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Recipes

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Pulled pork in the Instant Pot, from the household cookbook.

From Travis's kitchen · Updated November 2026

  • Servings About 6 to 8
  • Time About 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours if thawed (25 min active), or about 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours if frozen, including pressure buildup, cook time, and 15 min natural release

Ingredients

  • about 3-4 lb (1.4-1.8kg) pork butt, cut into 3-4 big chunks

Rub

  • 1 Tbsp (18g) salt
  • 1 Tbsp (12g) brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp (7g) smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp (3g) garlic powder
  • 1 tsp (2g) onion powder
  • 1 tsp (2g) cumin
  • 1/2 tsp (1g) black pepper

Liquid and finish

  • 1 cup (240g) broth or apple cider
  • 2 Tbsp (30g) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp (14g) oil, for an optional sear
  • optional BBQ sauce, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cut the pork into 3 or 4 big chunks and coat them in the rub.
  2. Optionally sear the chunks in a little oil on Sauté, about 3 minutes a side, for flavor.
  3. Pour in the broth or apple cider and the apple cider vinegar, and scrape up the browned bits so you don't get a burn notice.
  4. Cook on High pressure for 60 minutes if the pork is thawed, or 90 minutes if it is frozen, then let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
  5. Shred the pork with two forks. Skim the fat from the juices, stir 1/2 to 1 cup of the juices back in, and add BBQ sauce if you like.

Levers and swaps

  • Pork and time: Thawed, 60 min on High (used for a thawed butt); Frozen, 90 min on High: no need to thaw first; About 3-4 lb, cut into 3-4 big chunks, either way
  • Liquid: 1 cup broth plus 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar: savory; 1 cup apple cider plus 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar: slightly sweeter; Keep the vinegar in either way, and scrape the pot after you pour it in
  • Sear: Sear in a little oil on Sauté, about 3 min a side: deeper flavor; Skip the sear: faster, and still shreds well; If you sear, scrape up the browned bits before locking the lid, to avoid a burn notice

From Travis's kitchen

This is the October 21, 2026 recipe.

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The kind we cook with

Instant Pot Duo 6-quart

We cook with an Instant Pot, which is often how a one-pot meal or a leftover gets done when energy is short. This is a current 6-quart Instant Pot Duo, the kind we use.

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