This Keto Pulled Pork is lusciously tender and so easy to make! Pair it with sugar free BBQ sauce for extra flavor. It’s dairy-free, and only 2g total carbs per serving. Oven instructions included too!
My family is absolutely bonkers for this keto pulled pork. It’s so mouthwateringly tender, with a sweet and spicy kick. And since it’s cooked in an Instant Pot, it takes only about half the time to make.
How delicious is that?
Now don’t panic if you don’t have an IP, as you can still make this keto pulled pork in the oven. It’s just as easy, albeit more time consuming. Check out the recipe notes for those instructions.
Keto recipes in the Instant Pot
This multipurpose kitchen gadget really is incredibly useful for keto cooking. I’ve made so many wonderful family dinners, including creamy chicken and mushrooms and keto salsa chicken.
It’s even useful for desserts like keto pecan pie cheesecake.
Instant Pots have their limitations, of course and sometimes they aren’t any faster than than making the recipe on your stove top. Things like keto pork chops don’t fare as well, as the fat tends to get rubbery and chewy.
And if you want nicely browned meats with a crisp exterior, skip the IP and use your oven or an air fryer.
But the Instant Pot does a spectacular job on tougher cuts of meat that require slow cooking with liquid, like stews, curries, and braised meats. And shredded meats, like keto pulled pork, are an ideal match.
An oven braised pulled pork recipe will take upwards of 3 hours, but this Instant Pot Pulled Pork takes only about an hour and a half, start to finish!
How to make keto pulled pork
This is one of our favorite easy keto dinner recipes. Here are my best tips for getting it right:
- Cut the meat into chunks. A whole 3 or 4 lb roast takes a lot longer to cook through, so cutting it up saves even more time.
- Brown the pork first. This helps caramelize the fats and bring out better flavor in the meat. Use the sauté function on the Instant Pot.
- Don’t add too much liquid. While braising helps tenderize the meat, pressure cooking will force the meat release plenty of its own juices. I find that many IP recipes add far too much liquid, resulting in a watery result with a diluted flavor.
- Add the BBQ sauce after cooking. Because the pressure releases so much liquid, your sauce will get far too diluted if you add it into the pot before cooking.
- Reserve a little of the cooking liquid. Depending on the cut of meat, pulled pork can get a little dry as it sits. Stir in a bit of the cooking liquid, which includes fat from the bacon grease as well as the juices from the pork itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not to worry, I’ve included oven cooking instructions in the recipe notes. I don’t want to leave anyone hanging, unable to make this delicious keto pulled pork!
Absolutely. I recommend browning the meat in a skillet first, and cooking on low for 6 to 8 hours. Use the same amount of broth as the oven instructions.
Yes, you can use any fat or oil you prefer. I recommend using one that withstands high heat like coconut oil or avocado oil. Lard or beef tallow would also work.
Yes, this is a fabulous make-ahead recipe. We make a bunch at once and refrigerate the leftovers for another meal. And shredded meats like this freeze very nicely.
What to serve with keto pulled pork
So many delicious ways to serve this easy keto meal! Here are some fun ideas:
- With cilantro lime cauliflower rice
- On keto cheddar zucchini waffles
- Over a slice of keto cornbread
- Overtop some keto zucchini fritters
- As lettuce wraps
- With a side of Dill Pickle Coleslaw
Keto Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 lb pork butt
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoon bacon grease (or any oil/butter you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon chile powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 1 recipe Easy Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Pat the pork roast dry with a clean rag, then chop into large chunks for faster cooking. Sprinkle generously all over with salt and pepper.
- Turn the instant pot on to the saute function and add the bacon grease. Once melted and hot, add half the pork chunks and brown on all sides. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining chunks.
- Place all the pork back in the pot and sprinkle with the chili powder, cumin, and garlic. Pour in the chicken broth and seal the lid. Make sure the vent is on seal.
- Set the Instant Pot to manual high for 45 minutes. Once cooking is complete, let the pressure release naturally for another 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer the pork to a large bowl and shred with two forks. Add the BBQ sauce and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
Cover and transfer to the oven and let cook 3 hours. Then remove and shred the pork and toss with the BBQ sauce.
Margaret says
Carolyn, this looks amazing!!! Is the nutrition information for the pork alone or for the pork with the barbecue sauce? Thanks so much!
Carolyn says
With the sauce. I always include it if I used it.
Lynne says
Easy-peasy and delicious! As my maiden cooking effort with the Instant Pot, this recipe has earned it a spot in my kitchen Great recipe with delicious results. I am looking forward to trying more from your site. Thank you!
Carolyn says
So great to hear!
Anne Allodi says
Time-saving tip: shred with hand mixer instead of two forks. Works great!
Shana says
This was out of this world delicious! I have never made pulled pork this moist in my life. Made this and the sugar free sauce tonight. My family destroyed it. Thank you!
Joy says
Just curious if the cut of pork makes a difference. Do you use a Pork Shoulder Butt or just the Pork Butt? Thank you for sharing your wonderful creations with us!
Carolyn says
Doesn’t matter.
Lauren Fyffe says
This looks amazing! I don’t have an instant pot, but I do have a crock pot. Would that work if I cook on low for 6-8 hours? Thank you for always sharing your recipes! I try a new one every week!
Carolyn says
Yep, just cook it until tender. The oven works too but it will heat up your kitchen at this time of year!
Sam says
Well if we don’t have a Dutch oven we can’t use the oven so the crock pot is a great idea Lauren! Low 6-8 and on high for 3-4?
Beth says
I’m so glad I found this recipe. So delicious and was such a hit here! My kids and husband all enjoyed this recipe for dinner the other night! Can’t wait to make this again soon!
Katie says
It’s always hard to find delicious toppings and sauces when doing keto, but this hits the spot! We love it.
Toni says
It turned out so good! Thank you so much for the recipe! Everyone at my house loves it!
Marcella says
This is so yummy! We didn’t even need the BBQ sauce. And we loved the spiciness – the first time we’ve ever tasted spicy pulled pork and it was a hit 🙂
Lisa says
I don’t usually cut up the pork shoulder before cooking it in the IP, but it is so smart. Every piece shredded perfectly. I used a store-bought sauce, and served it with the dill pickle coleslaw recipe linked above. The whole family loved this meal – thanks!
Jennifer says
I’ve made this before and it’s great. One question to clarify is if I should drain the crock pot of the liquid before adding the barbecue sauce. That is what I normally do. I just wanted to make sure. Thanks!
Carolyn says
If it has a lot, yes!
Deborah M Kloss says
Very tasty! It was easy to make and very quick! Thank you for the great recipe.
Diane says
I don’t have an instapot, but I do have a pressure cooker. Please advise.
Rita says
This is a delicious and fairly easy recipe. I used a 3lb sirloin pork roast. I love your easy BBQ sauce. I used Jared chipotle for your bbq sauce, rather than powder. I found that we needed more bbq sauce for the 3lb roast. Next time I will double and save a bit back.