Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe

This Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe makes a tender and juicy roast that's perfect for family dinners or special occasions, without you having to babysit the oven all afternoon. The pressure cooker locks in all the rich, savory flavor, giving you a melt-in-your-mouth roast with minimal effort (and maximum payoff).

Instant Pot pork roast, sliced and topped with sauce, on a bed of greens.

🔍 Recipe At-A-Glance: Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe

  • 🕰️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • 💚 Equipment Needed: A trivet for your Instant Pot (but if you don't have one, I'll show you how to hack one!)
  • 🍖 Flavor Profile: Perfectly-seasoned savory pork with a hint of pine from the rosemary.
  • 🍽️ Good For: Cozy weekend dinners and easy holidays meals when you're tired of turkey (like my Dry Brine Turkey Recipe) or ham (ahem, Slow Cooker Honey Ham).
  • 🧡 Difficulty: Truly the easiest pork you've ever cooked.
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🍽️ The Ingredients You Need

Ingredients for instant pot pork roast recipe: pork shoulder roast, beef broth, salt and pepper, oil, rosemary, onion powder, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, and cornstarch.
  • Pork roast: A three pound roast will fit best in a 6-quart or larger Instant Pot, and I like to use a boneless shoulder cut for this recipe!
  • Beef broth: Beef broth will make up the base of your pork sauce. Use store-bought or homemade broth-I love this as a place to use homemade bone broth!
  • Apple cider vinegar: The acidity of vinegar cuts through some of the pork's richness.
  • Cornstarch: This is what will take your sauce from thin and watery to a delicious gravy that you can pour over the pork.
  • Fresh rosemary: Adds a pine-like flavor with citrus notes to your pork roast.

Make sure to check the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, along with quantities and my expert tips and tricks.

🔁 Variations & Substitutions

  • Dried rosemary instead of fresh: Since this recipe will cook for awhile, you can use dried rosemary if you don't have access to fresh rosemary. To make that substitute, use three teaspoons of dried rosemary in place of the three tablespoons of fresh rosemary.
  • A different cut of meat: If you're having trouble locating a boneless pork shoulder roast, there are a few other cuts of meat you could substitute in. Pork butt, also known as Boston butt, is a different shoulder cut of pork that would work well. A center-cut boneless pork roast would also work in this Instant Pot pork roast recipe.
  • Fall roast: Replace the three tablespoons of beef broth in the cornstarch slurry with apple cider for a more autumnal roast.

🥣 Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe How-To

Dry rub on a pork shoulder.

Step 1: Mix the rosemary with the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then rub, rub, rub the spice mixture into the pork on all side, giving it a little shoulder massage (see what I did there?).

Searing a pork shoulder in an Instant Pot.

Step 2: Use the Sauté setting on your Instant Pot to heat the oil and sear the pork. It should take 3-4 minutes on each side-the pork won't be cooked all the way through, but should have a browned crust when it is ready. That's your first step towards a showstopper flavorful roast. Move the pork to a plate for now.

A seared pork shoulder in an Instant Pot.

Step 3: Add 1 ½ cup of beef broth and the apple cider vinegar to the Instant Pot, and use the Sauté function to heat. The hot liquid will let you scrape up all the delicious brown bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Press Cancel, set a trivet in the Instant Pot, and put the pork on top. The trivet will elevate foods out of the liquid. This way, the meat can absorb the flavors of the liquid while still cooking thoroughly.

Pressure cook on High for 80 minutes.

Reducing sauce for a pork roast in the Instant Pot.

Step 4: Natural release the Instant Pot for 15 minutes, then use the venting knob to release the rest. Move the pork to a clean cutting board so you can make the sauce.

Whisk the cornstarch with three tablespoons of broth, then whisk this slurry into the drippings in the Instant Pot. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the consistency of gravy. If the sauce looks a little thin, trust that it will thicken further as it cools. Press Cancel and serve the sauce over the pork.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe FAQs

Is it better to pressure cook or slow cook a pork roast?

Honestly, both will give you some great pork! I like using the Instant Pot here because it is faster than the slow cooker, while still giving you a fall-apart tender roast.

What is the best liquid to cook a pork roast in?

I like the more robust flavor that comes with using my simple beef bone broth recipe compared to chicken stock, but both will work. Bourbon also pairs fabulously with pork, as evidenced by my bourbon glazed ham!

How long does Instant Pot pork roast last?

After your roast has cooled, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To freeze, slice the pork roast and allow it to cool completely before moving it to a freezer bag or container. Frozen pork roast will last for up to three months.

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A fork holds a bite of Instant Pot pork roast with sauce.

🍲 More Instant Pot Recipes

If you tried this Instant Pot pork roast recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments!

📖 Recipe

Sliced Instant Pot pork roast with sauce on a bed of greens.

Instant Pot Pork Roast with Gravy

Tender and juicy, this Instant Pot Pork Roast Recipe makes a hearty dish that's perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
4.27 from 19 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 757kcal

Ingredients

Dry rub:

  • 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary minced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Pork Roast:

  • 3 pound pork shoulder roast boneless
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 1 ½ cup + 3 tablespoons beef broth
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch

Instructions

  • Combine all dry rub ingredients in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture over entire pork shoulder, massaging the pork well. 
  • Press "sauté" on your 6 qt or larger Instant Pot, and add the oil. When fully heated, add the pork shoulder. Sear each side for 3-4 minutes, browning the pork. 
  • Remove the pork from the Instant Pot and set it aside on a large cutting board. 
  • Add 1 ½ cup of beef broth and the apple cider vinegar to the Instant Pot. Using the sauté feature, heat the liquid and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot to deglaze. Press "cancel." 
  • Set the metal Instant Pot trivet in the liquid, then place the seared pork shoulder on top of the trivet. 
  • With the venting knob set to "sealing", pressure cook the pork on high for 80 minutes. Allow a natural release of 15 minutes, then release any remaining pressure with the venting knob. Once pressure has been released, open the lid, remove the trivet, and transfer pork to a platter or clean cutting board. 
  • To make the sauce, whisk the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of beef broth together in a small bowl until no clumps are remaining, then slowly stir the cornstarch slurry into the drippings in the Instant Pot. Press "sauté," and heat the liquid for 2-3 minutes until thick and bubbly. Once thickened, press "cancel." 
  • Serve pork roast topped with the sauce.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 757kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 204mg | Sodium: 890mg | Fiber: 1g

4.27 from 19 votes (18 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. This ( Instapot Pork Roast Recipe ) Is a keeper .Thank you for sharing 🙂 . Can't wait to share with my Daughter (she bought me the instapot for christmas)

    1. We're so glad you loved it, Deanna! If you like this recipe, we hope you'll check out our other Instant Pot recipes, too. =)