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Instant Pot Pulled Pork
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3.72 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Pulled Pork {Fall Apart Tender}

This Instant Pot Pulled Pork is so tender, juicy and easy to make – enjoy it as a sandwich or pair it with coleslaw for a low carb meal!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: instant pot pulled pork
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 171kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson

Ingredients

For the spice rub

  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne
  • 1/4 tsp mustard powder

For the pork

  • 3-4 lb pork shoulder
  • 2 tbsp avocado or canola oil
  • 2 cups beef broth, divided
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sweet tomato-based bbq sauce, plus more for serving
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke

Instructions

  • Mix all of the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Cut up pork shoulder into 4-5 large, equally-sized pieces and rub all sides with spice rub blend.
  • Turn Instant Pot on to saute mode and add oil. Once the oil is heated and shimmering, add in pork and brown all sides, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Don’t crowd the pot - this will steam the meat instead of browning. Brown the pork in multiple batches if needed.
  • Remove pork from the Instant Pot and use half of the broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden utensil. Turn off saute mode.
  • Stir in remaining broth, apple cider vinegar, bbq sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke.
  • Add the pork back into the Instant Pot, replace the lid, and set the steam vent to closed. Pressure cook on manual mode for 45 minutes at high pressure, then natural release for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, open the vent to release any excess pressure quickly.
  • Remove the pork and place it into a large bowl or serving platter. Shred with two forks and serve with a side of bbq sauce.

Notes

Serve your pulled pork on a bun, with a side of coleslaw, on top of nachos and more!
Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freeze this recipe for up to 3 months with all the liquid. Thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat as normal.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg