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Tender Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe Easy Juicy Pulled Pork for Dinner

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A quick and easy Instant Pot pulled pork recipe that delivers tender, juicy, and flavorful pork perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (or pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup optional BBQ sauce

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix all over the pork shoulder and let it sit for 10-15 minutes or overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor.
  2. Set Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ and heat olive oil. Sear pork for 4-5 minutes per side until brown crust forms. Remove pork and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, add chopped onion and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes until onions soften and become translucent, scraping up browned bits.
  4. Pour in chicken broth (or water) and apple cider vinegar, stirring to combine and loosen stuck bits.
  5. Return pork to the pot, nestle into liquid and aromatics. Close lid, seal valve, and pressure cook on high for 60 minutes.
  6. Let pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then manually release remaining pressure.
  7. Remove pork and shred with two forks. Return shredded pork to pot and stir into cooking juices and onions.
  8. If using BBQ sauce, fold it in now. Let sit on ‘Keep Warm’ for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  9. If sauce is too thin, set pot to ‘Sauté’ and simmer to reduce and thicken, watching carefully to avoid burning.

Notes

Do not skip searing the pork as it adds flavor and texture. Let pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes to keep pork juicy. Adjust salt to taste and choose low-sodium broth if needed. For thicker sauce, simmer after cooking. Pork shoulder or butt is preferred for best tenderness and juiciness.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot pulled pork, pulled pork recipe, easy pulled pork, juicy pulled pork, pressure cooker pork, family dinner, BBQ pulled pork

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