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Tender Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe with Easy Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce

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A quick and easy pulled pork recipe made in the Instant Pot with a tangy, vinegar-based Carolina BBQ sauce that delivers tender, juicy, and flavorful results without the long wait of traditional slow cooking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup water or chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix together smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Rub this spice blend evenly all over the pork.
  2. Turn the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and heat up. Add a tablespoon of oil, then sear the pork shoulder on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side (optional but recommended).
  3. In a bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, water or chicken broth, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and red pepper flakes. Pour this mixture into the Instant Pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  4. Place the pork shoulder into the Instant Pot, nestling it in the liquid. Seal the lid and set the valve to ‘Sealing’. Select ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ on high pressure for 60 minutes.
  5. Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
  6. Remove the pork and shred it using two forks or shredding claws. Discard any large fat pieces.
  7. While the pork cooks, whisk together apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to make the Carolina BBQ sauce. Adjust sweetness or tang to taste.
  8. Return the shredded pork to the Instant Pot with the cooking juices and pour in the Carolina BBQ sauce. Stir gently and warm on ‘Sauté’ mode for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
  9. Serve hot on buns, over rice, or with your favorite sides.

Notes

Searing the pork before pressure cooking adds depth of flavor and a nice crust but can be skipped if short on time. Use natural pressure release for 15 minutes to ensure tender shredding. If sauce is too thin, simmer on ‘Sauté’ mode to thicken. Save extra sauce for drizzling. For gluten-free, verify Worcestershire sauce and ketchup labels.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, Instant Pot, Carolina BBQ sauce, tangy BBQ, quick pulled pork, pressure cooker pork, easy BBQ recipe, Southern BBQ

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/tender-instant-pot-pulled-pork-recipe-with-easy-tangy-carolina-bbq-sauce/