Korean BBQ Pulled Pork, easy Instant Pot pulled pork (or slow cooker pulled pork) mixed with a delicious homemade Korean BBQ sauce. Great as-is, for sandwiches, with noodles, and so many other options!
This homemade Korean BBQ Pulled Pork recipe combines my Instant Pot Pulled Pork and Korean BBQ Sauce into one recipe! Prep time is minimal and the Instant Pot does most of the work. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, don’t worry, I have directions for a slow cooker too. This is not necessarily an authentic recipe, but it’s delicious and makes an easy dinner!
Don’t let some of the ingredients in the sauce put you off. You should be able to find them all at your local grocery store in the Asian section. If you’re short on time, you could use a store-bought Asian BBQ sauce, but the homemade BBQ sauce is quite tasty and ready in minutes so give it a try.
Korean BBQ Pulled Pork Ingredients
- Beef broth
- Pork tenderloin
- Optional seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder)
- Soy sauce
- Asian pear
- Brown sugar
- Garlic chili sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic
- Ginger paste
- Sesame oil
- Black pepper
- Green onion
How to Make Korean BBQ Pulled Pork
- MAKE PULLED PORK. Pour beef broth into the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- Add the pork tenderloins to the bottom of the Instant Pot over the broth to form a single layer of pork as best you can. Sprinkle desired seasonings on top of pork such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Close Instant Pot. Select manual setting for high pressure for 40 minutes.
- When 40 minutes is done, let Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. Then carefully manually release pressure until done.
- Remove lid from Instant Pot. Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, remove pork and place on cutting board. Using two forks, shred pork as desired.
- MAKE KOREAN BBQ SAUCE. While pork is cooking, make the sauce by placing all sauce ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour sauce into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce to simmer. Simmer about 5 minutes.
- COMBINE. Place pulled pork in large mixing bowl. Mix in desired amount of BBQ sauce. Serve as desired.
(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)
Many different ways to serve this pulled pork. Here are some of my favorites…
Serving Suggestions
- Serve as-is with Asian Slaw or an Asian inspired lettuce salad.
- Make a sandwich with a crusty roll.
- Serve in lettuce leaves for an easy lettuce wrap like these Korean Lettuce Wraps.
- Mix with vegetables and noodles.
- Use in soups, stews, and chilis for a fun Asian inspired dish.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can use a slow cooker and cook pork on low for about 6-8 hours.
- Cut the pork tenderloin in large chunks if it won’t fit into your slow cooker or Instant Pot very well.
- The BBQ sauce can be a little salty so I suggest not adding additional salt and using a low sodium soy sauce.
- The beef broth really gives a nice flavor to the pork and more so than water. Use it if you can.
Korean BBQ Pulled Pork FAQ
How should I store the pulled pork?
Store the finished Korean BBQ Pulled Pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can I freeze the pork?
Yes! I would mix the pork and sauce together then freeze in a resealable bag flat getting out as much air as possible of the bag.
How long will the pork last?
It should last a few days in the refrigerator, or a few months in the freezer if stored properly.
Can I substitute anything for the Asian Pear?
You can try substituting an apple or pear but results will vary.
Can I substitute regular soy sauce for the low sodium?
Technically yes, but, the sauce may be very salty so I would not recommend.
What should I serve this Korean BBQ Pulled Pork with?
See my serving suggestions above for more ideas, but I like to serve this with my Asian slaw or noodles.
Other Asian Inspired Recipes You May Enjoy
- Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps – easy DIY lettuce wraps with chicken and veggies.
- Crab Rangoon Crostini – a fun fusion recipe with a crab rangoon filling on crostini.
- Chinese Style Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans – can’t wait to give these green beans a try!
- Ginger Sesame Chicken – a healthier version of the popular takeout dish.
Hope you enjoy this Korean BBQ Pulled Pork recipe. Tell me in the comments about how you served it!
If you like this pulled pork recipe you may also like my Root Beer BBQ Pork and General Tso’s Slow Cooked Tacos!
Korean BBQ Pulled Pork
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
- 14.5 ounces beef broth
- 2.5 pounds pork tenderloin (or a little more or less is fine depending on package size)
- Optional seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder)
Korean BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup Asian pear peeled, cored, & chopped (about 1)
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (or could use light)
- 1 Tablespoon garlic chili sauce
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste (or fresh minced peeled ginger)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 green onion chopped
Instructions
- MAKE PULLED PORK. Pour beef broth into the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- Add the pork tenderloins to the bottom of the Instant Pot over the broth to form a single layer of pork as best you can. Sprinkle desired seasonings on top of pork such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Close Instant Pot. Select manual setting for high pressure for 40 minutes.
- When 40 minutes is done, let Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. Then carefully manually release pressure until done.
- Remove lid from Instant Pot. Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, remove pork and place on cutting board. Using two forks, shred pork as desired.
- MAKE KOREAN BBQ SAUCE. While pork is cooking, make the sauce by placing all sauce ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour sauce into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce to simmer. Simmer about 5 minutes.
- COMBINE. Place pulled pork in large mixing bowl. Mix in desired amount of BBQ sauce. Serve as desired.
Notes
Nutrition:
(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)
About Lisa Huff
Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites.
I was just looking for something new to make in my instant pot and this did not disappoint! So good!
The sauce sounds amazing. Such a flavorful recipe. Yumm
I LOVE Korean barbecue and this is a perfect way to enjoy it during the week.
This looks so good and the sauce sounds so flavorful and delicious.