Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Instant Pot Pulled Pork is an easy pressure cooker recipe made with pork tenderloin, beef broth, and simple seasonings for tender shredded pork in about an hour. This quick pulled pork is lean, versatile, and perfect for BBQ sandwiches, tacos, salads, pizza, and easy weeknight dinners.

You might not believe me, but you can have homemade Instant Pot Pulled Pork ready in about an HOUR. Amazing, right?! Pulled pork is one of my favorite things to make because it’s SO easy and comes in handy for what seems like a million different meals. Make one batch, and you’ve got shredded pork ready for BBQ sandwiches, tacos, salads, pizza, soups, enchiladas, burritos, and more.

I generally make pulled pork in my slow cooker and let it cook for 6 to 8 hours on low. But after discovering how quickly I can make pulled pork in a pressure cooker, the Instant Pot has become a great option when I don’t have all day.

This recipe is a little different from many traditional pulled pork recipes because it uses pork tenderloin rather than a pork shoulder, pork butt, or large pork roast. Pork tenderloin is a smaller and leaner cut, and it works well when you want simple shredded pork without a lot of fat.

You don’t even need to brown the pork first. Because who wants another pan to clean?!

Pour beef broth into the Instant Pot, add the pork tenderloins and your favorite seasonings, pressure cook, and pull the cooked pork apart with two forks. That’s about it!

Keep the shredded pork simple for using in several meals, or mix it with your favorite BBQ sauce for an easy barbecue pulled pork dinner.

What I Love About This Recipe

• It’s ready in about an hour. Traditional pulled pork can take HOURS in a smoker, oven, or slow cooker, but this Instant Pot Pulled Pork has only 5 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of pressure cooking. After a 10-minute natural pressure release and a few minutes of shredding, your pork is ready to use. It’s a great option when you didn’t remember to start dinner first thing in the morning.
• You only need a few simple ingredients. This pulled pork recipe is made with pork tenderloin, beef broth, and optional seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. No complicated homemade rub or huge ingredient list is required. You can keep the pork basic so it’s easy to turn into completely different meals throughout the week.
• Pork tenderloin keeps it lean. A lot of traditional pulled pork is made with pork shoulder or pork butt, which has more fat. This version uses lean pork tenderloin instead. It gives you versatile shredded pork that’s especially handy when you want to add your own sauce or seasonings later.
• There are SO many ways to use it. Mix the shredded pork with BBQ sauce for a pulled pork sandwich, pile it into tortillas for tacos, or add it to salads, pasta, soups, stews, chili, pizza, enchiladas, and burritos. You can even serve it plain with rice and vegetables. One batch can easily turn into several different meals.
• It’s easy to customize. Season the pork simply with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, or use your favorite pork rub or seasoning blend. Beef broth gives the pork great flavor, but chicken broth, vegetable broth, water, Coke or another cola, root beer, or Dr. Pepper can also be substituted. That gives you LOTS of ways to change the flavor without changing the basic pressure cooker method.

What is Pulled Pork?

Pulled pork is cooked pork that’s tender enough to be pulled or shredded into strands. It’s especially popular in Southern-style barbecue, where pork is traditionally cooked low and slow and served with BBQ sauce.

Some of the BEST pulled pork I’ve had comes from a smoker or grill. That long cooking process can give the meat incredible smoky flavor. But let’s face it, most of us don’t have hours to babysit a smoker every time we want a pulled pork sandwich.

That’s where the Instant Pot comes in. Pressure cooking gives you an easy way to make tender shredded pork MUCH faster, making it practical for everyday meals.

Equipment You May Need

• Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker – The recipe was developed for pressure cooking the pork on high pressure.
• Tongs – Helpful for safely removing the cooked pork tenderloins from the hot pressure cooker.
• Large Slotted Spoon – Another easy option for transferring the pork to a cutting board while leaving the cooking liquid behind.
• Large Cutting Board – Gives you plenty of room to shred or chop the cooked pork.
• Two Forks or Meat Shredder – The easiest low-tech ways to pull the tender pork into strands.
• Measuring Cup – You’ll need one for measuring the beef broth or other cooking liquid.
• Airtight Storage Containers – Handy if you’re making the pulled pork ahead for several quick meals.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Ingredients

• Beef Broth – Adds liquid for pressure cooking while giving the pork more flavor than plain water. You can substitute chicken broth, vegetable broth, water, cola, root beer, or Dr. Pepper.
• Pork Tenderloins – This Instant Pot Pulled Pork recipe uses 2.5 pounds of pork tenderloin rather than pork butt or pork shoulder. Pork tenderloin is a leaner, smaller cut of pork that works well for quick shredded pork.
• Optional Seasonings – Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder are easy choices. You can also experiment with your favorite pork rub or seasoning blend depending on how you plan to serve the pulled pork.

How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Step One: Add the Beef Broth
Pour the beef broth into the bottom of your Instant Pot.

Step Two: Add and Season the Pork Tenderloins
Add the pork tenderloins to the bottom of the Instant Pot over the broth, forming a single layer of pork as best you can. Sprinkle the pork with your desired seasonings, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Step Three: Pressure Cook the Pork
Close the Instant Pot and select the manual setting for high pressure for 40 minutes.

Step Four: Release the Pressure
When the 40-minute cooking time is finished, let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. Then carefully manually release the remaining pressure until done.

Step Five: Shred the Pork
Remove the lid from the Instant Pot. Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a cutting board, then use two forks to shred the pork as desired.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Variations

Once you’ve made the basic recipe, you can change the flavor depending on how you’re planning to use the pork.

BBQ Pulled Pork: Mix the cooked shredded pork with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Sweet Pulled Pork: Experiment with Coke, root beer, or Dr. Pepper instead of beef broth.

Spicy Pulled Pork: Add your favorite spicy pork rub or seasoning blend before cooking, then finish with a spicy barbecue sauce.

Taco Pulled Pork: Season the pork with taco-inspired spices and serve it in tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.

Garlic Pulled Pork: Be generous with the garlic powder or use a garlic-heavy seasoning blend.

Smoky Pulled Pork: Use a BBQ rub with smoked paprika or another smoky seasoning. Pressure cooking won’t create the same smoke flavor as an actual smoker, but smoky seasonings can give the pork a barbecue-inspired flavor.

Beer Pulled Pork: Beer could be used to experiment with a different flavor profile, although I haven’t tried it so can’t comment on the taste.

Cider Pulled Pork: Apple cider could also inspire a sweet-savory pork variation, particularly for fall.

Uses for Instant Pot Pulled Pork

There are SO many things you can do with shredded pork, which is one reason I love making a big batch.

• BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches: Mix the pork with barbecue sauce and pile it onto rolls. Or give these Korean BBQ Pork sandwiches a try.
• Pulled Pork Tacos: Add the shredded pork to tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.
• Enchiladas: Use the pork as a quick filling for homemade enchiladas.
• Burritos: Add it to burritos with rice, beans, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
• Pasta: Toss shredded pork with pasta, tomato sauce, and vegetables.
• Salads: Add pork to a big salad with your favorite dressing.
• Lettuce Wraps: Mix the pork with your favorite Asian-inspired sauce and spoon it into lettuce leaves.
• Soups and Stews: Stir leftover shredded pork into soups, stews, or chili.
• Pizza: Use pulled pork as a fun homemade pizza topping.
• Rice Bowls: Serve it over rice with vegetables and your favorite sauce.
• Quick Dinner: Eat the pork plain with vegetables when you need something EASY.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Use pork tenderloin. The 40-minute pressure-cooking time was written for 2.5 pounds of pork tenderloins, not pork butt, pork shoulder, or pork loin.
• Don’t overcrowd the Instant Pot. Arrange the pork in a single layer as best you can.
• Use enough liquid. Pressure cookers need adequate liquid to work correctly, so don’t simply leave out the broth.
• Try beef broth for extra flavor. I prefer beef broth to water because it gives the pork a deeper flavor.
• Season based on how you’ll use the pork. Keep it simple for maximum versatility or use a favorite rub when you already know you’re making BBQ, tacos, or another specific dish.
• Don’t skip the natural release. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before carefully releasing the remaining pressure.
• Cut the pork if desired. You can cut the pork before pressure cooking or after cooking if you want smaller pieces.
• Shred OR chop it. Pulled pork doesn’t have to be perfectly shredded. Chop it if that’s easier or works better for the recipe you’re making.
• Know your pressure cooker. Different pressure cookers can perform differently, so leave yourself a little extra time the first time you make the recipe.
• Read your manual. If you’re new to pressure cooking, familiarize yourself with your particular appliance before starting.
• Keep extra silicone sealing rings. Strong savory foods such as pork can leave odors behind in silicone rings. A separate ring for desserts can help keep your cheesecake from tasting suspiciously like dinner!
• Add sauce before freezing. I think pulled pork freezes especially well when it’s mixed with BBQ sauce or another sauce first.
• Defrost before reheating. For best results, thaw frozen pulled pork in the refrigerator before reheating it.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork FAQ

How should you store leftover pulled pork?
Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days. If you’re planning to use the pork for several different meals, you may want to divide it into smaller containers so you can grab only what you need.

Can you freeze pulled pork?
Yes! I think pulled pork freezes quite well. For the best results, I like mixing it with a sauce, such as BBQ sauce, and placing it in a thin layer in a resealable freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible, seal the bag, and freeze it flat. You can freeze it without sauce, but I personally think sauced pork tastes better after freezing and is less likely to develop that freezer-burn flavor cooked meat sometimes gets.

How long will Instant Pot Pulled Pork last?
Store cooked pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it within a few days. For longer storage, freeze it. As always, discard leftovers if they show signs of spoilage.

How should you reheat the pulled pork?
For best results, I would not reheat from frozen. I would make sure the pork is defrosted and from the fridge. You can microwave the pork, heat in the oven, or even in a skillet or pot. Personally, I think it reheats better with a sauce mixed in it first but personal preference.

What substitutions can I make?
Instead of beef broth, you can use chicken broth, vegetable broth, water, Coke or another cola, root beer, or Dr. Pepper. You can also change the seasonings and use your favorite pork rub or seasoning blend. Other cuts of pork can technically be used, but they’ll require adjustments to the cooking time and need to fit properly in your pressure cooker.

What else can you add to the recipe?
Try your favorite dried herbs, BBQ rub, taco seasoning, garlic, onion powder, or other seasoning blends. You can also change the cooking liquid with one of the substitutions, such as cola, root beer, or Dr. Pepper. For spicy pork, add a spicy rub or sauce after cooking.

What should you serve with the pulled pork?
It really depends on what you want to do with it. Most people I know like to mix the pork with BBQ sauce and make sandwiches. In that case, you could serve it with your favorite BBQ dishes like Mac & Cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, green beans, corn on the cob, etc. If you are looking for a quick meal, you can eat the pork plain and serve over rice and/or vegetables.

How much pulled pork per person?
Well, it’s hard to say. It depends on what you’re planning on doing with the pulled pork, how hungry everyone is, and how much leftovers you’d like. I would recommend at least 1/4 to 1/2 pound of raw pork per person, or more if you want leftovers or want to be on the safe side. The meat does shrink down a bit while cooking, so it won’t look like quite so much after you cook the pork in the pressure cooker.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

• Sweet & Spicy Root Beer BBQ Pork – Slow-cooked pork paired with an easy homemade root beer BBQ sauce for plenty of sweet and spicy flavor.
• General Tso’s Slow-Cooked Pork Tacos – A fun pulled pork taco inspired by the popular Chinese takeout dish.
• Stuffed BBQ “Cupcakes” – Cornbread muffins stuffed with BBQ pulled pork and topped with cheese “frosting.”
• Cranberry Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders – Pulled pork sliders with an easy cranberry chipotle BBQ sauce.
• Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo – Easy pasta dinner made all in the pressure cooker.
• Sheet Pan Nachos – Use pulled pork and BBQ sauce to make the BBQ section of these easy four-flavor nachos.

Hope you enjoy this Instant Pot Pulled Pork. Tell me in the comments what recipes you used the pork for!

Looking for some things to serve with this Pulled Pork? Try my Easy Pasta Salad and S’mores Bars for a great meal!