This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Seasoned chunks of pork are cooked with sweet root beer and onions, and then shredded before getting a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- It’s a fast, flavorful, and unforgettable recipe everyone loves.
- Flavor: Juicy, tender, and loaded with savory and smoky flavor, with the perfect balance of sweet.
- Skill Level: This simple, hands-off recipe just needs a little seasoning, a sear, and to be left to cook until tender. Easy peasy!
- Recommended Tools: An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker, and it’s both safe, easy to use, and a true timesaver for busy families.
- Time-Saving Tip: Pulled pork freezes beautifully. Double the recipe and freeze half for a future easy dinner.
Ingredients Tips for Pulled Pork
- Pork: Choose marbled cuts like a pork shoulder roast or tenderloin for more flavor. For tender, shredable pork, trim the fat and cut into chunks before cooking.
- Seasoning: The easy pork rub recipe uses basic pantry ingredients, but you can use a store-bought blend, too. Swap out the brown sugar for your favorite sugar-free sweetener and fire up the flavor by tossing in a few red pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper.
- Sauce: Buy it or make homemade BBQ sauce or a zesty chili sauce, and pair it with a can of root beer, cola, or Dr. Pepper soda for that pop of sweetness.
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Instant Pot pulled pork in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze leftover portions in zippered bags for up to 4 months and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Perfect Pulled Pork Sides…
Did you love this Instant Pot Pulled Pork? Leave a comment and rating below!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ½ to 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast
- 3 tablespoons pork rub or use rub recipe below
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup water
- 1 can root beer or Dr. Pepper or cola
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup barbecue sauce or to taste
Instructions
- Cut pork into large cubes, about 4" each, and season with pork rub.
- Turn Instant Pot onto sear and add oil. Brown pork in batches until browned (or in a pan).
- Add water to the bottom of the Instant Pot and be sure to scrape all of the brown bits off (to avoid a burn notice). Add root beer and garlic.
- Add pork and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes (according to your product manual). Natural release for 15 minutes.
- Remove the pork from the Instant Pot and using two forks, shred the meat. Add ¼ cup juices from the Instant Pot (discard remaining juices). Stir in BBQ sauce.
- Serve on toasted rolls with coleslaw.
Notes
Pork Rub
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt, black pepper
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Entree, Main Course, Pork
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
I’m making this as Pulled Pork Nachos for tailgating at our son’s football game. I’m so looking forward to tasting it!! I can tell you that after searing the pork the smell in my house is AMAZING!!
THANKS FOR THE RECIPIE!! If you would like pics, just let me know. I took pics along the way too!
I’m so glad you loved these Kathy! I’d love to see photos if you post on Instagram, you can tag me @spendpennies
This was so easy and so delicious. I did use the dry rub recipe and the Root Beer in the PC stage. I did not add the BBQ sauce as I planned on sharing this shredded Pork with our little fur babies.
I made a gravy from the juice in the pot and put the gravy over mashed potatoes. Excellent dinner. PS: The furbabies loved it too. I had a hard time getting their empty plates from them to wash as they were still licking every last drop.
It’s quick, easy, and good to eat. My kind of cooking
For NON OWNERS of the INSTANT POT—
How can these recipes be converted to a SLOW COOKER or even Stove Top?
Hi Sally, you can find our slow cooker pulled pork here!
It was easy and delicious, thank you so much
You are so very welcome Janet!
I haven’t tried this yet but I wonder if I can cook this with sauerkraut? My mom used to make a roast with sauerkraut and I never watched her do it. Of course the recipe was in her head. What do you suggest?
I haven’t tried it but that sounds delicious! I would suggest setting the sauerkraut on top of the pork as it cooks (and not mixing it in). Let us know how it goes!
I’ve made this and it is a huge family hit! Can I double the recipe for a party? Same time?
It should work to double as long as your Instant Pot is large enough. You can also try this crockpot pulled pork recipe if you have a larger crockpot. Hope that helps!
Make this everytime with your colesaw recipe love love the flavor and the tenderness of the meat. 10 out of 10 YUM
That is such a yummy pairing! Glad you enjoyed it.
First time, I made pulled pork in Crockpot. Then a few days ago my mom sent me this recipe and omg…. We love it!!! Still got some left, will be adding it to brown rice tomorrow.
Brown rice is the perfect side!! Glad you loved it!
Really simple and came out great. I used diet root beer because that’s what was on hand. Hubby had no idea (he hates diet anything) and went back for seconds. Will make this again and again.
Normally I like to do pork butt on the smoker and it always turns out great. However this recipe is awesome and at a fraction of the time. Great job. Will be doing this many times over the cold winter days.
Thank you David, so happy you love this pulled pork!
This was my first time working with pork (I’m Jewish), my first time using my Instant Pot (it’s been living in the garage since my sweet husband gave it to me years ago), and my first time making a traditional BBQ sauce. Everything turned out beautifully. Your recipes are so easy to follow and are so good! I’ve been steering my daughter toward your recipes ever since she moved into her own apartment because you have so many great staple recipes. We have never been disappointed. This pulled pork turned out tender and flavorful. I used your basic BBQ sauce recipe (using Dr. Pepper, great excuse for buying some) and when added I added it to the pulled pork it was like magic. I will make your red cabbage slaw tomorrow when we have this for dinner. Your pork rub was also easy and delicious! Thanks so much!
Thank you for sharing Rachel! It makes my day hearing that everything turned out so well for you. You are so welcome!!
Freaking awesome
Could I make this amount in my Mini Duo (3 qt Instant Pot)? Or should I scale back the recipe by 1/3? 1/2? – thanks.
The recipe should work just fine in a smaller IP, I would suggest that you check the manual for the quantities to see how much to scale back. Let us know how it goes!
can this dish be cooked in slowcooker
It sure can. I follow this method for crock pot pulled pork.