• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Family Food on the Table
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Pork

Instant Pot pulled pork {3 ingredients}

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 5, 2025 | Published: Sep 26, 2019
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
Pin

Instant Pot pulled pork is made with just 3 ingredients and is ready in about an hour! This tender pork is perfect for pulled pork sandwiches, sliders, nachos, tacos and more!Pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on top

I am SO far behind the times, you guys.

This is embarrassingly my first Instant Pot recipe here on Family Food on the Table. ‍♀️

It’s a confluence of factors, really.

First, I didn’t break down and get an Instant Pot until last year. I know, I know… but I had a pressure cooker and thought I should just use it more. I didn’t of course, so I finally swapped it out.

And bought this beautiful Instant Pot. Had I only known how easy it is to use and how relatively inexpensive it is, I probably would have been on that bandwagon from the very beginning.

Better late than never though, right?

So then of course, I wanted to test all the recipes and play around with it and make all kinds of different things. Tons of fun and deliciousness!

Then I finally realized, wait, I’m a food blogger. I need to retest those recipes so I can share them with you!

And we’re finally there. Finally here. Finally doing the Instant Pot thing together. And it’s gonna be great!

Today’s Instant Pot pulled pork is one of the very first things I made with my new favorite appliance.

Large white bowl of shredded Instant Pot pulled pork with BBQ sauce and a side of coleslaw

I make a slow cooker pulled pork that we adore and enjoy fairly often. It’s soooo crazy easy and yields such tender pieces of pork that are great for sandwiches, sliders and stuffing into all manners of other fun dishes.

So I wanted to try that same idea in the pressure cooker to see if it yields tender, succulent strips of pulled pork just as well.

Spoiler alert: It does.

This pork is fall-apart tender, moist and flavorful. It cooks in a flavorful liquid bath and then gets mixed with BBQ sauce before serving.

Total deliciousness!

Best part: It’s just 3 ingredients and ready in under an hour! My slow cooker can’t do that!

A large white bowl of shredded Instant Pot pulled pork mixed with BBQ sauce and a bowl of rice in the background.

The very low intimidation factor with this recipe was also one of the reasons it's perfect as a beginner Instant Pot recipe!

I love, too, how very versatile this pulled pork is. We use it in so many ways and that makes it always seem new and different. Having a base recipe like that is a great way to keep dinner easy but interesting.

(Read on for some of those fun serving ideas for this pork.)

Now, I’ve got some notes, tips, substitutions and FAQs coming up below on how to make Instant Pot pulled pork. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

A white bowl of shredded pulled pork mixed with BBQ sauce set on teal napkins.

Notes on Instant Pot pulled pork:

  • This recipe calls for about 2 lbs. of pork. You can double this if you want to use a bigger cut. You’ll want to increase the cooking time, however, to make sure the pork gets nice and tender. (I’ve done this for a 3 ½ lb. piece of pork and 55 minutes to an hour seems to be a good sweet spot.)
  • Once your Instant Pot is done, you need to shred the pork before adding the BBQ sauce. I do this with just two forks but you can also use a stand mixer. You can also use a knife and chop up your pork.
  • Start with adding about ¾ cup of BBQ sauce and add more as needed to get your pork nice and coated. You can also add a few splashes of the leftover cooking liquid to help everything come together and stay juicy.
  • Feel free to put the pulled pork back into the Instant Pot to keep it warm. Just make sure to discard all but a little bit of the cooking liquid.

Keep reading for substitutions, storage and serving ideas.

Instant Pot pork before being cooked Pork loin in an Instant Pot with Dr Pepper soda, before cooking Cooked pork loin in an Instant Pot

Here’s one of the most common questions I get about making pulled pork, whichever method you are using.

What pork should I use for pulled pork?

- The most common choice is pork shoulder or pork butt. They are pretty similar and have a great marbling throughout. They break down really well and become pull-apart tender. You can usually you’ll find one or the other in your grocery store and either is fine.

- If they only have a huge piece of pork, you can always ask the butcher to cut it down for you. (Or you can make a doubled up version of this recipe.)

- You can also use a boneless pork loin for this recipe, which is usually what I go with. It’s a little bit leaner but still has some fat marbling and it gets nice and tender.

- I have also used a pork tenderloin, which is the leanest option. It’s my preference for my slow cooker pulled pork, but I do like to use a fattier cut for the Instant Pot pulled pork to give it a bit more richness and to get more tender meat.

Large white bowl of shredded pulled pork with BBQ sauce and a bowl of coleslaw in the background.

What can I substitute for Dr. Pepper?

First, let me say that you don’t taste the soda in the finished meat. I personally very much dislike Dr. Pepper and anything flavored by it (such as the lollipops my kids sometimes bring home), but I don’t get even a trace of the taste of it in the finished pulled pork.

But if you don’t want to use it, you can substitute some beef or chicken broth in the recipe. You will probably also want to use a BBQ rub on the pork to add back in some of the flavor that you’ll be skipping with the soda.

What kind of BBQ sauce should I use for pulled pork?

Pick your favorite! A homemade sauce is always amazing, but your go-to store-bought kind is great here too. You can even try a smoky or flavored BBQ sauce if you want to mix up the flavor here.

And now, let’s get to the fun part - the eating!

A bowl of shredded pulled pork with a serving fork on the side

How to serve Instant Pot pulled pork:

- Make a pulled pork sandwich with a bun and coleslaw, either on the sandwich or alongside it. (I’m partial to my no mayo coleslaw or a basic but not super creamy coleslaw.)

- Make pulled pork sliders - great for game day eats and serving a crowd!

- Serve the pulled pork over a fluffy baked potato or baked sweet potato.

- Use the pulled pork for a pizza topping.

- Make a burrito bowl or grain bowl with rice, pulled pork, cheese, lettuce, tomato or salsa, guac and other favorite toppings.

- Use the pulled pork for nachos along with some cheddar, Colby or Monterey Jack cheese and your other favorite nacho fixings.

- Make soft or hard shell tacos with the pork and your favorite taco add-ons.

- Make pulled pork enchiladas or a pulled pork grilled cheese.

Nom, nom, nom.

This makes a decent amount - enough for 8 people - so I like to have it as sandwiches on the first night then use the leftovers to make nachos or tacos another night. Two meals for one!

Pulled pork BBQ piled onto a sandwich bun

Speaking of leftovers, here’s a few tips on how to store them.

How to store leftover pulled pork:

  • Keep the cooked pork, once cooled, in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
  • You can also store the leftovers in the freezer. Place in a freezer safe container (such as a ziptop bag) - that’s labelled - and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
  • You can reheat leftovers on the stove or in the microwave. It helps to add a little water or broth so it doesn’t dry out. I usually add some extra BBQ sauce as well to keep it moist and flavorful.

Hand picking up a BBQ pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw

You are ready to go!

I hope you give this recipe a try, whether for an easy family dinner, game day eats or for serving a crowd at a party.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. What other Instant Pot recipes would you like to see? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Update: Check out my Instant Pot pork tenderloin recipe too; it's got an amazing gravy with it that's made right in the Instant Pot!

A white bowl of shredded pulled pork mixed with BBQ sauce set on teal napkins.
PRINT PIN SaveSaved!
No ratings yet

Instant Pot pulled pork

Instant Pot pulled pork is made with just 3 ingredients and is ready in about an hour! This tender pork is perfect for pulled pork sandwiches, sliders, nachos, tacos and more!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Additional TimeAdditional Time20 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. boneless pork loin or boneless pork shoulder/butt or boneless pork tenderloin (see notes)
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • scant ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 oz. Dr. Pepper soda
  • ¾ to 1 cup BBQ sauce (homemade or store bought)

Instructions

  • Rub the pork with salt and pepper on all sides. Place the pork in the Instant Pot insert.
  • Pour the Dr. Pepper all around the pork.
  • Seal the Instant Pot and bring to high pressure, set for 45 minutes. (It’ll take about 10 minutes to come up to pressure.)
  • Once the cooking time is done, use the natural release for 10 minutes then do the quick release.
  • Remove the pork to a large bowl and shred with two forks until it is completely pulled. You can also use a stand mixer to shred the pork or use a knife and chop it up.
  • Add the BBQ sauce to the shredded pork, starting with ¾ cup and adding more as needed to get the pork completely coated. Add a splash or two of the cooking liquid, as needed, to get a good consistency and keep everything moist.
  • Use the pulled pork for sandwiches, sliders, tacos, nachos, pizza, burrito or grain bowls and more!

Notes

This recipe calls for about 2 lbs. of pork. You can double this if you want to use a bigger cut or make more. You’ll want to increase the cooking time, however, to make sure the pork gets nice and tender, probably to about 55 minutes or an hour.
What type of pork to use?
The most common choice is pork shoulder or pork butt. They are pretty similar and have a great marbling throughout. They break down really well and become pull-apart tender. You can usually you’ll find one or the other in your grocery store and either is fine.
You can also use a boneless pork loin for this recipe, which is usually what I go with. It’s a little bit leaner but still has some fat marbling and it gets nice and tender.
You can also use pork tenderloin, which is the leanest option.
Storage tips:
Keep the cooked pork, once cooled, in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. 
You can also store the leftovers in the freezer. Place in a freezer safe container (such as a tiptop bag) - that’s labelled - and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
You can reheat leftovers on the stove or in the microwave. It helps to add a little water or broth so it doesn’t dry out. I usually add some extra BBQ sauce as well to keep it moist and flavorful.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 538mg | Sugar: 9g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
A bun with pulled pork and coleslaw on a small white plate.

Pin

More Pork

  • Close up of a slotted serving spoon resting in a casserole dish of pork chops with rice and vegetables.
    Pork Chop Casserole
  • Close up of a small spatula lifting out a piece of sausage grits casserole from a baking dish.
    Grits and Sausage Casserole
  • Close up of one pot Cajun dirty rice cooked in a green Dutch oven pot with sliced green onions on top.
    One-Pot Cajun Dirty Rice
  • A large skillet with four cooked pork chops topped with onions and a mustard sauce.
    Honey Mustard Pork Chops

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Supplement Crunch

    September 30, 2019 at 4:16 am

    This looks so delicious and refreshing! Love to give it a try!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      September 30, 2019 at 4:40 pm

      Thanks! I hope you do! 😊

      Reply
  2. Tesslyn

    October 06, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    Not a fan of Dr. Pepper, it makes me sick. Does the pork end up tasting anything like the soda? Ever make it with something other than Dr. Pepper?

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      October 07, 2020 at 2:19 pm

      It does not! I hate the taste of the soda (honestly, even dislike just the smell of it), but this pork comes out juicy and flavorful and nothing like the soda. I haven't tried another substitute myself. Hope that helps!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A cream cheese chicken and mushroom mixture in a large pan with a wooden spoon resting in it.
    Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
  • Close up of honey garlic chicken served in a blue and white bowl with sliced green onions on top.
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Close up of a whole roasted chicken on a large white serving platter with veggies and fresh parsley to the side.
    Easy Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Close up of a fork resting in a bowl of rice and curried ground turkey with peas.
    Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
  • Close up of a wooden spoon drizzling pan gravy over seared pork chops.
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Close up of cooked cubes of chicken breasts in a honey garlic sauce with red pepper flakes.
    15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Footer

↑back to top

About

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails!

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Family Food on the Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required