Instant Pot Root Beer Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
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Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sliders are incredibly tender, thanks to a secret ingredient – root beer! Top with coleslaw and pickles for extra crunch! This easy recipe makes an easy meal and is also perfect for a game day party.
While this root beer pulled pork instant pot recipe is simple, it is still packed with a ton of flavor that everyone will love.
Adding the coleslaw mix pairs perfectly with this pork recipe.
And then once you add your favorite barbecue sauce? It’s a favorite recipe of mine!
I can easily make this for family dinners, and it’s a great option to also serve with french fries, potato chips, or any other side dish that you’re craving.
These little sandwiches are filled with tender pork and are the perfect way to add a little sweetness to your day.
Pulled Pork Sliders
Make bbq pulled pork sliders for dinner or for your next potluck — they’ll be a hit no matter what!
I also have slow cooker versions for the best pork sandwiches ever! A chipotle honey version and a Hawaiian BBQ version.
One is sweet and smoky, while the other is tangy with a sensational pineapple BBQ sauce.
Instant Pot recipes are always my go-to when life becomes a little more hectic. Especially because there are fewer dishes to wash afterward!
Instant Pot Root Beer Pulled Pork Tips and Tricks
- Make it your own. Adjust the amount of spices and brown sugar and the type of BBQ sauce, so the sliders taste just right!
- For extra tenderness and flavor: Add a splash of root beer to your sauce mixture! Dr. Pepper, regular cola, and chicken stock are great alternatives for this as well.
- Kick up the heat. Adding cayenne pepper or some spicy BBQ sauce will give your root beer pulled pork Instant Pot sliders some extra spice.
- Won’t fit? If your roast is too large for your pressure cooker, simply cut it into 3 or 4 pieces first.
- Add some crunch! A spoonful of coleslaw and a few dill pickles on top of the meat gives these sliders extra texture and a little extra zing.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the Instant Pot root beer pulled pork sliders with extra BBQ sauce, onions, or jalapenos!
The coleslaw topping makes them more than enough on their own, or you can add any of your favorite sides.
Baked beans and potato salad are perfect for any cookout, while some mac and cheese or cornbread make the meal a little more comforting.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders FAQ
Luckily, pressure cooker pulled pork is so tender that it should fall apart with ease!
You can use two forks, meat claws, or even your hands to separate the roast into shreds and smaller pieces in minutes.
While they both come from the shoulder, these cuts are not quite the same. The butt roast, also known as Boston Butt, sits a bit higher and has more marbling than a shoulder roast.
The extra fat creates more tender, flavorful bites, but either cut will work wonderfully for this recipe.
Here’s the thing. You can make these BBQ pork sliders taste like anything that you want just by adding your favorite toppings. I’m all about changing the type of bun I use, depending on the flavor that I’m craving.
Brioche buns are delicious but don’t overlook the power of soft Hawaiian rolls, too. The shredded pork is one of those delicious recipes that you can top with red onion, mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions, and even more of your favorite BBQ sauce.
You can also add more seasonings to the slider rolls as well. Putting garlic powder, dijon mustard, and even some soy sauce on the top half of the meat on the bun creates the perfect match and flavor.
Once cooled, transfer the meat to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheat root beer pulled pork Instant Pot leftovers in the microwave or in a pan on the stove until warmed through. If frozen, thaw the meat in the refrigerator first.
Freezing this creates an easy dinner option that everyone in the family will love. As everyone knows, a good pulled pork sandwich is all about finding the best bread to pair with the pork and then finding good toppings to add to the top of the sliders. Once all that is covered, you’ll have the best main dish that you’ll enjoy from the very first time that you make it!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard, ground
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 pound pork shoulder roast, pork butt roast
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 cups BBQ sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 7.5 ounces root beer
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice, or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 8 Buns
- Dill pickle chips and coleslaw , for serving, optional
Instructions
- Combine salt, chili powder, black pepper, garlic salt, dry mustard, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the top, bottom, and sides of the pork roast and rub into the roast.
- In the pot of an Instant Pot pressure cooker, heat the oil using the saute setting. Brown the roast on all sides in the oil. (If the roast does not fit into the instant pot, it can be cut into 3-4 larger pieces).
- Meanwhile, whisk together 1 cup of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, root beer and pickle juice or vinegar. Pour sauce over the browned roast in the instant pot.
- Secure the lid of the instant pot and cook on the manual setting for 60 minutes (additional time required for the pot to pressurize).
- Carefully release the pressure from the instant pot and remove the lid.
- Lift the roast from the liquid in the pot. Shred the meat of the roast (it should fall apart easily) using two forks. If there are large pieces of fat, discard them.
- Remove oil/fat and about half of the liquid from the instant pot. Add the remaining cup of BBQ sauce.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water. Turn the instant pot back on to the saute setting and bring the liquid to a simmer. Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the pot and continue cooking and whisking until the sauce thickens.Return the shredded meat to the thickened sauce.
- Mound meat onto slider buns. Top with a large scoop of coleslaw and dill pickles.Serve immediately
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published January 2022, updated and republished February 2024
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These sliders turned out so tender and juicy. The root beer gave it a nice sweet flavor too. I will have to try making these for friends soon.
Can you use a pork sirloin roast?