Elizabeth Johnson Family BBQs don’t have to be a lot of work. My husband loves BBQ sauce in a big way, so this easy instant pot pulled pork is a big hit for our family. I use this recipe during the summer, for patriotic holidays, and anytime I need a potluck dish that will feed multiple people.
It only has a few ingredients, and one of them is optional. It doesn’t get easier than that.
Instant pots are an amazing advancement in cooking. This isn’t your mother’s pressure cooker. It saves you time and effort and lets you focus on the things that are important to you—like spending quality family time.
Keep reading for my best instant pot tips and this easy pulled pork recipe.
Cucumber Salad Side Dish
If you are wondering what to serve with your instant pot pulled pork recipe, I would like to recommend a cucumber salad. It is fresh, cool, and crisp which is a great contrast with the pulled pork recipe.
I also recommend corn on the cob, asparagus, scalloped potatoes warm bread rolls, and chilled watermelon as some other family favorites to eat with this meal.
Cucumber Salad Ingredients
- Four cucumbers (thinly sliced)
- One white onion (small, thinly sliced)
- One cup of white vinegar
- Half cup of water
- ¾ cup of white sugar
- One tablespoon of dried dill
Cucumber Salad Preparation
- Start by tossing cumbers and onions in a large bowl.
- In a saucepan, combine vinegar, water, and sugar over medium-high heat
- Bring it to boil and drizzle it over the cucumbers and onions
- Stir them up
- Refrigerate it until cold for at least 1 hour
- Before serving it with your juicy instant pot pulled pork, don’t forget to add dried dill on top
Tips for Using Instant Pot for Beginners
Read All Instructions Before Getting Started
Make sure you read all of the instructions before using your instant pot (whether you are making instant pot pulled pork or any other recipe). If it’s your first time using an instant pot this is really important. It works a little differently, has unique cooking times, and requires getting used to it.
Add in Lots of Liquid
Cooking food in an instant pot is all about steam. Therefore, whether it’s pork or any type of food, it will need plenty of moisture. A lot of moisture can be lost during cook so make sure you add lots of liquid.
However, don’t end up filling too much liquid, since it can dilute the flavor of the food. When you are cooking food such as beans, grains, and dried foods that expand, you should keep the pot around half full.
You Can Take Off the Sealing Ring
The sealing ring tends to pick up the scent of the food being cooked inside the pot. You should be extra cautious about that when making instant pot pulled pork. Common remedies include cleaning the ring often or replacing it every once in a while. Just clean the sealing ring well and it won’t smell at all.
Natural Release vs. Quick Release
Natural release and quick release are two different functions. Quick-release is done by turning the venting knot. It takes 1 to 2 minutes to release.
Natural release, on the other hand, is when you leave the venting knob alone and let the machine allow the pressure to drop slowly for about 15 minutes. You can tell it is finished when the pin drops.
Use Aluminum Foil to Clean the Pot’s Bottom
Some recipes leave residue in the bottom to burn. This might happen even while you are making instant pot pulled pork.
To clean the mess up, first soak the pan in warm water. Add dish soap and (if you don’t have a steel wool scrubber) convert a piece of tinfoil into a ball. Use it for scrubbing the food off. This should do the work.
Don’t Forget to Set the Venting Knob
You must set the venting knob before setting the cooking function. If you forget it will simply never build the pressure needed to cook. It doesn’t ruin the food.
If you do forget, simply run the recipe through the set amount of time again.
Easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
First, start with the right cut of meat. It may be called different things depending on where you live. Look for something like pork shoulder, pork butt, or Boston butt.
The ingredients you will need are:
- Pork shoulder
- Medium onion (optional)
- Olive oil
- BBQ sauce
How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- If you are including the onion, which I like to do so it “looks” like you spent a lot of time on the pulled pork recipe, dice it.
- Put a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in your instant pot and set it to saute. Cook the onion until it becomes translucent.
- Put half a large container of BBQ sauce into the instant pot. It’s about 2-2 1/2 cups.
- Before putting in the pork shoulder I like to trim some of the fat off. Some people would object, but I think there is still plenty of fat in this cut of meat. Put the pork shoulder into the instant pot and manual cook for 50 minutes.
- When the timer is done, allow the instant pot to natural release for at least 10 minutes.
Final Thoughts on Easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Yes, there are more complicated and maybe fancier recipes out there, but I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel here. I don’t need to make my own BBQ sauce to feel good about making this meal.
The key thing about the easy instant pot pulled pork is the easy part. It’s so simple I can focus on other meal items, or simply enjoying the day with my family.
The kids love this meal too.
They love having a big family-style meal with us out on the porch. This allows us to connect as a family by talking and laughing over a delicious meal.
I hope this easy recipe makes you a mealtime hero for your family too. If you like this post you may also like my post on Easy Crockpot Meals for Kids.
