Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

with garlic butter onion sauce

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 20m
Cook Time: 1h 15m
Total Time: 1h 35m
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy
4.8 (19 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For thickener:

Nutritional Information

311
calories
15g
fat
14g
carbohydrates
30g
protein
93mg
cholesterol
484mg
sodium
Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

Recipe Description

This Instant Pot Pork Shoulder recipe is my personal favorite. It is deeply satisfying, uses simple ingredients, and is perfect for cooking in the Instant Pot. My shopping tip: make sure to ask your butcher for a pork shoulder with some beautiful marbling and fat for tender and delicious results. 

To make this recipe, first, brown the pork shoulder. Then cook the onions and garlic. Once the onions and garlic are caramelized and sticking to the pot, deglaze them to lift all the extra flavor from the bottom of the Instant Pot. With just a little bit of initial effort, you can now delegate cooking the pork shoulder to your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. The result is a fork-tender pork roast on the table in less than two hours. Served with a homemade garlic butter onion sauce, this recipe is a hit every time I make it. Perfect for a family dinner or entertaining a crowd.

To make the Instant Pot Pork Shoulder, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Heat Instant Pot

    3 min
    Step 1 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Using the “Sauté More” function, heat up the Instant Pot until it says “Hot”.

  2. 2

    Season pork shoulder

    1 min
    Step 2 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Pat dry the pork shoulder and season one side with coarse salt and black pepper.

  3. 3

    Brown pork shoulder

    10 min
    Step 3 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil in the inner pot and make sure to coat the whole bottom of the pot. Place the seasoned side of the pork shoulder in the Instant Pot. Season the other side of the pork shoulder. Brown for 5 minutes then flip over and brown on the other side for another 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Remove

    Step 4 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Remove the browned pork shoulder from the Instant Pot and set aside.

  5. 5

    Sauté onion and garlic

    4 min
    Step 5 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Sauté 2 sliced onions for 3 ½ minutes, then add 12 crushed garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute more.

  6. 6

    Add rosemary and bay leaves

    1 min
    Step 6 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Add in 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary and 2 bay leaves and sauté for 30 seconds.

  7. 7

    Deglaze

    1 min
    Step 7 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Pour in 1 cup unsalted chicken stock. Using a wooden spoon, deglaze by scrubbing all the brown bits off the bottom of the pot and give it a quick mix.

  8. 8

    Cook pork shoulder

    1h 15m
    Step 8 - Instant Pot Pork ShoulderStep 8 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Add in 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce and ½ a teaspoon table salt and mix to dissolve. Return back the pork shoulder into the Instant Pot along with its juices. Close the lid with the venting knob in the “Venting” position and then slide the venting knob to the ”Sealing” position. Set the pot to cook at “High Pressure” for 60 minutes and then 15 minutes for “Natural Pressure Release”. After 15 minutes, turn the knob to the “Venting” position, releasing any remaining steam. Then carefully remove the lid.

  9. 9

    Remove pork shoulder

    1 min
    Step 9 - Instant Pot Pork ShoulderStep 9 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Transfer the pork shoulder to a plate or cutting board.

  10. 10

    Season and thicken sauce

    2 min
    Step 10 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    Using the “Sauté More” function, bring the onion sauce to a simmer. To thicken the sauce, mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water and stir into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed.

  11. 11

    Serve

    Step 11 - Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

    To serve, slice the pork shoulder into thin slices and drizzle with garlic butter onion sauce. Enjoy!

This Instant Pot Pork Shoulder recipe yields a tender melt-in-your-mouth and flavorful dish. So give this recipe a try or pin it for later - it’s a keeper!

About the author

Jeff O'connor

Jeff is a 38-year-old bachelor who prefers not to waste his time on salads and light meals. He’s a true carnivore who knows how to enjoy food to the max! Jeff will tell you how to cook rich and filling meals from scratch, bringing some real meaty decadence to your kitchen. His recipes are sure to satisfy every meat lover!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8 out of 5 (19 reviews)
Tom
February 20, 2025
Verified

Tasty family favorite.

Katherine
May 8, 2024
Verified

Tasty, quick, and family-friendly.

Xena
April 30, 2024
Verified

Amazing! I made this for my family last Sunday and it was a huge hit! The pork was so tender, we all devoured it. I love how easy the recipe is, perfect for busy moms like me. Can't wait to make it again!

Rebecca
March 25, 2024
Verified

So easy, loved it!

Ryan
March 25, 2024
Verified

Super tender dish! I was amazed by how simple it was to create such a flavorful meal. Made it last weekend for friends, and they couldn't stop raving about it. Can't wait to make it again.

Daisy
February 28, 2024
Verified

Cooked this for friends' game night, everyone loved it! So easy and tasty.

Fernanda
January 5, 2024
Verified

Hice esto pa' una cena con mis amigos y quedé como reina. Sabroso, tierno y se hace volando. Amé el toque del ajo.

Zara
December 29, 2023
Verified

This recipe is amazing! Made it for our anniversary, everyone loved it.

Ursula
July 27, 2023
Verified

Yummy! Made this for a family get-together and everyone loved it! So easy, I could relax while it cooked. Definitely a winner in my book!

Jess
July 23, 2023
Verified

I tried this Instant Pot Pork Shoulder for family dinner, and it was superb! The tender pork just melted in my mouth. I can't believe how easy it was to make, plus my butcher gave me the perfect cut. My husband and I were so proud to serve it!

Dylan
November 7, 2022
Verified

Fork tender delight

Deborah Smith
October 31, 2022
Verified

Fantastic! Made this for my hubby's bday and it was a smash hit! So easy to throw together, and the flavors are bomb! Seriously, can’t believe how tender the pork was. Instant Pot to the rescue again! 🔥

Charlie
October 9, 2022
Verified

So easy prep

Rebecca
October 7, 2022
Verified

Amazing! I made this for my family gathering, and everyone raved about the flavor. My husband couldn’t get enough. It’s now a go-to recipe during holidays!

Ursula
July 21, 2022
Verified

I made this dish for my husband's birthday, and it was a hit! The flavors were just amazing and super easy to prepare in the Instant Pot.

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