I’ve officially cracked the code on making insanely delicious pulled pork at home! The air fryer is my secret weapon.
The key is starting with a well-marbled pork shoulder and giving it a good rubdown with spices. Trust me, this combo of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic, and other savory spices makes it to die for.
I love piling this pulled pork high on a soft bun with tangy slaw. Who needs a smoker when you have an air fryer?
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Pulled Pork
Quick Cooking: Air frying significantly reduces the cooking time for pulled pork. It’s ready in a jiffy.
Flavor Explosion: The air fryer creates an incredibly flavorful bark and crust on the pork. It highlights the savory and smoky notes.
Meals Galore: It can be served in a variety of ways, from classic sandwiches to tacos, nachos, and even salads.
Cleanup Is a Breeze: There’s less mess and splatter, making the cleanup process a breeze.
Ingredients
You only need four ingredients to make this incredible pulled pork:
- Boneless Pork Shoulder or Pork Butt: This cut becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender when cooked low and slow.
- Olive Oil: A drizzle helps the spice rub adhere to the meat for maximum flavor.
- Spice Rub: You’ll love the savory blend of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Barbecue Sauce: Slather on your favorite smoky-sweet BBQ sauce for the ultimate pulled pork experience.
How to Make Air Fryer Pulled Pork
Making this pork couldn’t possibly be easier.
1. Mix the spices. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to make the spice rub.
2. Season the pork. Rub the pork all over with olive oil. Coat it generously on all sides with the spice rub, pressing it into the meat.
3. Air fry. Place the seasoned pork in an air fryer-safe pan or lined basket. Pour ½ cup water into the bottom of the air fryer, and air fry at 350°F for 60 minutes. Flip the pork over and air fry for an additional 60-90 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 195-205°F.
4. Rest and shred. Transfer the pork to a cutting board, let it rest for 10-15 minutes, and then shred using two forks.
5. Add barbecue sauce. Return the shredded pork to the air fryer pan or basket. Pour the barbecue sauce over the pork, and toss to coat evenly.
6. Finish air frying. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes until the pork is hot and the sauce is sticky. Serve the pulled pork on buns, in tacos, or on top of nachos or salads.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Pulled Pork
Following these tips and tricks will make your pulled pork even better!
- Choose the right cut. Opt for a well-marbled pork shoulder or pork butt for the most tender and flavorful pulled pork.
- Ditch the excess fat. Remove any large chunks of fat from the pork to prevent greasiness. But leave some for moisture and flavor.
- Give it a good basting. Baste the pork with some of the cooking liquid every 30 minutes to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Let it rest. Allow the cooked pork to rest for 10-15 minutes before shredding to let the juices redistribute.
- Try a shredding shortcut. Use two forks to easily shred the tender pork into bite-sized pieces.
- Get creative and have fun. Enjoy pulled pork on buns, in tacos, over nachos, or on top of salads.
How to Store
If you have leftover pork, follow these tips to keep it fresh.
To Store: Place the cooled pork in an air-tight container or heavy-duty zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Store the pork with any leftover juices to help keep it moist.
To Freeze: Transfer the cooled pulled pork to freezer-safe bags or containers. Remove excess air, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To Reheat: Reheat pulled pork in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat in a microwave-safe dish in 1-minute intervals until warm.
Air Fryer Pulled Pork
10
servings10
minutes2
hours30
minutes307
This air fryer pulled pork is juicy, sweet, savory, and delicious! Plus, it takes a fraction of the time of using a slow cooker.
Ingredients
2 ½ lbs boneless pork shoulder or pork butt, trimmed of excess fat
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to make the spice rub.
- Rub the pork all over with olive oil. Coat the pork generously on all sides with the spice rub, pressing it into the meat.
- Place the seasoned pork in an air fryer-safe pan or lined basket. Pour ½ cup water into the bottom of the air fryer under the basket.
- Air fry at 350°F for 60 minutes. Flip the pork over and air fry for an additional 60-90 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 195-205°F and the pork shreds easily with a fork.
- Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Shred the pork using two forks.
- Return the shredded pork to the air fryer pan or basket. Pour the barbecue sauce over the pork and toss to coat evenly.
- Air fry for an additional 5 minutes until the pork is hot and the sauce is sticky.
- Serve the pulled pork on buns, in tacos, or on top of nachos or salads. Enjoy!
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the pork in the spice rub in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight before air frying.
- Baste the pork with some of the cooking liquid every 30 minutes to keep it moist.
- Let the pork rest before shredding to allow the juices to redistribute.
- For crispy edges, air fry the shredded pork for a few minutes before tossing with barbecue sauce.
