Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

This sweet Asian Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is amazing! Tender pork roast in an hour using your pressure cooker make the best sliders ever!

Oh my goodness this Instant Pot pulled pork recipe one of my favorites!! With a sweet sauce with a bit of a kick and tender shredded pork ready to pile up on a soft roll and served as sliders during your next party or get together, it will surely become one of your favorite dinners or appetizers too. I have made over 101+ easy Instant Pot recipes here on The Typical Mom site but this one is over the top fabulous. (originally published 6/18, affiliate links present)

I like easy pressure cooker recipes and I also like being able to adjust the spice level. I do like a little spicy but not so overwhelming I can’t taste the other flavors so this one is great for everyone.

This pulled pork has a rich sweet sauce that is a bit like teriyaki but with the addition of honey and Sriracha. So, it has a nice balance between spicy and sweet that we fell in love with.

• Here is how I made this Asian Instant Pot pulled pork recipe.

We started with a pork roast that was about 2.5 lbs.

To say we have a lot of pork is an understatement. We bought a pig from a local organic farm recently and started with this pork roast that is about 2.5 lbs with the bone so let’s call it 2 lbs. To make it ultra tender I cut it into 3 equal parts around the bone before turning it on so the meat would become as tender as possible.

• If you are using a pork roast that is larger than mine you will need to increase the time a bit. I would also cut it into maybe 4 pieces so it will get as tender as possible.

In order to ensure you don’t get the burn notification after searing your roast watch this video on how to deglaze your Instant Pot

Then continue on to the next steps. If you have another brand like a Crockpot Express or Ninja Foodi these directions will work for you as well. 😉

I like onions for their flavor. You can dice them like this or leave them sliced and in larger chunks. Totally up to you and will achieve the same thing so go for whatever you choose.

• Cutting your pork roast into 3 or so equal parts will allow it to become really tender when it is cooked in your Instant Pot.
• If yours is larger than mine then maybe 4 pieces would work better. Make sure they aren’t overlapping.

Here are the basic steps that take approximately 60 minutes to pressure cook to perfection.

First you’ll want to rub the spices on your meat and set your pressure cooker to saute.

• Then brown both sides and turn your pot off. This step will take a total of about 15 minutes to heat up and then deglaze.
• If you haven’t cut your pork into 3-4 equal pieces, do so now. Smaller pieces will yield meat that is more tender.
• Put meat back into your pot with rest of broth and onions and set to high pressure for 60 minutes.
• Do a natural release! This will take about 20 minutes and allow the meat to become extremely tender vs. doing a quick release.
• Use forks to shred. Discard fat, remaining liquid, and bones.
• Whisk together wet ingredients for sauce in a bowl and pour into pot with shredded pork.
  • you can use bbq sauce instead if you prefer those flavors
• Saute until thick and then serve!

This is a great recipe to serve on small slider buns or on top of Instant Pot white rice.

This is what you need for this thick rich sauce inside our Instant Pot pulled pork recipe 

1. Pork roast – 2-3 lbs fed the 5 of us
   1. used it to make pulled pork sandwiches with a side of corn on the cob
   2. could use a pork butt or pork shoulder 
2. Honey
3. Soy sauce
4. Garlic – I use this already minced in a jar
5. Ginger – in produce section, in a jar already minced
6. Brown sugar
7. Onion
8. Salt free garlic and herb seasoning
9. Cornstarch – to thicken sauce
10. Sriracha – for a little heat, even a little doesn’t make it hot but adds a lot of flavor
11. Slider buns – can use this easy roll recipe

If you’re looking for the best sliders using this Instant Pot pulled pork recipe will be a hit no matter who is at your gathering for sure!

If you’re looking for other pork recipes try some of our

• Pressure cooker pork chop recipes and
  • This Instant Pot lo mein is yummy 
• This easy pork roast recipe is cooked in the oven if you don’t have a pressure cooker yet

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?

• Pork shoulders are the most popular typically. I have used a pork butt, which is half of the shoulder, and a center cut pork loin when that is all the store had. All of the above have worked fine.

Does pork tenderloin work for pulled pork?

Many people use this cut in their crockpot. If you can find one large enough, this recipe calls for 3 lbs., then yes. The center cut loin I used in my Instant Pot Hawaiian pulled pork sliders turned out great. (seen below) It turned out tender and has a sweet barbecue sauce taste vs. these Asian teriyaki like flavors.

What should I serve with pulled pork?

• Shredded pork is fabulous in omelets and inside burritos.
• Add some to a grilled cheese sandwich for an over the top lunch!
• Use small soft tortillas and make Instant Pot tacos
• Or stir it into your baked beans for a heartier side dish.
• It’s a great recipe served on top of fried rice, nachos, or plain rice.
• We typically serve them as sliders topped with cole slaw but the possibilities are endless!

What can I serve with pulled pork besides cole slaw?

Well, that is kinda’ our go to. That and macaroni salad but there are plenty of other pulled pork side dishes:

• Cornbread
• Garlic pull apart bread
• Macaroni and cheese
• Hawaiian coleslaw
• Corn fritters
• Potato salad
• Okra

What do you serve with yours?? We’d love to try something new if there’s something else that isn’t on our list!

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5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

You have got to try this Asian sticky sweet Instant Pot pulled pork recipe! Tender pork roast in an hour using your pressure cooker. The best sliders ever!

Course Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American, Japanese

Keyword instant pot, pork, pressure cooker, pulled pork, roast

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 424kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

• 3 lb pork roast
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion diced
• 2 c broth vegetable, chicken or beef
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 c soy sauce
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp ginger minced
• 1.5 tbsp garlic diced
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp Sriracha optional, can use more for more spice
• 1 tsp seasoned salt we used Lawry's
• 1 tsp garlic and herb seasoning salt free seasoning

Instructions

• Set Instant Pot to saute and add olive oil. Rub seasoned salt and roasted garlic and herbs on pork roast on both sides. When hot add pork roast and sear on both sides, turn Instant Pot off.
• Take roast out and cut into 3 pcs.
• Pour 1 c of your broth into your pressure cooker and use a wooden spoon to loosen the pcs of cooked on meat off of the bottom of your pot (called deglazing your pot so the burn notification doesn't come on later).
• Put pork roast pcs back into your pot with diced onions and last cup of broth.
• Close lid and steam valve. Set pot to pressure high for 60 minutes.
• Allow steam to naturally release.
• Open lid. Shred pork with forks, remove fat pieces and discard those. Put shredded pork into a bowl.
• Discard remaining liquid left in pressure cooker and put meat back into your pot.
• Mix all remaining ingredients above together with a whisk until cornstarch is dissolved.
• Put pressure cooker on saute, low, and add sauce mixture.
• Put shredded pork in your bowl into your pot and mix with sauce.
• Allow to bubble just slightly so sauce thickens a bit and pork is thoroughly coated with sweet sauce.
• Serve on top of rice or in slider buns, top with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

Amount Per Serving (3 oz)

Calories 424 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 142mg47%

Sodium 1110mg48%

Potassium 890mg25%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 52g104%

Vitamin A 215IU4%

Vitamin C 2.9mg4%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1.6mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.