Instant Pot Pulled Pork Tenderloin is a healthy and delicious alternative to Smoked Boston Butt. It is BBQ reimagined in a healthier way.

Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Tenderloin is SMOKED BOSTON BUTT's more health conscious cousin. Lots of BBQ pork recipes feature lots of sugar or molasses in their rubs or sauces. Even ours!
We show you how to take our SUGAR FREE BBQ RUB and use it to prepare a delicious pork tenderloin that will rival any pork dish out there.
We love showing delicious yet healthy alternatives. For a great southern casserole alternative, check out our SQUASH AU GRATIN.
We use our favorite kitchen gadget to get the job done in a flash too. All without heating up the kitchen. And also without spending hours outside getting the right temperature on a smoker in the southern heat.
This recipe is perfect anytime you need that BBQ and need it fast!
Ingredients for this delicious and healthy Pulled Pork
With 6 ingredients, this is just as easy as it is delicious. You can use it on any type of protein too. We use it often on chicken, fish, beef as well as pork.
- Pork tenderloins
- Olive oil
- Sugar free BBQ Rub
- Chicken broth
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sugar free BBQ Sauce
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Searing the meat is a HUGE part of this. It locks in moisture AND that great flavor we invested in it with that BBQ Rub! Then we steam the meat in all of those great flavors so that there is no sauce required!
Rub those pork tenderloins down and allow them to sit for at least an hour or even overnight in the fridge.
Add the olive oil to the liner of the Instant Pot.
Set the Pressure Cooker to "saute".
Cut tenderloin into chunks.
Sear to brown on all sides.
Remove browned tenderloin and rest on a paper towel.
Add in chicken broth, apple cider vinegar and sugar free bbq sauce. Scrape the pan to remove those good bits of flavor.
Turn off Saute function and add tenderloin back in.
Set unit to Pressure Cook for 45 minutes. When done, switch to off and allow pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes.
Remove from pot and shred with forks.
Place shredded meat back in pot with sauce. Allow to sit with lid on to stay warm until time to serve.
Storage
Serve right away or allow to come to room temperature and will keep in an airtight container in refrigerator for about a week.
Tips and Tricks for the best Pulled Pork
Yes! You can but your cook time will be exactly the same! provided it is about the same size.
The trick is when it pulls away from the bottom of the pan. If it's stuck, leave it be a couple of more minutes. When it easily turns, its ready. Like so many other things, be patient and stay with it.
You sure can! We have been highlighting low sugar recipes and this is an easy and delicious way to cut out that unnecessary extra sugar. If you need the traditional recipe, and sometimes we do, simply substitute with your favorite options.
If you make this recipe, be sure and post it to Facebook or Instagram and tag us. We love pictures of food. Also, if you pin this recipe, we would appreciate that when you make it, you use the Made It function in Pinterest too.
And as always, we would love it if you shared this recipe with your family and friends. Over to the side on this post and all of the others are handy dandy share buttons. We would sure be grateful if you shared the love!
Look at our Top 60 BBQ Recipes!
We have compiled a list of 60 of the BEST recipes for a fun and easy BBQ. Here is a sampling of what you will find.
Want to see all 60? Head over by clicking the link for 60 EASY BBQ PARTY RECIPES
Instant Pot BBQ Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork tenderloins
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- Sugar Free BBQ Rub
- 1 Cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup sugar free BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Dry tenderloins and cut into chunks. apply BBQ rub on all sides.
Place liner in Instant Pot, Set to saute. - Add in 1 tablespoon olive oil. When hot, brown tenderloin on all sides. Remove and drain.
- Add broth, apple cider vinegar and bbq sauce allow to simmer for 5 minutes, Scrape the pan to deglaze. Turn saute off, add tenderloin back in.
- Secure the lid, seal the vent and pressure cook for 45 minutes. allow pressure to
naturally release 15-20 min. Carefully open vent to remove any remaining pressure. Remove lid. - Remove tenderloin and shred.
- Place back in cooking liquid until time to serve.
Becki
If my tenderloin is only 2 pounds do I need to decrease my pressure cook time?
Heidi
Thanks to your recipe, my pork tenderloin came out just perfect! I recently got an instant pot, so I had never made my tenderloin that way. Now it's the only way I will be making it!
Brooke Burks
Thank you!
Gina
Love making a big batch of this pork for sandwiches all week!
Brooke Burks
Yes! thanks!
Charlese
This was so easy that my teenage daughters can make it themselves for our busy activity nights. It was moist, flavorful, and made the house smell great. I didn't have the sugar-free BBQ rub so just used my regular Mrs. Dash combo, and it worked out well!
Brooke Burks
Yes! Thank you!
Anita
Absolutely delicious!!! I am throwing out my old recipe.
Brooke Burks
Goodness! Thank you so very much!