Instant Pot Pork Roast

🌟 Why this recipe works

This delicious pork roast is sure to become a regular rotation in your dinner menu.

• It's made with an inexpensive cut of pork: pork shoulder roast.
  
• Thanks to the high pressure of the Instant Pot, the cooking time is faster.
  
• The recipe makes enough to feed 4 to 6 people.
  
• The pork comes out fork tender and juicy.
  
• This great recipe is a one-pot wonder meal: you cook the pork, and then add the vegetables together for the remaining cook time.
  
• When we make it, we usually have leftover pork to make pork sandwiches!

🛒 Ingredient notes

Pork - This recipe calls for a pork shoulder roast. You can also use pork butt (Boston butt). Or you could even substitute a beef sirloin roast.

Potatoes - Russet potatoes tend to be best for this dish, since they are sturdier and don't become mushy as quickly or easily as other potato varieties, such as Yukon gold. Alternatively, you could make this Instant Pot recipe with red potatoes.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, kosher salt, and pepper.
   
2. Season all sides of the pork roast with the spice rub.

3. Turn the Instant Pot to SAUTE mode. Once heated, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then add the pork roast and sear on all sides, about 3 to 5 minutes. Once the pork is browned on all sides, remove it from the Instant Pot and transfer to a plate. Set aside.

4. Press CANCEL, then pour a little bit of chicken broth into the pot, about 2 Tablespoons full to start. Using a wooden spoon, deglaze the pot by scraping up any brown bits at the bottom of the pot. Add a little bit more chicken broth as needed to scrape up all of the browned bits. This helps you avoid a BURN warning notice during pressure cooking.

5. Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot and add the remaining 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. As it heats up add the garlic and onions and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, just until they are soft and fragrant. Then press CANCEL.

6. Pour in the rest of the chicken broth and the red wine. Lower a metal trivet or Instant Pot sling into the pot and place the pork roast on top of it. Place the rosemary sprigs on top of the pork roast.

Pressure cook the pork

7. Close the lid, making sure the pressure release valve is in the SEALING position. Select PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL, depending on your pressure cooker), select HI for temperature, and set the time to 1 hour and 10 minutes (70 minutes). The Instant Pot will take anywhere from 6 to 15 minutes to come to pressure, then it will pressure cook for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

8. Once pressure cooking is complete, do a Quick Release: use tongs or a wooden spoon to carefully move the pressure release valve over to VENT position. After all pressure has been released, the pressure release valve pin will go down. When that pin is down, you can press CANCEL and very carefully open the lid.

9. Add the carrots and potatoes to the Instant Pot, positioning them around the pork roast and some on top.

10. Return the lid to the Instant Pot, and secure it, ensuring the pressure release valve is in the SEAL position. Select PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL), HI temperature, and a cook time of 4 minutes.

11. Once pressure cooking is complete, do a Quick Release. Use tongs or oven mitts to move the pressure valve over to the VENTING position. Hot steam will release out of the top. Once all pressure has been released, the pressure release valve pin will go down. When that pin is down, you can press CANCEL and very carefully open the lid. Carefully remove the pork and vegetables from the Instant Pot and transfer to a large plate or large bowl. Set aside.

Make the Gravy

12. Select SAUTE. Add the balsamic vinegar and cornstarch to the liquid remaining in the Instant Pot.

13. Whisk together vigorously as the liquid comes to a low boil, whisking out any cornstarch clumps as you go.

14. Continue to whisk and allow the liquid to thicken to a gravy, which takes anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. Once the gravy is to your desired level of thickness, press CANCEL and transfer the gravy to a gravy boat.

15. Plate the pork roast with the vegetables, and serve with the gravy.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

🍽 Serving ideas

Since this is a one-pot meal with the meat and vegetables combined, you don't necessarily have to add any additional side dishes to it!

That said, this Instant Pot pork shoulder would be delicious served with a simple fruit salad or this radish carrot salad.

Make it a full meal by rounding it out with dessert, like Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies or Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars.

🍷 🥂 Wine pairings

This pressure cooker pork roast is absolutely delicious paired with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or other dry white wine. It's also wonderful with a light bodied red wine, like a Pinot Noir.

🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

• Electric pressure cooker - I make this recipe in my Instant Pot Duo 8-quart pressure cooker or in my Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL 8-quart pressure cooker. You can make this in any 6-quart or 8-quart electric pressure cooker. Do NOT make this recipe as is in a small, 3-quart electric pressure cooker.
• Trivet - You'll need either a metal trivet or a silicone sling to put the pork on so that it cooks properly.
• Cutting board and knife - You'll need a cutting board and sharp knife to chop the veggies.
• Meat Thermometer - A meat thermometer is the best way to confirm whether the meat is fully cooked or not.

More pork recipes

If you're looking for recipes using other cuts of pork, try this Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe, this Stuffed Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast recipe, or these Air Fryer Pork Chops and Rice recipe.

Or, try one of these tasty recipes!

More Instant Pot recipes

Looking for more easy pressure cooker recipes? Try one of these fast and delicious meals that you can make in your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or other electric pressure cooker.