Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe
Today I’m sharing one of my very favorite recipes: 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!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tender Perfection: Instant Pot magic turns tough pork into melt-in-your-mouth perfection without the wait.
- Asian Fusion Bliss: Bold flavors of soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, and ginger create an authentic and elevated pulled pork experience.
- Time-Saving Delight: Enjoy complex Asian flavors in a fraction of the time with the Instant Pot—perfect for busy days.
Ingredients for Asian Pulled Pork
Here are the ingredients needed for this Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe:
- Pork Shoulder: Versatile cut for succulent pulled pork; options include boneless or bone-in, pork butt, loin, or tenderloin.
- Peanut or Sesame Oil: Infuses nutty richness, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the Asian pulled pork.
- Minced Garlic: Adds pungent and aromatic kick, contributing to the dish’s savory complexity.
- Minced Ginger: Brings a zesty and fresh note, complementing the garlic for a well-rounded flavor.
- Pepper: Provides a hint of heat, balancing the sweetness of other ingredients.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Introduces sweet and spicy elements, creating a dynamic flavor contrast.
- Raw Honey: Adds natural sweetness, contributing to the sticky and caramelized texture.
- Soy Sauce: Infuses umami and saltiness, enhancing the overall savory taste.
- White Vinegar: Offers tangy acidity, balancing sweetness and richness in the sauce.
- Water: Essential for cooking, creating a flavorful base for the pulled pork.
- Cornstarch: Used as a thickening agent to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
- Green Onions and Sesame Seeds: Fresh and crunchy toppings for visual appeal and added texture.
How To Make Asian Pulled Pork
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
Why Do I Need To Deglaze The Instant Pot?
Deglazing not only enhances the taste of your dishes but also prevents the Instant Pot from giving false “Burn” warnings by ensuring nothing is stuck to the pot’s bottom during the cooking process.
Deglazing the Instant Pot is a crucial step to extract flavorful bits stuck to the bottom, enhancing the overall taste of your dish. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to deglaze:
After Sautéing: Once you’ve sautéed ingredients in the Instant Pot, there may be browned bits (fond) stuck to the bottom. This is where the rich flavors are.
Add Liquid: Pour a small amount of liquid into the Instant Pot. Common choices include broth, wine, vinegar, or soy sauce, depending on your recipe.
Scrape the Bottom: Use a wooden or silicone spatula to gently scrape the bottom of the pot, loosening the browned bits. This process is crucial for incorporating those concentrated flavors into the liquid.
Sauté if Needed: If your recipe involves further sautéing, switch the Instant Pot to the sauté mode while deglazing. This allows you to continue building flavors.
Ensure Nothing Sticks: Confirm that there are no bits sticking to the bottom before proceeding with the next steps or pressure cooking. This helps prevent the Instant Pot from displaying a “Burn” notice.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If your recipe calls for a specific amount of liquid, ensure you add that required quantity during the deglazing process.
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!
Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe
This quick easy Asian Pulled Pork Recipe will have you serving up tender meat and Asian flavors in no time flat!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of pork shoulder, boneless and fat trimmed
- 2 tablespoons of peanut oil, or sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 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
Instructions
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.
Once the pork shoulder is seared, add the ginger, garlic, and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes more.
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.
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.
Cook your Asian pulled pork at high pressure for 30 minutes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Notes
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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 878Total Fat: 62gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 37gCholesterol: 204mgSodium: 385mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 55g
