Easy BBQ Instant Pot Pulled Pork - Easy Budget Recipes

Name: BBQ Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 105 min
Ingredients: 4 pounds pork loin; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1 cup BBQ sauce (we used Sweet Baby Ray’s); ¾ cup mild green chiles; 2 teaspoons salt

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This BBQ Instant Pot Pulled Pork is loaded with sweet, smoky green-chile BBQ flavor and turns out tender and juicy in just 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s an easy, budget-friendly dinner perfect for sandwiches, tacos, meal prep, and busy weeknights.

Tongs picking up a scoop of Instant Pot Pulled Pork.

Table of Contents

BBQ Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe Tips

Once you get the hang of pressure cooking, the Instant Pot starts to feel like pure kitchen magic, and you can enjoy other great recipes like this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken. Here are my best tips for helping you make this pulled pork perfectly the first time.

Cut the pork into evenly sized pieces. This helps it cook evenly, so it all becomes nice and tender.
Trim off the fat. This will help keep the sauce from getting too greasy.
Let the pressure release naturally for the full 15 minutes. Doing this helps keep the pork tender and juicy.
Do not overcook the sauce. You only need to cook the sauce for 10-15 minutes. It will continue to thicken as the sauce cools.

Ingredients & Estimated Cost:

Recipe Cost: $15.41

Per Serving: $1.28

Here are the 5 simple ingredients you need for this recipe, along with some substitution recommendations.

ingredients for instant pot bbq pulled pork with text overaly

Pork loin (4 pounds – $11.96): A pork shoulder can also be used.
Brown sugar (1 cup – $0.68): Light or dark brown sugar will work.
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce (1 cup – $1.00): Use your favorite BBQ sauce.
Mild green chiles (¾ cup – $1.75): Fresh, roasted green chilies would also be delicious instead of canned ones.
Salt (2 teaspoons – $0.02): Kosher salt is my preferred choice for this recipe.

The recipe cost is calculated based on the required amounts and may vary due to fluctuating grocery prices.

How To Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Make the sauce, cook, shred, and serve. Let me show you how.

Stir the sauce ingredients together in a bowl.
Pour the sauce over the pork pieces in the Instant Pot.
Pressure cook on HIGH for one hour, let the pressure release for 15 minutes, and remove the lid.
Place the pork in a separate bowl.
Use two forks to shred the pork.
Cook the sauce in the Instant Pot for about 10-15 minutes.
Mix the sauce with the shredded pork.
Serve with nachos, tacos, salad, sandwiches, and more!

a collage showing how to make instant pot pulled pork by shredding the pork, mixing the pork with the sauce, and serving the shredded pork

Recipe FAQs

Can I use pork shoulder instead of pork loin?

Pork shoulder or pork butt will work for this recipe.

Can I use frozen pork in the Instant Pot?

For the best results, I recommend thawing the pork first, since you are cooking it in a pressure cooker rather than a slow cooker.

What can I serve with this?

This fall-apart, tender pork is delicious in a sandwich on a sturdy bun, like brioche buns. Or serve it over nachos, salads, or sliders. I love to serve a bag of potato chips and some coleslaw or this Instant Pot Mac & Cheese alongside this pork.

BBQ Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Recipe Cost 15.41

Serving Cost 1.28

Author Jess Jankowski

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

This BBQ Instant Pot Pulled Pork is sweet, smoky, tender, and easy to make in under 2 hours for sandwiches, tacos, and meal prep nights.

Servings: 12 people

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1 15

Total Time 1 45

Equipment

Instant Pot
measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Medium bowl
forks
chef's knife

Ingredients

PORK:

4 pounds pork loin

SAUCE:

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup BBQ sauce we used Sweet Baby Ray’s
¾ cup mild green chiles
2 teaspoons salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

CUT PORK:

Cut the pork loin into three pieces.

MAKE SAUCE:

In a medium bowl add all of the sauce ingredients and stir to combine.

LOAD UP INSTANT POT:

Place the pork in an Instant Pot and then pour the sauce over the pork.

COOK:

Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the dial to “seal”.
Cook on HIGH pressure for one hour. Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, and then turn the dial to “venting”.

SHRED PORK:

Move the pork to a medium bowl and remove any visible fat.
Use two forks to shred the meat.

THICKEN SAUCE:

Press the “saute” button on the Instant Pot and keep pressing it until “more” is selected.
Cook the sauce until thickened, about 10-15 minutes (please note that it will thicken up a little more as it cools).

TO FINISH:

Pour the sauce over the pork. Serve.

Notes

Recipe Tips

This recipe makes about 4 cups of pulled pork.
Cut the pork into evenly sized pieces.
Trim off the fat.
Let the pressure release naturally for the full 15 minutes.
Do not overcook the sauce.

Storage Tips

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Place the pulled pork in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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