Pulled Pork Burger

A mouthwatering Pulled Pork Burger is the ultimate BBQ sandwich. Tender and juicy pulled pork is stuffed between soft buns, then topped with crunchy coleslaw, pickles, and fried onions. If you love barbecue pork, this is the ultimate recipe for you and your family!

about this pulled pork burger

Pulled pork burgers have earned their reputation as an irresistible meal for several reasons. From the succulent texture to the incredible flavor profile, these burgers offer all the flavor you could ever want.

They just so happen to be my favorite thing stuffed between a bun. One of the key factors that make pulled pork burgers so delicious is the cooking process itself. Typically, the pork shoulder or butt is slow-cooked over low heat for hours, allowing the fat and connective tissues to break down gradually.

Of course, as an average human being with a craving for pulled pork and limited time, I bust out the Instant Pot to make this recipe come to life. It’s what makes this recipe easy to make any night of the week!

The magic of the Instant Pot allows the meat to cook quickly, while breaking down all the fat and connective tissues. The meat will still melt in your mouth and be nice and juicy!

A pulled pork burger like this one is one that you cannot resist once you taste on. The combination of juicy meat, savory barbecue sauce, and the satisfaction of biting into a soft bun? How can anyone compete with that?!

The reason these pulled pork sandwiches stand out is due to the flavorful rub and the combination of toppings. Whether you whip it up for a backyard barbecue or enjoy them on a random weeknight with your family, these burgers are everything you could want out of barbecue. Without waiting hours for it to cook, of course!

what is the difference between a pulled pork burger and pulled pork sandwich?

Honestly, nothing really. It’s just a difference of how you like to say it. To put it simply, both are the combination of pulled pork stuffed between two bun halves.

Some people call it a pulled pork sandwich. Others call it a pulled pork burger.

If you really want to drive people insane, switch between the two terms in the same sentence and see their eyes bug out… I may or may not be speaking from experience when talking to my husband about the recipe, haha.

ingredients

pork. I use boneless pork shoulder, also called pork butt, for the recipe.

sugar. All you need is dark brown sugar for this recipe. You could also use light brown sugar.

spices. The spices you will need for this recipe include salt, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.

beer. A lager is best for pork! You could also use a pale ale.

bbq sauce. Whatever BBQ sauce you love is your favorite, use that! I like to use my favorite classic BBQ sauce, but you could also play with other BBQ sauce flavors.

mayonnaise. Use your favorite mayonnaise, whether it’s light or full-fat.

mustard. I use dijon mustard in the recipe. Do not use yellow mustard as this will throw off the flavor of the coleslaw dressing.

vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is my favorite for coleslaw. However you could also use white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar instead.

honey. I like to use honey, but you could also use agave if you prefer.

onion. You will need green onions for the coleslaw!

coleslaw. I pick up a 16 ounce bag of coleslaw mix at the store. You could use plain cabbage or tri-color deli style like I do.

buns. In my opinion, brioche buns are simply the best. Use whatever buns you prefer to eat pulled bbq pork on!

toppings. I love adding pickle slices and onion strings on top! You could also add pickled red onions if you like.

this recipe’s must haves

To make this recipe, you will need a few bowls from a set of mixing bowls. You will also need a whisk, a wooden spoon, measuring cups, and measuring spoons.

Finally, you will need an Instant Pot! I love the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid, but the Instant Pot Duo is also a fantastic model. Don’t forget a pair of tongs for searing, removing, and adding the meat to the insert.

instant pot favorites

Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid

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Instant Pot Duo

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Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer

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here’s how to make pulled pork burgers

make coleslaw

In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, honey, salt, and garlic powder until combined. Add green onion and coleslaw mix to the bowl. Stir until the coleslaw is well-coated. Set aside in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.

sear meat

Make the rub for the pork by combining the spices in a small bowl and stirring together. Season the pork pieces evenly with the homemade seasoning and set aside.

Add oil to the insert of the Instant Pot and set to the Sauté function. Once the oil is shimmering and hot, add pork chunks, searing them in batches until golden on all sides. This will take about 3 to 4 minutes per batch.

Remove seared pork to a plate and set aside.

deglaze

Add beer to the insert and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits on the bottom. Add the pork chunks back to the Instant Pot and seal.

pressure cook

Cook on High pressure for 40 minutes.

Once done, manually release the pressure at the end (also known as quick release).

shred meat

Remove the meat to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat. Add to a large bowl and add BBQ sauce. Stir until the meat is coated well.

assemble and serve

Add pork, coleslaw, pickles, and fried onion to the bottom half of the buns. Top with the other bun halves and serve.

tips for success

toast the buns. Before serving, toast the buns! This will add a little extra texture to the sandwich.

scrape the bottom when you add liquid. One of the most crucial steps in this process is to scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot insert after you’ve seared the meat and added the beer. This will help you avoid the burn notice when you cook the meat!

More delish pork recipes to try out: Shredded Pork Korean BBQ Wraps | Pork Belly Breakfast Sandwich | BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders | Spicy Pork Instant Pot Ramen

what’s cut of meat should I use for a pulled pork burger?

I recommend using boneless pork shoulder or boneless pork butt for this recipe.

how long does it take for pulled pork to cook in an Instant Pot?

The total cook time on High pressure is 40 minutes. This does not count the time required for the pressure cooker to come to pressure.

what liquid do you use to cook pulled pork?

For this recipe, I use beer as the main liquid in the Instant Pot. I like to use a lager, but you could also use a pale ale if you prefer.

If you prefer not to use beer, you could also use chicken broth or beef broth.

do I have to sear the meat?

Yes, you should definitely sear the meat! I do not recommend skipping this step, because that crust that’s developed from searing is what locks the moisture into the meat. If you are on a time crunch, you can skip the step, but it won’t taste nearly as tender and juicy in the end.

Need more inspiration for summer dishes? Check out my summer recipes page!

what goes with the ultimate pulled pork burger

This pulled pork burger is similar to a traditional pulled pork sandwich, so you can serve it up with all your favorite classic BBQ side dishes. This could be pasta salad, potato salad, corn, fries, chips, fruit salad, and more. Here are some of my personal favorite recipes:

• For a whole new take on potatoes, these loaded bacon potato skewers are the ultimate grilled side dish.
• Summer lemon pasta salad is light and refreshing, making it a fantastic pairing for this hearty sandwich.
• If you love corn, you’ll love this bacon cilantro lime grilled corn salad or this masala corn salad!
• For a fruity side, I love this sweet and salty melon salad.
• There are tons of pulled pork side dishes to choose from in this convenient list as well.
• Add a side of crunchy Chick fil A coleslaw for all the creamy coleslaw lovers in the room.

For more bbq inspiration, there’s always this list of delicious backyard bbq dishes to get you through barbecue season.

how to store and reheat

Store. Cool the cooked pork down to room temperature before placing in an airtight storage container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The coleslaw will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

If you do make the pork and coleslaw ahead of time, be sure to store them separately. Reheat the pork before assembling the pulled pork burgers, then serve.

Reheat. The pulled pork can be reheated in a large pot over medium-low heat on the stovetop. You can also reheat it in the microwave. I recommend having more BBQ sauce handy for serving as this will help loosen up the meat.

Freeze. Freeze pulled pork in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating as instructed above and serving.

Finally, if you make this pulled pork burger recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a rating or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment. Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!