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If you’re looking for a fun twist on traditional pulled pork, this Instant Pot (affiliate link) Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork is worth adding to your menu.
Sweet cherry jam, smoky chipotle peppers, and warm spices combine to create a rich, slightly sweet, slightly spicy sauce that transforms an inexpensive pork shoulder into something special.
The Instant Pot (affiliate link) does all the heavy lifting, turning the pork fall-apart tender in a fraction of the time it would take in the slow cooker or oven.
We love this shredded pork tucked into tacos, piled onto sandwiches, spooned over baked sweet potatoes, or used to top salads and grain bowls. It’s easy enough for a weeknight and impressive enough for guests.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How Many Calories and WW Points?
- How to Make Instant Pot Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork
- Recipe Notes
- What to Serve with Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork
- Storage and Freezing
- Instant Pot Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Easy Shredded Meat Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork
- Sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy
- Easy Instant Pot recipe
- Great for meal prep
- Budget-friendly
- High in protein
- Freezer friendly
- Perfect for tacos, sandwiches, and bowls
- Makes excellent leftovers
Ingredients & Substitutions
Reduced-sodium chicken broth – Creates the cooking liquid and helps keep the pork moist. Beef broth also works well.
Cherry jam – Adds sweetness and fruit flavor that balances the smoky chipotle peppers. Cherry preserves, blackberry jam, raspberry preserves, or even apricot preserves can be substituted.
Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – Provide the smoky heat that makes this recipe special. Use fewer peppers for milder pork or more if you enjoy spicy food.
Paprika – Adds warmth and color. Smoked paprika can be used for even more smoky flavor.
Worcestershire sauce – Adds savory depth and umami.
Ground cumin – Brings earthy Southwestern flavor.
Ground cloves – A little goes a long way, adding subtle warmth and complexity.
Ground mustard – Helps balance the sweetness.
Bone-in pork shoulder – My preferred cut for pulled pork because it becomes incredibly tender under pressure. Boneless pork shoulder also works.
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped cilantro
- Pickled red onions
- Sliced jalapeños
- Lime wedges
- Cotija cheese
- Shredded cabbage
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each 4-ounce serving or shredded pork with sauce has about 211 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
How to Make Instant Pot Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork
Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients. Ideal Instant Pot size, 6- to 8-quart.
Step 2: Whisk together the broth, jam, chiles, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, cloves and dried mustard in the inner pot. Add the pork and turn over to ensure it is completely coated in the sauce.
Step 3: Place the lid on the pot and lock in place with the steam release valve in the Sealing position. Cook on HIGH pressure for 90 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is finished, allow pressure to release naturally. If pressure isn’t fully released with the float valve dropped after 30 minutes, carefully move steam release valve to Venting position and remove any remaining pressure. (If necessary, cover steam release valve with a dish towel to prevent getting burned.)
Step 4: Unlock and remove the lid. Using a large slotted spoon and fork, carefully transfer the pork to a large platter or cutting board (affiliate link).
Step 5: Press the Sauté button on the InstantPot and bring the sauce to a simmer—stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Reduce sauce until it has a consistency like barbecue sauce (affiliate link).
Step 6: While the sauce is simmering, shred the pork with two forks.
Once the sauce is the desired consistency, turn off the InstantPot and add the meat back to the pot and stir to combine with the sauce.
Step 7: Serve warm.
Step 8: Store any leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how customizable it is.
For a milder version, use just one chipotle pepper and a little adobo sauce.
For extra heat, leave in the seeds or add an additional pepper or two.
The sauce may look thin when the pork finishes cooking, but simmering it on the Sauté setting concentrates the flavors and creates a rich barbecue-style consistency.
This recipe is ideal for meal prep because the flavors continue to improve overnight.
What to Serve with Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork
This versatile pork can be served in countless ways:
- Tacos with pickled onions and cilantro
- Burritos and burrito bowls
- Quesadillas
- Sandwiches and sliders
- Lettuce wraps
- Nachos
- Sweet potatoes
- Rice bowls
- Salads
- Scrambled eggs or omelets
Use this pork as a filling for wraps, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, sandwiches or sliders. For breakfast, serve alongside scrambled eggs or in your favorite omelette. It also makes a great topping for nachos, tostadas, green salads and over baked sweet potatoes.
Storage and Freezing
Store leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, freeze in individual portions with some of the sauce for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.
If you’ve made this Instant Pot Cherry Chipotle Shredded Pork, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Instant Pot Cherry Chipotle Pulled Pork Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken or beef broth
- 1/2 cup cherry jam
- 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, stemmed, seeded (if desired) and chopped
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground dried mustard
- 3-1/2 pounds bone-in pork shoulder, skin and visible fat removed
Instructions
- Whisk together the broth, jam, chiles, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, cloves and dried mustard in the inner pot. Add the pork and turn over to ensure it is completely coated in the sauce.
- Place the lid on the pot and lock in place with the steam release valve in the Sealing position. Cook on HIGH pressure for 90 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is finished, allow pressure to release naturally. If pressure isn't fully released with the float valve dropped after 30 minutes, carefully move steam release valve to Venting position and remove any remaining pressure. (If necessary, cover steam release valve with a dish towel to prevent getting burned.)
- Unlock and remove the lid. Using a large slotted spoon and fork, carefully transfer the pork to a large platter.
- Press the Sauté button on the InstantPot and bring the sauce to a simmer–stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Reduce sauce until it has a consistency like barbecue sauce (affiliate link).
- While the sauce is simmering, shred the pork with two forks. Once the sauce is the desired consistency, turn off the InstantPot and add the meat back to the pot and stir to combine with the sauce.
- Serve warm.
- Store any leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe source: The Instant Pot Bible (affiliate link) by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this less spicy?
Yes. Reduce the number of chipotle peppers and use less adobo sauce.
Can I use a boneless pork shoulder?
Absolutely. Boneless pork shoulder works just as well.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes. Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or until the pork is fork-tender.
What does cherry jam add?
The cherry jam balances the smoky heat of the chipotles and creates a rich sweet-and-savory flavor.
Can I freeze pulled pork?
Yes. This recipe freezes beautifully.
More Easy Shredded Meat Recipes You’ll Love
If you like Cherry Chipotle Pork made in the Instant Pot, you may also like:
