Instant Pot Pork Roast with Gravy

Instant Pot Pork Butt/Shoulder.

Instant Pot pork roast is so versatile and easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner! Even better, the pork, vegetables and gravy are all made in the Instant Pot, making for easy cleanup!

The sweet and savory dry rub adds so much flavor to the pork, while perfectly seasoning the gravy and vegetables. It's made with a mix of simple spices that you likely already have in your home.

Serve the shredded pork roast with the carrots, potatoes and gravy for dinner, and devour the leftover pork in buns with horseradish mayo for lunch the next day - soooo good!

What cut of pork is best for pork roast.

I prefer shredded roast pork as opposed to sliced pork roast, so for this recipe, I use a pork butt, also known as a pork shoulder. Let's talk about the types of pork roast.

• Pork butt/shoulder. This cut of pork is what you traditionally use when you want shredded, fall-apart tender pork roast. It's a tougher cut of meat, so it's great for slow cooking in the oven or crock pot, and it's also great in the Instant Pot! Alternatively, pork butt/shoulder is also a great cut of pork for smoking or to make pulled pork sandwiches!
• Pork loin. Pork loin is a lean, tender cut of pork, so it doesn't work well for making shredded pork. Pork loin doesn't requires less cook time compared to a pork butt, and because it has a lot less fat than a pork butt, it can become dry when overcooked. Pork loin is great for sliced pork.

What is an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot is the brand name of a pressure cooking. Unlike traditional pressure cookers, an Instant pot doesn't require heat from a stove. Instant Pots simply plug into an outlet, like a slow cooker.

As an Instant Pot heats up, the liquid inside creates steam, building up pressure in the pot and cooking food faster.

The high pressure and steam also helps to force liquid into the food, which helps to make tender meat while keeping it nice and juicy!

What's also great about the Instant Pot, as opposed to traditional pressure cookers or slow cookers, is that they have a sauté feature, which is pretty much like heating a pot/pan over medium-high heat on the stove. This allows you to brown meat and make gravy!

How many minutes per pound for a pork roast in the Instant Pot

The amount of time needed to cook a pork roast in the Instant Pot depends on how much the pork roast weighs. Here is estimated cook times based on the weight of the pork roast.

• 2 pound pork roast in the Instant Pot: Cook on high pressure for 70 minutes.
• 3 pound pork roast in the Instant Pot: Cook on high pressure for 80 minutes.
• 4 pound pork roast in the Instant Pot: Cut the pork butt in half, then add both halves to the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for 90 minutes.

How to Make an Instant Pot Pork Roast.

The great thing about making a pork roast in the Instant Pot is that everything can be done in on pot, including making the gravy! Here are step-by-step instructions with tips and tricks.

1. Season the pork butt. This step is crucial. Pork butt needs lots of seasoning, so be sure to generously cover ALL sides of the pork roast, rubbing and patting the seasoning into the roast. I like to mix out my own seasoning blend that's both sweet and savory. It pairs perfectly with pork!
2. Sear the pork roast. Searing all sides of the pork roast creates a nice brown crust on the exterior of the pork, sealing in the juices and adding lots of flavor. Don't skip this step! This can all be done in the Instant Pot using the sauté feature. Once the pork is nicely browned on all sides, transfer the pork to a plate and set aside.
3. Add onion and garlic. Continuing to use the sauté feature, you will caramelize onions and sauté some garlic for added flavor.
4. Deglaze the pot. Adding a small amount of liquid to the pot while it's hot causes the liquid to boil rapidly and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Be sure to use a spoon to scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pot - this is where the flavor is at!
5. Cook pork on high pressure. Now it's time to cook the pork roast. Add the pork back into the pot, seal and cook on high pressure until fork tender!
6. Cook the vegetables. Once the pork is done cooking, quick release or natural release the pressure in the pot, then add the carrots and potatoes. You will only need to cook the vegetables on high pressure for 4 minutes! Do NOT add the vegetables any sooner or they will be way overcooked!
7. Make the gravy. Remove the pork and vegetables from the pot, leaving the onions inside the pot with the broth! You will use the sauté feature again to make gravy by thickening the broth with a cornstarch slurry. I don't like my gravy overly thick, but you can always add more cornstarch, if desired.
8. Serve! Shred the pork, the drizzle the gravy all over the pork and vegetables. Serve with more gravy on the side for dipping!

Instant Pot Pork Roast with Onion Gravy.

In my opinion, you can't have roast without gravy! Making the onion gravy is super simple and only takes about 5 minutes. To make the onion gravy, will use the broth and onions that you cooked the pork roast with.

Before making the gravy, remove the pork and vegetables from the pot and set aside on a serving platter. Turn the Instant Pot to sauté and mix in a water and cornstarch slurry. Allow the gravy to boil and thicken slightly. Drizzle the onion gravy over the pork and vegetables and serve some on the side for extra dipping!

Instant Pot Pork Roast with Vegetables.

I love to serve pork roast with carrots and potatoes! I recommend adding the vegetables after the pork roast is already fall apart tender, otherwise the vegetables will become way overcooked.

If the carrots and potatoes are cut into about 2" chunks, they will only need to cook in the Instant Pot on high pressure for 4 minutes, then quick release the Instant Pot.

Storage & Reheating.

How long can I store pork roast in the fridge?

Cooked pork roast can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge up to 4 days.

Reheating.

To reheat multiple servings, place the pork roast and vegetables in an oven safe dish with ½-1 cup of chicken or beef broth, cover and cook at 350 degrees F until warm.

I recommend using the microwave to reheat individual portions.

FAQ & Troubleshooting.

How long do you cook pork in the Instant Pot?

Lock the lid on and check that the valve is set to seal. Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 70 minutes for a 2 pound roast or 80 minutes for a 3 pound roast. When the cook time is up, quick release the pressure.

Why is my pork roast tough in the Instant Pot?

If the pork roast is still tough, it just needs to cook longer. Cook time can vary depending on the size of the pork roast. The larger the pork roast, the longer it will need to cook.

To cook the pork roast longer in the Instant Pot, lock the lid and check that the valve is set to seal. Set to cook for another 15-30 minutes on HIGH pressure, depending on how tough the roast is.

Can you overcook a pork roast in the Instant pot?

Yes, you can overcook pork roast in the Instant Pot, but it would have to be cooked significantly longer than the recommended cook time. Pork butt/shoulder has a decent amount of fat, so it's hard to dry the meat out in the Instant Pot.

However, 80 minutes is the perfect amount of time to ensure that the roast is tender, but not overcooked. As well, the pork roast is cooked in broth, ensuring that it stays juicy.

Does pork roast get more tender the longer you pressure cook it?

The longer you pressure cook a pork roast, the more tender it will get to a certain extent, but you also want to avoid overcooking the pork, which can dry it out. Like most meat, there is a sweet spot when cooking a roast, which is dependent on the size of the roast. I like to pressure cook a 3-pound roast for 80 minutes.

Will a pork loin roast shred?

Pork loin is a very lean cut of pork, so it doesn't work well for making shredded pork. It is better suited for slicing.

Is pork loin same as tenderloin?

Pork loin and pork tenderloin are not the same cut of meat. Pork tenderloin is a long and skinny cut of meat, and pork loin is wide and short. How pork loin and tenderloin is cooked is the main difference. Pork tenderloin is best quickly cooked over high heat, and pork loin is best slow roasted. They are both best served as sliced pork, and do not work well for shredded/pulled pork.

How long to cook a frozen pork roast?

I recommend thawing the pork roast before cooking, but if you use a frozen pork roast, add on an extra 30 minutes to the cooking time. So for a 2 frozen pound pork roast, cook on high pressure for 1 hour and 40 minutes. If the frozen pork roast is 3 pounds, cook on high pressure for 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Is it better to pressure cook or slow cook pork roast?

Pressure cooking a roast cuts down tremendously on cook time compared to slow cooking. So if time is a factor, I recommend pressure cooking.

Do you cover meat with liquid in a pressure cooker?

You only need to add enough liquid to the cooker to reach pressure, about 1-2 cups of broth or water.

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