Super juicy and tender, fall-apart tender Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork with slow cooker option. Easy to make and totally delicious, this is the perfect year-round recipe for bbq pork lovers!.
I think of pulled pork when I think of summer, but I make this easy Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork all year long because it’s SO GOOD.
I will show you how to make BBQ pulled pork in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker today. It will be very juicy and tender. I even have instructions for you if you still love your slow cooker and haven’t switched to a pressure cooker yet!
This recipe is so family-friendly, even the pickiest of eaters will down this ultra tender bbq pork. Some days it’s really hard to get my toddlers to eat anything but mac and cheese, so the fact that they ate some is pretty big.
First things first, the bbq sauce. The recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of bbq sauce. There’s nothing wrong with making your own BBQ sauce from scratch. I’ve done it before and loved it.
But if you want to save time and effort, use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce. I do this all the time!.
When I use store-bought barbecue sauce in this pulled pork, my favorite trick is to pick two flavors that go well together. Usually a sweet paired with smoky, spicy, or something tangy like a Carolina-style sauce. Using two kinds of bbq sauce really kicks up the flavor.
This recipe also calls for one can of Coca Cola. You can swap this out for Dr. Pepper, or Root Beer! Use your personal preference or whatever you’ve got on hand. The main purpose is to tenderize the pork and any of these will work great.
Pulled pork is a quintessential comfort food that’s loved by many. The tender, juicy pork soaked in rich barbecue sauce makes for amazing sandwiches, tacos, pizza salads, and more! While delicious preparing pulled pork using traditional oven or slow cooker methods can be quite time consuming.
This is where the Instant Pot comes in handy! The Instant Pot is a revolutionary multi-cooker that can drastically reduce pulled pork cooking times. Even when working with frozen pork, you can have tender fall-apart pulled pork in under an hour thanks to the Instant Pot.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to cook delicious frozen pulled pork in the Instant Pot Let’s get started!
Benefits of Using the Instant Pot
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using the Instant Pot to cook frozen pulled pork:
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Speed – Pulled pork can cook in as little as 45-60 minutes versus 8+ hours in a slow cooker. The Instant Pot shaves off hours of cooking time.
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Convenience – Simple one-pot cooking and minimal hands-on time. Just set it and forget it!
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Tender Meat – The high pressure environment gently breaks down the pork collagen into succulent pulled pork.
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Flavor Infusion – Cooking in the aromatic liquid amps up the flavor.
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Freezer to Instant Pot – You don’t have to thaw the pork first! Go straight from freezer to IP.
Tips for Choosing Pork for the Instant Pot
Opt for the right cut of pork for the best Instant Pot pulled pork:
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Pork shoulder/butt – This well-marbled cut works perfectly and stays moist. Bone-in or boneless are both fine.
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3-5 pounds – Choose a medium sized 3-5 lb pork shoulder as the best size for the IP.
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Well-trimmed – Excess fat can lead to greasy results. Find a leaner cut.
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Uniformly frozen – Evenly frozen pork will cook more consistently. Avoid partial thawing.
How to Prep the Pork
Prep is easy since there’s no need to thaw! Here are a few tips:
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Remove packaging – Discard any freezer wrapping.
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Pat dry – Blot away any ice crystals with paper towels.
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Season generously – Coat all sides with salt, pepper, spices, etc.
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Add liquid – Pour 1 cup broth, barbecue sauce, etc in Instant Pot.
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Insert trivet – Place trivet in bottom and set pork on top.
Now the pork is ready to cook from frozen in the magical Instant Pot!
Step-By-Step Instant Pot Frozen Pulled Pork
Follow these simple steps:
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Generously season frozen pork roast on all sides.
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Pour 1 cup liquid (broth, sauce, etc) into Instant Pot. Insert trivet.
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Place seasoned frozen pork on trivet.
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Secure lid, making sure vent is sealed.
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Select Manual/Pressure Cook on High for 45-60 minutes.
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Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Vent remaining pressure.
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Remove pork, shred with forks, and toss with more sauce.
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Sit back and enjoy your tender pulled pork!
Pro Tip: Add a few drops of liquid smoke to the cooking liquid for extra smoky flavor.
Handy Tips for Instant Pot Pulled Pork Perfection
To guarantee pork perfection, keep these handy tips in mind:
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Skip the thawing for quickest cooking times.
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Trim excess fat to prevent greasiness.
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Shred across the grain for tender pulled meat.
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Use natural pressure release to prevent overcooking.
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Add sauce after shredding to prevent sogginess.
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Fill any empty space in pot with extra liquid.
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Cook for the full time even if done early.
Irresistible Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipes
Elevate your basic pulled pork by trying these fun and irresistible recipe ideas:
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BBQ Pulled Pork – Classic sweet and smoky shredded pork.
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Cuban Pulled Pork – Infused with zesty Cuban flavors.
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Green Chile Pulled Pork – Southwestern spice and Hatch chiles.
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Pulled Pork Chili – Tender pork mixed into rich four bean chili.
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Carnitas Pulled Pork Tacos – With crispy pan-fried bits for tacos.
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Thai Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps – With peanut sauce for wrapping.
The possibilities are endless for enjoying freezer-to-Instant Pot pulled pork creations!
Pull Apart Tender Pork in Record Time
As you can see, the Instant Pot is a game changer when it comes to fast and easy frozen pulled pork. In just an hour or so, you can be enjoying insanely delicious pulled pork masterpieces.
We hope our guide gives you the tips and inspiration you need to start pressure cooking frozen pork roasts like a pro. Now you can skip the tedious thawing and all-day slow cooks. Embrace the convenience of pork that goes from freezer to fork fast in your Instant Pot!
How do you Make Pulled Pork in an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker?
- Cut pork roast into 4 equal pieces. Combine in pressure cooker with Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper, or Root Beer.
- BBQ sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder should all be mixed together and then poured over pork.
- Cover and set to pressure cook setting for 45 minutes. Use natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release.
- Uncover pressure cooker and shred pork. Put the pork in a bowl and pour out the juices. Add the barbecue sauce and mix it in.
- Serve on hamburger buns.
Can I use Frozen Pork Roast?
Yes! For results, use thawed pork that has been cut into four sections. If you want really tender pork, you will need to add about forty minutes to the cooking time if you use a frozen pork roast.
Instant pot Pulled pork from FROZEN – paleo
FAQ
Can I cook pulled pork from frozen?
How long do you cook a frozen pork shoulder in the Instant Pot?
Is it safe to pressure cook frozen pork?