When it's your turn to host the game day crowd and you have NO idea what to make, I've got you covered with this tender, juicy, and absolutely delish spicy Instant Pot Dr Pepper pulled pork recipe. Made in your pressure cooker (instead of your slow cooker), it's ready in time for kickoff!

This post has been sponsored by Dr Pepper. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Instant Pot Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
You guys know I am NOT one to wish summer away -- it's BY FAR my favorite season of the year. But in case you haven't noticed, fall is coming up hard and fast. And you know what that means... College football is back!
Fall Saturdays around here are reserved for cheering on our favorite team and eating ALL of our favorite game day foods. You know, hot & cheesy dips, buffalo wings, maybe even some bacon wrapped pickles... FOR SURE these pudding shots!
I've shared a ton of my tried and true tailgate recipes over the years. But I realized recently that they're mostly dips and finger foods. And sometimes you just want to offer something a little more substantial, right?
I have a slow cooker pulled pork recipe that's been my go-to for as long as I can remember, but it has one glaring issue. With a 7-8 hour cook time, it's not ideal for a noon kickoff.
That is unless you want to get up at the crack of dawn to start it... And I don't know about you, but that's just NOT happening around here, LOL!
So I started tweaking that recipe and developed this tender, juicy, and oh-so-freaking-delicious Dr Pepper pulled pork that can be made in your Instant Pot! In like a fraction of the time it takes to cook in your slow cooker...
Ingredients For BBQ Pulled Pork With Dr Pepper
Obviously you'll need some Dr Pepper... In addition, you'll need these ingredients:
- 5-6 lbs. pork butt roast (aka pork shoulder)
- large white onion
- apple cider vinegar
- dry ground mustard
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- cayenne pepper
- kosher salt
- your fave BBQ sauce(s)
If you're planning to make pulled pork sandwiches, you'll also need to grab some buns!
My ideal Dr Pepper pulled pork sandwich is as pictured: a light and fluffy brioche bun spread with butter and lightly toasted to golden brown, piled high with spicy Dr Pepper pulled pork, drizzled with BBQ sauce, and topped with a scoop of Southern style coleslaw...
Spicy pulled pork not your thing? Try my basic Instant Pot pulled pork recipe! Made with just 3 ingredients, it's the perfect versatile shredded pork to use in any dish.
How To Make Pulled Pork With Dr Pepper
So now that you've picked up all of the ingredients, let me walk you through how to make pulled pork with Dr Pepper in your pressure cooker!
- Start by cutting the onion into wedges and placing them in the bottom of your pressure cooker insert. They serve as both a flavor booster and a trivet for the pork roast. Smart, huh?
- Next, cut the pork roast into 2-3" chunks. Toss them with a seasoning mixture made with the dry ground mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Pour a 12-oz. can of Dr Pepper over the onion wedges, along with the apple cider vinegar. Set the seasoned pork cubes on top of the onion wedges and lock the Instant Pot lid into place.
Pressure Cooker Pork Roast Timing
Have you ever cooked a roast and found it still tough and stringy and hard to shred? Yeah, same...
And I feel your disappointment! Unfortunately, this happens when the cooking time wasn't long enough to allow the connective tissues in the meat to break down sufficiently.
This is why I love using the Instant Pot for this recipe! Thanks to the power of pressure cooking, along with cutting the pork shoulder into uniform pieces, we don't have to worry about calculating how long to cook our pork roast in the pressure cooker.
Whether you have a 3lb. or a 6-lb. pork shoulder roast, the cook time will be the same: 40 minutes at high pressure. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes.
At this point, you can open the valve to release any remaining pressure. Remove the pork chunks and shred them with two forks. The onions can be tossed with the meat or discarded, depending on your preference. (I like them mixed in.)
I also like to pour the juices into a fat separator, and then pour about a cup or so back into the meat after shredding. Soupy shredded pork is no bueno, but you do want it to be a little juicy!
Pro Tip: How To Keep Leftovers Moist
Save the remaining juices to use when reheating any leftovers. Use it to help keep the leftover pulled pork moist when reheating!
What To Serve With Dr Pepper Barbecue Pulled Pork
When I'm making this BBQ pulled pork with Dr Pepper for tailgating, I transfer the shredded pork back into the pressure cooker insert and set it to Keep Warm. Have plenty of buns toasted and ready to go for when guests arrive!
I like to offer 3-4 different types of BBQ sauce, so there's something for everyone. Set out some sweet pickle chips and a bowl of old fashioned Southern coleslaw, and let guests create their sandwiches to taste...
And if I'm making Dr Pepper pulled pork for dinner? I add a big sheet pan of crispy oven fries! Serve it all up with a cold can of Dr Pepper, and watch your kids magically appear at the dinner table. It's totally a family favorite meal!
P.S. Don't forget the napkins — 'cause pulled pork can get a little messy. But it's all good!
Instant Pot Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 1 (5.5-pound) bone-in pork butt bone removed, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2-3 inch chunks
- 1 (12-ounce) can Dr Pepper soda
- 1 large onion cut into wedges
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dry ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt or 1 tablespoon Morton kosher salt
- brioche sandwich buns for serving
- barbecue sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Place the onion wedges in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
- Trim any visible fat from the pork butt. Remove the bone and then cut it into 2-3 inch chunks.
- Make the pork rub by whisking together the dry ground mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and kosher salt. Toss the pork cubes with the seasoning.
- Pour the whole can of Dr Pepper and the apple cider vinegar over the onions. Arrange the pork chunks on top of the onion wedges, and dump any leftover rub over top.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid into place and make sure the valve is set to the sealing position. Using the Pressure Cook setting, cook the pork at high pressure for 40 minutes. The cooker should take between 10 and 12 minutes to come up to pressure.
- When the pork is done cooking, press the Keep Warm/Cancel button to turn off the cooker. Allow the pressure to release naturally (NPR) for 20 minutes, then use the pressure valve to quick release any remaining pressure.
- Transfer the cooked pork pieces and bacon to a platter or rimmed baking sheet. Using two forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Discard any large pieces of fat.
- Pour the remaining juices into a fat separator. Add about one cup of the juices to the pulled pork and toss to combine.
- Drizzle with your favorite BBQ sauce as desired, and serve on lightly toasted brioche buns.
Recipe Notes
Recommended Products
More Pulled Pork Side Dish Recipes
Here are a few more delicious side dish recipes that pair perfectly with this Dr. Pepper pulled pork recipe:
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken (just 4 ingredients!)
- Mac and Cheese Casserole (a perfect side dish)
- Hidden Valley Ranch Potatoes (another amazing side)
Looking for a no-bun option? Serve this pulled pork over an Instant Pot Sweet Potato!
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your Dr Pepper barbecue pulled pork turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
RickG says
Just made this as written. The only extra step was to put the cooked meat on the smoker for about two hours using the remaining juices to keep it moist. Marvelous flavor. Thanks.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Wow, that sounds amazing - will have to try it!
Kim says
Can you use diet Dr Pepper
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Kim -- I haven't tried it personally, but I don't see why not!
Jennifer S. says
I’ve made this recipe several times and my whole family loves it!! I follow the recipe except for I double all the dry spices.
Making it again for tomorrow’s dinner.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Love to hear it -- thanks for sharing!!
Larianne says
This recipe is the BOMB! This was my first time making pulled pork and it turned out amazing, everyone raved about it, it's my new go to!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Thank you, Larianne -- so glad you loved it!!
MaShay says
Can this be cooked in the crockpot?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi MaShay! Yes, you can definitely cook this in your slow cooker, too. Cook it on high for 6-7 hours or low for 9-10 or until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork. Enjoy!
Emily says
Totally drooling over this, it's on the list for this weekend!
Andrea says
All the seasonings and the Dr. Pepper sounds wonderful. Yummy!
Jessica Formicola says
I love the flavor of Dr. Pepper, and this pork looks amazing! I can't wait to try this recipe!
rebecca says
I need this in my life! it looks so easy & bursting with flavor!
Traci says
Comfort food doesn't get ANY better than this! We're always looking for new ways to cook pork...and we've found it! Thanks for another winner!
Micki says
This is such a fun recipe! I love Dr. Pepper in anything!
Jenn says
Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Jenn says
We're loving this easy peasy IP recipe! We love to make sliders out of it with Hawaiian rolls - so good!
Melissa says
I love pulled pork! This recipe so flavorful and delicious!
Beth Pierce says
This is everything a gourmet sandwich should be and then some! Can't wait to enjoy this for dinner tomorrow night!
Anna says
Best pulled pork ever! Thanks for the recipe!
Suzy says
Wow! This turned out great! So tender and delicious!
Lauren says
I am so incredibly excited to make this. My kids love pulled pork and I just got an Instant Pot!