This AIP Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork recipe is a true delight. It can also be made in a Crockpot for the most tender, flavorful and delicious pulled pork that’s completely gluten free, night-shade free and refined sugar free.
This AIP BBQ Pulled Pork is a real winner. It comes together in under an hour in the Instant Pot and is so tender and delicious. Don’t have a pressure cooker/Instant Pot? Check out the recipe notes below for instructions on how to make this in a crockpot too. It’ll be just as good and worth the wait.
Here are the main ingredients in this Easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork:
- Pork shoulder – you can also use pork butt roast here
- Honey – you can probably substitute here with maple syrup, maple sugar or coconut sugar.
- Onions and garlic – these are cooked in the slow cooker/ pressure cooker alongside the pork
- Onion powder, garlic powder, cinnamon, sea salt – these are used to flavour homemade bbq sauce that the pork is tossed in once it’s cooked
- Apple cider vinegar – for that characteristic BBQ sauce tanginess
- Unsulphered Blackstrap molasses and coconut aminos – for thickening, sweetening and flavouring the sauce further
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork FAQs
Can I make this using a different cut of pork?
You can also use pork butt roast (sometimes called Boston butt) and I recommend looking for boneless.
Can I make this using a crockpot?
Yes, see recipe notes below for timing. If your slow cooker has a sauté function, I highly recommend searing before cooking, but it isn’t mandatory.
How do I store this?
This doesn’t last long in my household but you can store int he fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for a couple months!
Can I make this coconut free?
Yes, omit the coconut aminos entirely and adjust for salt accordingly. You won’t miss it too much!
If you loved this Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork I would appreciate it if you would give the recipe a rating and review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious.
You might also enjoy these other Instant Pot/Slow Cooker Recipes:
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork (AIP, paleo, crockpot)
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This AIP Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork recipe is a true delight. It can also be made in a Crockpot for the most tender, flavorful and delicious pulled pork that’s completely gluten free, night-shade free and refined sugar free.
Ingredients
- 2 – 2.5 lb pork shoulder sliced into 3–4 pieces
- 2 tsp coarse sea salt
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
BBQ sauce
- 2 TBSP honey
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic power
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 TBSP unsulphered blackstrap molasses
- 2 TBSP coconut aminos
Instructions
- Cut the pork shoulder into 3-4 pieces and sprinkle with 2 tsp sea salt.
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and add 2 TBSP olive oil. Sear the pieces of pork in the oil, approximately 1.5 minutes per side.
- Add water, onions and garlic to pot and place lid on the Instant Pot.
- Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes.*
- Once the pork is done, quick-release the pressure by pressing/turning the valve to “venting”
- Once the pressure is released, remove the lid.
- Meat will be incredibly tender. Transfer to a large bowl and shred pork using two forks.
- Return the Instant Pot to the sauté function to make the bbq sauce.* *Add honey, onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, molasses and coconut aminos and allow the sauce to reduce to desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust for salt accordingly.
- Turn Instant Pot off and add pork back into the pot, stirring to combine with the sauce.
- Serve hot.
Notes
*If using a crockpot or Instant Pot, cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours or until the pork shreds easily. Proceed as directed from step 7.
**If your slow cooker doesn’t have a sauté function, transfer the pork juices to a pot on the stovetop and bring to a simmer, before adding the sauce ingredients. Allow to boil until it reduces to desired consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Mains
Pulled pork on its own was very delicious, I loved how it called for fresh onion and garlic. However, the bbq sauce recipe was too over powered by the cinnamon which for my personal taste was a no no. I plan on making this recipe again but with maybe a fourth or less the amount of cinnamon.
LOVE THIS RECIPE!! 😋 😋
I always have this as a meal if I can’t think of what else to cook. When I was really sick, I would make this constantly and keep it frozen to thaw, heat, and eat.
Now, I make it for my family and boyfriend. They are not AIP and don’t even know that the recipe is 🤭 It is a crowd pleaser or perfect for yourself.
I throw in all the root vegetables (turnips, parsnips, carrots, & sometimes potatoes), and double the sauce (making more on the side to add after it’s frozen and I’m throwing and reheating).It is divine-kind of makes a pot roast. SO thankful for this recipe!!
Have also found an AIP beef short rib recipe that I use the same veggies for. It is great too!
Sending you so much healing!! ❤️🩹 🙏🏼
Made this today and it is sooo good! Used the IP version, which made it easy, and then I heated a large cast iron skillet in the oven on broil and put in the pork with a little sauce. Browned up beautifully and now will just add the additional sauce as we go. Wasn’t sure about the molasses but it really is tasty.
Tried this today and the entire family LOVED it. So tasty- Another amazing yummy recipe 😁
I make this recipe all the time! It’s so easy and very forgiving for different cuts of pork or even beef. I love to pair it with your herbed potato salad! My family also loves it on top of hamburger buns for a nonAIP diet. It reheats and freezes well. I love to make it ahead and reheat for camp outs!
This was ridiculously good and so easy! I used pork tenderloin instead to make it a bit leaner. I’m normally too afraid to deviate from ground turkey chicken breasts because I’m too afraid to ruin a good cut of meat, but this recipe is so easy and definitely a keeper!
This was awesome – another favorite. I only wish I had doubled the recipe. Thank you!
Quick question – after the pork has cooked and been removed from the IP – do you dump the pork juices & onions before making the sauce? Or do you use those juices and onions with the other ingredients for the sauce?
Keep all those yummy juices for sure!
This was so delicious! I really love the flavor of the BBQ sauce. It’s so clever to use the pork droppings for the sauce.
Wonderfully flavorful and downright yummy! Enjoyable for all meat eaters, regardless of whether or not they are on the AIP elimination diet or not. Will definitely be making again!
My favorite pulled pork recipe, thank you! 🙂
this is so great! i’ve had my eye on this recipe since it was posted since i’ve been looking for an AIP swap for carnitas. i slow cooked the pork in my slow cooker as opposed to my instant pot and had the wonderful experience of smelling the cinnamon / molasses / pork combo for seven hours in anticipation. when my wrists are tired from arthritis i like to separate / shred the pork shoulder by sticking it in my stand mixer with a dough hook for just a minute. a great time saver from my carnitas days that worked perfectly with this bbq recipe! this will be a new go-to in my house. served the bbq on an orange sweet potato with a dollop of guacamole and lots of cilantro the first night and looking forward to serving on cassava tortillas another night!
Thanks for the dough hook tip!! I’m making enough for 24 servings of this for a party and that will definitely be a time saver!!
So flavorful. We love this recipe. Thank You