This is the best Ninja Foodi pulled pork recipe with shoulder you can throw in with little to no prep time. Made with a bottle of barbecue sauce it comes out with TONS of flavor to make sliders or tacos for dinner.
Jump To
- How long does it take to pressure cook pork?
- Can you overcook pork in a pressure cooker?
- Ingredient Notes
- with Dry Rub
- Ninja Foodi Pulled Pork with Frozen Roast
- Do you have to sear meat before pressure cooking?
- Tips for Success
- How to Thicken the Sauce
- How to Make Shredded Pork Crispy
- Ninja Foodi Pulled Pork Recipe
- What is the best way to serve pulled pork?
- What kind of buns are best with pulled pork?
- FAQ
You only need 4 ingredients + seasonings to make this! I know, yet another delicious pork meal made in just 20 minutes? Only when made as an Easy Ninja Foodi recipe I tell you. You’ll never use your slow cooker again after trying it this way.
Tell me you love this classic meal that can be served a multitude of ways. With beef, or pork butt in Instant Pot works too. I prefer without a bone because it is easier to shred later but either type works. It doesn’t matter what cut you choose either really.
How long does it take to pressure cook pork?
There is a big range when it comes to this question. If you’re cooking a bone in pork shoulder or pork loin like with our Instant Pot Hawaiian pulled pork, cook time about 60 minutes. If you cut it into bite size pieces it would be closer to 20 minutes. With each you want some or all of a natural release to get it really tender.
Can you overcook pork in a pressure cooker?
Yes, and it isn’t pretty. While cooking under pressure is great for breaking down tough cuts of meat quickly, cooking for too long can lead to a dry, stringy, or mushy texture (especially with leaner cuts like pork loin or tenderloin). Even tougher cuts like pork shoulder can become overly soft and lose their structure if cooked too long under pressure so don’t do it.
Ingredient Notes
Pork shoulder, large loin or Boston butt is what we have experimented with and feel works the best of all cooked in sauce. 3 lbs. is perfect to feed our family of 5 without leftovers but you could go up to 4 pounds.
Barbecue sauce of your choice but stay away from just brown sugar variety as it is very very thick and can trigger the burn notice on your pot which will stop the cooking if it does. We like just the cheap, regular, Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Beef broth, chicken broth / stock, root beer or water work too for necessary liquid needed to come to pressure. Really any moisture works (even beer), just a bit, not a lot or it will be soupy.
Our favorite ways to serve this popular meal is probably bbq pulled pork sliders, tacos, putting it inside some flautas, or just simply over rice. I have been known to eat leftovers cold straight out of the fridge as a snack in the middle of the day too. 😉
with Dry Rub
Paprika we love (smoked or regular) for a deep flavor to begin with. Salt and pepper are basic seasonings, with some garlic powder and brown sugar will add a bit of sweetness.
The changes you can make are in regards to the sauce(s) used and seasonings. If you want it spicy add some dry sriracha or red pepper flakes. For the sauce barbecue is great for this and our Pork Roast in Oven but you could use teriyaki for a sweeter flavor.
Ninja Foodi Pulled Pork with Frozen Roast
If you forgot to defrost your meat, I get it. I have been there myself and figured out how to cook it right out of the freezer too. You would use the same sauce with the timing in our Instant Pot frozen roast directions for that method but it can be done and turns out excellent too.
Do you have to sear meat before pressure cooking?
Once you have the seasonings liberally coating the outside you’re going to sear the outside. This is not a must and if you forget to do this, it will still turn out excellent but the purpose of this step is to create a bit of added texture to the meal and tends to keep the juices in a bit better if do though so it is highly recommended.
Tips for Success
I have experimented with several different ways, leaving the piece whole and cutting into pieces. I prefer to cut large thick pieces into 4 equal pieces because I like a really tender texture and smaller pieces helps achieve this outcome.
You will want to deglaze the pot after sauteeing so the burn warning doesn’t come on. That occurs if there are stuck on pieces of meat at the bottom of the pot, so just scrape those off after sauteeing your meat.
How to Thicken the Sauce
If you want the liquid to be thicker and richer to serve on top you should remove meat when done and set aside to rest (keep warm with foil). Keep lid off and set pot to saute. Allow to bubble, stir for about 5 minutes until some liquid evaporates and sauce becomes thicker. If you want it more like gravy you could whisk 1 tbsp cornstarch with 3 tbsp cool water until smooth and pour that in too.
How to Make Shredded Pork Crispy
On a cutting board shred pork or dice, then put back into pot and stir so meat is coated with the thick sauce. Then you can choose to crisp edges with air fryer lid (one attached) set ot 400 F for about 5 minutes.
Ninja Foodi Pulled Pork Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs pork, remove bone if present, cut into 4 equal pieces
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 cup beef broth
- 12 oz barbecue sauce, or more at end
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, optional
Instructions
- Cut large piece of pork into 4 equal pieces. Mix salt, pepper and paprika together in a bowl. Brush olive oil over pork and rub seasoning mixture all over all pieces.
- Set Foodi to saute and sear pieces lightly on all sides. Turn off pot. Then remove meat and deglaze pot to scrape off any stuck on pieces of meat, use a bit of your broth to do this.
- In a bowl mix your bbq sauce, brown sugar (optional) and rest of your broth together with a whisk.
- Put meat back into pot and pour sauce on top.
- Close lid and steam valve. Set to high pressure cook for 60 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release.
- Release rest of pressure, use two forks to shred meat inside of pot.
- Keep lid off and set pot to saute to thicken sauce inside. Allow to bubble, stir for about 5 minutes until some liquid evaporates and sauce becomes thicker. Turn pot off. Serve
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What is the best way to serve pulled pork?
If you’re seeking a low carb option then quinoa might be good for you with some mixed vegetables. I usually go really easy and buy small pressure cooker carnitas style soft taco shells and just throw it in there. Add some guacamole or cheese and done.
You can make pressure cooker pork tacos or… Serve over Ninja Foodi rice, inside tortillas, inside chimichangas or on mini rolls!
What kind of buns are best with pulled pork?
For us, those little Hawaiian sweet rolls rock! They’re super soft and give these a the perfect savory and sweet mix. Brioche or hamburger buns could be an option too. It depends on whether it’s a meal or appetizer really.
WE have a few more too: Instant Pot pork stew is a great one pot meal. Try our boneless slow cooker pork shoulder recipe with our “famous dry rub” everyone loves!
Printable recipe is below, but you can just come back and “see us” next time you want to make this again too. 😉 Nutritional information is included as well, and accurate if you use the same size piece of meat and sauce.
FAQ
I mean do what you want but personally I wouldn’t like it much cold. I like foods in general to be as hot as possible really. It’s best as fresh as possible, but we usually have a bit left for lunch for ME the next day.
If you’re making this for a crowd and want to double this, I might increase the time by an additional 50%. For a 5 lb. pork loin I’d venture to guess 45 minutes would well. If you cut it into 4 equal pieces you can decrease the cook time though to maybe 30. That will vary of course since an adult man will consume more than a 10 year old girl, but you get the idea. 😉
1. The general rule is that 1 pound of pork will feed about 3 people.
2. This is a good gage if you have several families coming over so you can plan well.
No comment just yet haven’t eaten yet. Question, are Foods supposed to saute with a lid or no lid. I had to put my pressure lid on or it wouldn’t saute. So flip side over burned somewhat. Hopefully it will be ok. I followed your recipe and instructions to a T…did I do something wrong.
@Penny Remington, states in recipe card “keep lid off and set pot to sauté” You should never have the lid on for this function.
It is amazing how tender this pork gets in the pressure cooker in such a short amount of time! This is fabulous!
Yay!!
This pulled pork was delicious and easy to make. Loved it!
OH good
for a 5lb pork what part of the procedure is 30min or cut down 50 percent???