Air Fryer Pulled Pork
If you love pulled pork but want a healthier way to enjoy it, then you need to try Air Fryer Pulled Pork! This delicious dish has all the tender, juicy goodness of traditional pulled pork but without all the work of smoking it.
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Thanks to the magic of air frying, you can enjoy this classic comfort food with a crispy exterior and succulent interior that will have you coming back for seconds.
Ingredients
- pork butt
- olive oil
- liquid smoke
- black pepper
- kosher salt
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- barbecue sauce
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
- BBQ pulled pork – For a classic BBQ pulled pork flavor, simply season your pork with salt, pepper, and your favorite BBQ rub before placing it in the air fryer. Once it’s cooked, toss it in your favorite BBQ sauce and enjoy!
- Spicy pulled pork – If you love a little heat, try adding some cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to your seasoning mix before air frying. The result will be a deliciously spicy pulled pork that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds.
- Asian-style pulled pork – For an Asian-inspired twist, season your pork with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a little brown sugar before air frying. Once done, enjoy on top of some sticky rice, in a stir-fry, or in lettuce wraps for a nutritious and flavor-packed meal.
How to Make Air Fryer Pulled Pork
This is a quick overview of the steps that you need to follow to make this shredded pork. You can find the full instruction in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Mix the marinade ingredients and then add the pork butt and marinade to a gallon storage bag. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil and air fry the pork at 370 degrees f for 1 1/2 hours. Or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees f.
All the pork to rest and then shred the pork with two forks or a meat claw.
Add the shredded meat to the large mixing bowl and the 1/2 cup barbecue sauce. If desired, add another 1/2 cup. Fold the shredded meat into the sauce to fully coat. Enjoy as, or turn it into pork sandwiches.
Hint: I recommend that you use a boneless cut of pork. This helps the pork cook evenly and quickly. If you are using a bone-in cut you may need to add additional minutes to your cooking time.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many great options to serve with this air fryer pulled pork. My favorite side dishes to serve with this tender pork are Cast Iron Skillet Mac and Cheese or these Slow Cooker Au Gratin Potatoes.
Pro Tips
- Choose the right cut of pork – To make the best air fryer pulled pork, you’ll want to choose a cut of pork that has plenty of marbling and is well-suited for slow cooking. Pork shoulder or Boston butter are popular choices, as it has just the right amount of fat and connective tissue to create tender and juicy pulled pork.
- Allow the pork to reach room temperature – Before cooking, allow the pork to reach room temperature by letting it sit out of the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will help ensure that the meat cooks evenly and stays tender.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – To ensure that each piece of pork gets crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You may need to cook the pork in two or more batches to achieve the best results.
- Using foil – I used the foil just for easy clean up. If you don’t have to use foil I recommend that you spray your air fryer basket well with cooking spray to prevent the pork from sticking.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce – Our family loves Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, but you can use any brand that your family prefers or even your own homemade bbq sauce.
- Fatty Side Up – I recommend that you cook this pork fatty side up instead of fatty side down. This will allow the fat to add more moisture to the pork while it cooks to prevent it from drying out. Plus, it adds such a great flavor.
- Air fryer timing – Different models of air fryers having different cooking times, so make sure that you use a meat thermometer to check your roast before doneness before you remove it from your air fryer.
- Don’t skip the rest time – I know it’s hard to wait, but the rest time allows the juices to settle back into the pork so it’s not dry.
Storage
Leftovers – If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Reheating – Reheat your air fryer pulled pork in a preheated oven or microwave until it’s heated through. You can also reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes to crisp up the exterior again.
Freezing – If you want to freeze your air fryer pulled pork, allow it to cool completely and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Yes, you can put raw pork in an air fryer! Many air fryers are suitable for cooking raw meat, including pork. Pork can be seasoned, flavored, or marinated before being put into the air fryer. It’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking times and temperatures to ensure the pork is fully and safely cooked.
For air fryer pulled pork, a 2-pound (900-gram) boneless pork shoulder typically takes around 35-40 minutes to cook at 375°F (190°C). It’s essential to check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer to make sure it has reached a safe temperature before serving.
Whether to wrap pork in foil or not when cooking it in an air fryer depends on the recipe and personal preference. In general, wrapping pork in foil helps to retain moisture and flavor, and prevents it from drying out in the air fryer. However, it also prevents the exterior from getting crispy and golden brown.
Techincally use you can use a pork tenderloin however, I prefer to use a cut that has a little more fat to it like a boston butt so that it doesn’t dry out.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you like air fryer recipes, give these recipes a try:
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli
Want to make this delicious recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin it so that you can come back to it later.
Air Fryer Pulled Pork
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Large bowl
- two forks or meat claws
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork butt boneless, or shoulder
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt kosher
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2- cup barbecue sauce sweet baby ray’s, or your regional favorite
Instructions
- Place the pork in a gallon storage bag.
- Add the oil and liquid smoke. Close the bag leaving a little air in the bag. Shake the pork inside to bag to fully coat all the surfaces.
- Open and add all your spices. Seal the bag with some air and repeat agitating the pork until fully coated in the spices.
- Let the pork sit for at least 30 minutes, for the best results and tenderness, let the pork chill overnight in the bag with the air removed.
- Form an aluminum foil bowl in the air fryer and pre-heat to 370°f.
- When you’re ready to cook, let the meat come to room temperature then place the pork in the air fryer basket with the fatty side up. Pour over the remaining juices.
- Cook the pork for 1 1/2 hours at 370°f, flipping the pork twice every 30 minutes. Cook the meat to 180°f to ensure the meat is fully cooked. Cook for 15 minutes extra if needed.
- When the pork is finished, leave the pork in the air fryer for 30 minutes to rest.
- Remove the pork and shred the meat on a cutting board.
- Add the shredded meat to the large mixing bowl and the 1/2 cup barbecue sauce. If desired, add another 1/2 cup. Fold the shredded meat into the sauce to fully coat.
- Add the pulled pork to a fresh bun and top with more sauce and or your region’s respective toppings.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Choose the right cut of pork – To make the best air fryer pulled pork, you’ll want to choose a cut of pork that has plenty of marbling and is well-suited for slow cooking. Pork shoulder is a popular choice, as it has just the right amount of fat and connective tissue to create tender and juicy pulled pork.
- Allow the pork to reach room temperature – Before cooking, allow the pork to reach room temperature by letting it sit out of the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will help ensure that the meat cooks evenly and stays tender.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – To ensure that each piece of pork gets crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You may need to cook the pork in two or more batches to achieve the best results.
Disclaimer:
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
