot.
• Add half of the cubed pork to the hot oil and sauté for 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the browned pork to a plate and repeat with the remaining half of the cubed pork.
• Turn the Instant Pot off. Use the remaining 1/4 cup of water a wooden spoon to deglaze (scrape the brown bits) from the bottom of the pot.
• Add all of the meat along with the barbecue sauce mixture to the Instant Pot.
• Close the lid and set to sealing.
• Cook on manual high pressure for 40 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
• Remove the meat from the Instant Pot and shred. Stir in the remaining cup of barbecue sauce and serve on buns as desired.

Servings: 6