Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork

Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork that is perfectly seasoned and super tender. Use pork shoulder to make this easy pulled pork in the Instant Pot in under one hour! Made in partnership with Pacific Foods.

Summer is here and it’s freaking hot out. That means easy cooking and my pressure cooker pulled pork is exactly what you need to dominate weeknight dinners.

This recipe uses only a handful of easy to find ingredients and is mostly hands-off since it is made in the pressure cooker. I based it off of my popular Slow Cooker Chili Pulled Pork Tacos recipe. The recipes are different though as I needed to make changes to quickly impart flavor on the pork and to compensate for the need to add additional liquid to the pressure cooker.

Best part, you don’t need to wait around all day for the slow cooker to do its thing. This Instant Pot version is ready and on the table in just about one hour!

PRESSURE COOKER PULLED PORK INGREDIENTS:

• Pressure Cooker (I have a 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo)
• Boneless Pork Shoulder
• Taco Seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
• Avocado Oil (or other mild oil)
• Sweet Onion
• Pineapple Juice
• Unsalted Chicken Stock or Broth

CAN I USE CHICKEN STOCK TO COOK PORK?

Yes, Yes and YES.

Chicken Stock is so versatile and is a great base for other proteins. I regularly use chicken stock as a base for Pork, Goat, Lamb, Beef and even Poached Salmon.

HOW TO MAKE PRESSURE COOKER PULLED PORK

1. Cut the pork shoulder into six large pieces and coat each with taco seasoning.
2. Use the “Saute” setting of the electric pressure cooker to sear coated pork pieces in batches until browned.
3. Add onions, pineapple juice, and stock to Instant Pot or another electric pressure cooker. Saute for a few minutes until onions begin to soften.
4. Return browned pork pieces to Instant Pot and set to directed cooking time.
5. Once done, use two large forks to “shred”. Mix with 1 cup of the cooking liquid, serve and Enjoy!

HOW TO SERVE PULLED PORK

• Tacos. Pulled Pork makes amazing tacos. I recommend fresh cabbage, cilantro, radish, and avocado.
• In a Salad. Think Mexican Salad Bowl with all of your favorite fixings. Perfect Keto Pulled Pork dinner.
• Sandwiches. Pulled Pork Sandwiches are classic for a reason.
• Bowl. Make a Chipotle copycat Pulled Pork Bowl using cauliflower rice or Instant Pot Rice.
• Carnitas. Turn this into Carnitas in minutes. Directions below…

Freeze whatever you have leftover for another meal as this is very freezer friendly and reheats beautifully.

CAN I MAKE PULLED PORK INTO CARNITAS?

Yes, Pressure Cooker Pork Carnitas is an easy next step…

1. Preheat the oven to 450F.
2. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the Pulled Pork onto a baking sheet.
3. Spread out so that the pork is one layer.
4. Pour 1 to 1.5 cups of the pork cooking liquid over the meat, toss and top with a pinch or two of good salt, then pop into the oven.
5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, turn the meat and bake an additional 10 to 12 minutes until edges are crispy and most of the liquid is absorbed.
6. If you are craving more of a “sauce” to top the carnitas, try this clean-ingredient Ortega copycat Taco Sauce.
7. Serve as Carnitas and Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Pressurizing Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

 

Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork that is perfectly seasoned and super tender! Use pork shoulder to make this easy pulled pork in the Instant Pot in under one hour!

Course: Mains

Cuisine: American, Latin, Mexican

Keyword: carnitas, instant pot, pork tacos, pressure cooker, pressure cooker pulled pork, pulled pork

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 283 kcal

Author: Alyssa Brantley

5 from 8 votes

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Ingredients

• 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into 6 pieces
• 4 Tablespoons taco seasoning
• 2 Tablespoons avocado oil (or other mild tasting oil)
• 1 medium sweet onion cut in 8 chunks
• 1 cup Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Stock Unsalted Single Serve
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice

Instructions

PREP:

1. Remove string (if applicable) from pork shoulder. Cut into 6 evenly sized pieces and rub taco seasoning all over raw pork pieces. Set aside.

   Peel onion and cut into eighths. 

   Grab oil, stock and pineapple juice.

2. Turn Pressure Cooker on to "Saute". Once hot, add avocado oil and then spiced pork pieces 3 at a time. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side until all sides are browned.

   Remove and repeat with remaining 3 pieces. 

3. Add onion pieces, pineapple juice and stock.

   Use a spatula or wooden spoon to gently scrape the bottom of the pot. Saute 3 to 4 minutes, until onions are just beginning to soften.

4. Add browned pork pieces back to the pressure cooker. Set to "Meat, 35 minutes, high pressure" OR "manual, high pressure, 35 minutes"

   Since you have had the pot on Saute the whole time, it should only take 12 to 15 minutes to come to pressure.

   Allow for a 15 minutes natural pressure release and then do a quick release to remove remaining pressure.

5. Use a tongs to remove pork pieces to a large bowl and the use two forks to shred into "pulled pork".

   Add 1 cup of cooking juice back to pulled pork, toss and serve.

   To serve as CARNITAS, see instructions listed above recipe.

NOTES:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARNITAS:

• Preheat the oven to 450F.
• Use a slotted spoon to scoop the Pulled Pork onto a baking sheet.
• Spread out so that the pork is one layer.
• Pour 1 to 1.5 cups of the pork cooking liquid over the meat, toss and top with a pinch or two of good salt, then pop into the oven.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, turn the meat and bake an additional 10 to 12 minutes until edges are crispy and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Nutrition Facts

Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork

Amount Per Serving

Calories 283 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 114mg38%

Sodium 200mg9%

Potassium 781mg22%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 43g86%

Vitamin A 80IU2%

Vitamin C 2.7mg3%

Calcium 20mg2%

Iron 1.9mg11%

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

Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.

UPDATE NOTES: This post was originally published in June 2018 and updated in May 2019 with edited photos, better instructions, and answers to the most commonly asked questions to make this a foolproof recipe.

DISCLOSURE:  This post is part of a series of posts sponsored by Pacific Foods. Pacific Foods has compensated me for my time to develop this recipe as their 2018 Brand Ambassador for Broths. Thank you for supporting the brands that make EverydayMaven possible. All opinions are my own.