Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe

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One of the best innovations in kitchen gadgets over the past few years is the Instant Pot – and for good reason! Today we have a great Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot recipe for you and your whole family to enjoy. With its speed, convenience and ease of use, this genius appliance has already helped millions of home cooks put together delicious meals. Today I’m sharing one of my very favorite recipes to make with it: Asian Pulled Pork with a flavorful marinade that tastes just like what you’d find in your favorite Chinese restaurant.

Ready to try it out? This quick, easy Asian Pulled Pork Recipe will have you serving up tender meat and Asian flavors in no time flat!

What Is Pulled Pork?

Pulled pork is an incredibly popular dish in the South and around the world. It’s a slow-cooked pork roast that has been cooked over low heat until it’s tender, then shredded or pulled apart with two forks. It’s typically served with barbecue sauce and can be found in sandwiches, wraps, tacos, burritos and even salads.

Pulled Pork V’s Asian Pulled Pork

Asian pulled pork is a variation of the classic dish. It relies on a variety of Asian-inspired ingredients to give it an extra special boost.

Soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar and sesame oil are just some of the ingredients you can use to create this delicious dish. This recipe is sometimes called Chinese Pulled Pork.

Why Should I Make Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot?

Making pulled pork in an Instant Pot is a great way to save time and energy from the traditional slow-cooking method.

The Instant Pot will cook your pork in just a fraction of the time, allowing you to create delicious dishes that everyone will love. Plus, you don’t have to worry about babysitting the pork for hours on end. Instant Pot Pulled Pork is a great hands-off method that anyone can master.

Instant Pot Asian Pork Prep Time

Prep time: 10 minutes 

Cook time: 45 minutes + pressure build time

Yields: 4 servings of this pork recipe

Ingredients For Asian Pulled Pork

Here are the ingredients needed for this Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe:

• 2 lbs of pork shoulder, boneless and fat trimmed – You can also use Pork butt, pork loin pork tenderloin or bone-in pork shoulder.
• 2 tablespoons of peanut oil, or sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic – use garlic cloves or fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger 
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper 
• 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce 
• 2 tablespoons raw honey 
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 
• 1/2 cup white vinegar 
• 2 cup water + 1 teaspoon 
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch 
• Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish 

How Do I Make Asian Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot?

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making the best Chinese pulled pork.

Step One: Turn On Instant Pot

Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode and add the oil. Once hot, add the pork and begin to sear the meat on all sides. 

Step Two: Sear the Pork Shoulder

Once the pork shoulder is seared, add the ginger, garlic, and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes more. 

Step Three: Deglaze The Pot

Turn off the sauté function and add a splash of water to deglaze the Instant Pot liner. This will ensure the burn notice doesn’t come on from food getting stuck on the bottom of the pot.

Step Four: Add Cooking Liquids

Pour in the remaining water, and add the chili sauce, soy sauce, and honey. once all the cooking liquid has been added, close the lid and seal the pressure valve. 

Step Five: Pressure Cook Pork

Cook your Asian pulled pork at high pressure for 30 minutes.

Step Six: Release Pressure

Naturally release the pork shoulder for ten minutes before performing a manual release. Manually release any remaining pressure and remove the pork shoulder from the Instant Pot.

Step Seven: Shred The Pork

Using forks, shred the pork and set aside. The pork shoulder or pork butt should be fall-apart tender and easy to shred.

Drain the remaining liquid keeping 3/4 cup and set the Instant Pot to sauté.

Step Eight: Make Cornstarch Slurry

Mix the cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of water to create a slurry. Once the liquid is simmering, whisk in the slurry to thicken the liquid into a sauce. 

Return the pork to the Instant Pot and mix so that the sauce fully coats the pork. 

Step Nine: Serve Asian Pulled Pork On Rice

Serve the Asian pulled pork with white rice, jasmine rice or brown rice and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.

This is a great main course cuisine and the extremely tender pork makes it a versatile dish that can be served in a number of ways.

Best Substitutes For This Recipe

If you don’t have honey you can switch this for 1 tablespoon of brown sugar instead. White vinegar can be switched with rice wine vinegar.

Chinese rice wine will give the recipe even more of an Asian flair. Soy sauce can be switched with hoisin sauce. Lastly, you don’t have to use sweet chili sauce, you can also use your favorite BBQ sauce instead.

You can add chicken stock to your water for extra flavor or switch the water to chicken broth. If you love pulled pork then you’ll love this pulled pork served on a rice bowl.

How To Serve Asian Pulled Pork?

This recipe serves the delicious Chinese pulled pork ingredients on a plate of white rice, however, there are plenty of different ways to serve Asian pulled pork.

Asian Pulled Pork Sandwich Or Sliders

Serve the shredded pork on a crusty roll with your favorite condiments for the best-pulled pork sandwiches. You can also make a batch of Asian pork sliders for parties and social gatherings.

Pulled Pork Stir Fry

Mix in a few of your favorite vegetables and serve the pork over white rice for a complete meal. Add some extra sauces if you like it spicy!

Asian Pulled Pork Nachos

Top tortilla chips with shredded pork, cheese, beans, and salsa for a tasty variation on traditional nachos.

Asian Pulled Pork Bao Buns

You can use your pulled pork mixture to make Bao buns. Now that is a tasty idea!

Asian Pulled Porkos

Fill taco shells or lettuce wraps with pulled pork, shredded cabbage, and any other desired toppings. Pork tacos are the best!

Asian Pulled Pork Bowls

Combine the pork with noodles or cauliflower rice, bell peppers, carrots and fresh herbs for a healthy twist on pulled pork.

Asian Pulled Pork On Top Of Salads

Top your favorite leafy greens with shredded pork, avocado, and a light Asian dressing for an easy and flavorful salad.

Asian Pulled Pork And Fried Egg

Serve your pulled pork recipe with a fried egg on top. Delicious!

No matter how you choose to serve your Asian pulled pork, it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. Enjoy!

Best Oil For Searing Pulled Pork?

In this recipe we use peanut oil or sesame oil; however, you can also use other oils such as vegetable oil or olive oil.

Be sure to heat your oil in the Instant Pot before adding the pork for best results. This will help to create a flavorful and tender pulled pork dish.

Can I Make Korean Pulled Pork?

Yes, you can make Korean pulled pork in the Instant Pot. Simply replace the sweet chili sauce with a Korean red pepper paste and add some extra heat by including diced jalapenos or sriracha sauce or hot sauce. Serve your Korean pulled pork instant pot dish on a bed of rice.

Enjoy Asian Recipes In The Instant Pot

There are plenty of delicious Asian recipes you can make in your Instant Pot and it’s much quicker than using a slow cooker and stovetop. With the Instant Pot, you can make flavorful Asian dishes such as Chinese pulled pork in no time.

Keep experimenting with new flavors and ingredients until you find a great recipe that works for your taste buds! Enjoy!

More Pulled Pork Recipes to Enjoy!

• Instant Pot Pulled Pork
• Super Easy and Delicious Keto Pulled Pork Recipe
• Instant Pot Kalua Pork: Kalua Pig Recipe
• Instant Pot Vietnamese Pork
• Juicy And Tender Pork Tenderloin
• Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin With Apple Cider Vinegar