Discover Asian Pulled Pork, a delicious twist on the classic dish. With savory spices and Asian-inspired flavors, it’s sure to become a favorite. Perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or served over rice, this Instant Pot Asian Pulled Pork Recipe is a versatile and satisfying meal option for any day of the week.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
- Time-Saving Delight: Enjoy complex Asian flavors in a fraction of the time with the Instant Pot—perfect for busy days.
- 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.
🥘 Ingredients
- Pork Shoulder: Versatile cut for succulent pulled pork; options include boneless or bone-in, pork butt, pork 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.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Brown Sugar: 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.
- Rice Wine: 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.
- Chicken Stock: 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.
- Korean Pulled Pork: 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.
🔪 How To Make Asian Pulled Pork
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making the best Chinese pulled pork.
Step One: 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: Once the pork shoulder is seared, add the ginger, garlic, and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes more.
Step Three: 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.
Step Four: 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.
Step Five: 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 ¾ cup and set the Instant Pot to sauté.
Step Six: 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 Seven: Serve the Asian pulled pork with white rice, jasmine rice or brown rice and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Step Eight: 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.
Why Do I Need To Deglaze The Instant Pot?
- 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.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sear the Pork First: Browning the pork in the Instant Pot on sauté mode adds so much flavor to the final dish. Don’t skip this step; it’s worth the extra few minutes!
- Use a Bold Sauce: Go for a sauce with soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, and a bit of ginger to get that rich, savory flavor. It’s the secret to giving your pork that irresistible Asian-inspired taste!
- Natural Release for Extra Tenderness: Letting the pressure release naturally after cooking keeps the meat super tender and juicy, making it perfect for shredding.
💭 FAQs
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.
Keep your pulled pork fresh by placing it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
For extended storage, place it in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for 2 months.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Pair Instant Pot Asian Pulled Pork With These side dishes:
- 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 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 Tacos: Fill taco shells or lettuce wraps with pulled pork, shredded cabbage, and any other desired toppings. Pork tacos are the best!
🍽 Related Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below, or tag us in our Facebook Group! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Instant Pot Aisan Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Pork Shoulder
- 2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
- 2 Teaspoons Minced Garlic
- 1 Teaspoons Minced Ginger
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ¼ Cup Sweet Chili Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Raw Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
- ½ Cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon Green Onions
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame Seeds
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 ¾ 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.
