Irresistibly Easy Instant Pot Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls with Zesty Mandarin Salsa: Your New Go-To Weeknight Recipe
Welcome to a dish that effortlessly combines the savory depth of teriyaki with the bright, zesty notes of fresh mandarin! These Instant Pot Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls with Mandarin Salsa are not just a meal; they’re an experience, delivering a tropical-Asian twist that will awaken your taste buds. Imagine tender, juicy pulled pork, cooked to perfection in your Instant Pot in under an hour, then topped with a vibrant, fresh mandarin salsa. Whether you’re planning a quick weeknight dinner or looking for an exciting new recipe to revolutionize your meal prep for the week, this recipe promises ease, flavor, and pure satisfaction.
Why You’ll Love These Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls
There are some dishes that just hit differently, and for me, pulled pork is one of them. It’s my culinary comfort zone, a guaranteed mood-booster, especially when it’s made effortlessly in the Instant Pot. These Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls are a testament to that sentiment. They are simply too good to let pass by!
If you’re a fan of bold, Asian-inspired flavors and the convenience of rice bowls, then prepare to fall in love. The star of the show, the pulled pork, is infused with a delicious blend of classic teriyaki sauce and the bright, sweet-tart essence of fresh mandarin juice. Cooked until it’s incredibly tender and juicy, it practically melts in your mouth. But the magic doesn’t stop there!
Each bowl is then crowned with a refreshing, fruity, and subtly spicy mandarin salsa. This tropical garnish creates a symphony of flavors and textures, with bursts of sweetness, tang, and a hint of heat complementing the savory pork. I love to serve these bowls with a colorful array of fresh toppings like creamy avocado slices, crisp green onions, and finely shredded purple cabbage. The combination is simply irresistible and incredibly nutritious! For an extra touch of tropical bliss, consider pairing it with a Malibu Bay Breeze.
The Magic of Instant Pot Pulled Pork
The Instant Pot truly transforms the game when it comes to making pulled pork. Gone are the days of simmering meat for hours on end, or waiting all day for a slow cooker to do its job. With the Instant Pot, you can achieve fall-apart tender pulled pork in a fraction of the time, making it accessible even on your busiest weeknights. This recipe leverages the pressure cooker’s ability to infuse flavor deep into the pork shoulder while ensuring it becomes incredibly succulent and easy to shred.
The process is incredibly simple: a quick sear to lock in flavors, then a short pressure cooking cycle with our special teriyaki and mandarin juice blend. The result? A flavorful foundation for your bowls that’s rich, savory, and perfectly complements the fresh salsa. This method not only saves time but also guarantees a consistently delicious outcome every single time, making it a staple in my kitchen for effortless, yet impressive, meals.
Crafting the Perfect Mandarin Salsa
While the teriyaki pulled pork is undeniably the star, the mandarin salsa is its bright and lively co-star, elevating the entire dish. This isn’t your average salsa; it’s a tropical medley designed to cut through the richness of the pork with its refreshing sweetness and subtle spice. The key ingredients are fresh mandarin oranges, finely diced red bell pepper for crunch and color, a touch of jalapeño for a gentle kick, fresh cilantro for herbaceous notes, and a hint of red onion and lime juice to tie it all together.
The beauty of this salsa lies in its simplicity and versatility. The mandarins provide a natural sweetness and juicy texture, while the red bell pepper adds a pleasant crunch. The jalapeño can be adjusted to your preferred spice level – remove all seeds and membranes for a milder flavor, or leave some in for more heat. The cilantro and lime juice add that essential freshness that brightens every bite. Preparing it takes mere minutes, and letting it chill in the refrigerator while the pork cooks allows the flavors to meld beautifully, ensuring a vibrant and harmonious topping for your bowls.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Making these Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls is straightforward, and you won’t need a kitchen full of gadgets. Here are the must-haves that will make your cooking experience smooth and enjoyable:
- Instant Pot: Any model of Instant Pot will work perfectly for this recipe, whether it’s a Duo, Pro, or another series. A 6QT or 8QT capacity is ideal for handling the pork shoulder. This appliance is the cornerstone for achieving tender, flavorful pulled pork in record time.
- Sturdy Forks or Electric Hand Mixer: Once the pork is cooked, it will be incredibly supple and tender. Two forks are usually sufficient to easily pull the meat apart into beautiful shreds. For an even quicker and more efficient shredding process, especially if you’re making a larger batch, an electric hand mixer can be used directly in a large bowl.
- Chef’s Knife and Cutting Board: These are indispensable for preparing your fresh mandarin salsa. A sharp chef’s knife will make dicing the mandarins, bell pepper, jalapeño, and red onion a breeze, ensuring all your salsa ingredients are uniformly chopped for the best texture and flavor distribution.
- Mixing Bowl: A medium-sized mixing bowl is all you need to combine your salsa ingredients.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate ingredient measurements, ensuring perfect flavor balance in both the pork and the salsa.
Step-by-Step: Making Your Yummy Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls!
Let’s dive into creating these incredibly delicious and vibrant bowls. The process is simple, efficient, and yields impressive results.
Preparing the Pork for Pressure Cooking
- Cut the Pork: Start by cutting your 2 pounds of pork shoulder into 3 to 4-inch cubes. This size ensures even cooking and allows for maximum flavor absorption. Season generously with 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
- Sear the Pork: Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, carefully add the pork pieces, searing them for about 1 to 2 minutes per side until beautifully browned. This step is crucial for developing a rich, deep flavor that will carry through the entire dish.
- Deglaze the Pot: Remove the seared pork from the Instant Pot and set it aside. Pour in 1 1/2 cups of teriyaki sauce and 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed mandarin juice (from about 3-4 mandarins) into the insert. Use a wooden spoon to vigorously scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. This process, called deglazing, prevents the dreaded “Burn” notice and incorporates all those delicious caramelized flavors into your sauce.
Instant Pot Cooking Instructions
- Pressure Cook: Return the seared pork to the Instant Pot insert, ensuring it’s nestled in the liquid. Secure the lid, making sure the venting knob is sealed. Set the Instant Pot to “Manual” (or “Pressure Cook”) and cook on High pressure for 40 minutes.
- Natural Release & Quick Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. This helps the meat become even more tender and juicy. After 10 minutes, carefully manually release any remaining pressure by turning the venting knob to the “Venting” position. Once the float valve drops, it’s safe to open the lid.
Whipping Up the Fresh Mandarin Salsa
- Combine Salsa Ingredients: While the pork is cooking, prepare your vibrant mandarin salsa. In a medium bowl, combine 4 peeled, separated, and roughly chopped mandarin oranges, 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper, 1/2 seeded and diced jalapeño, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon chopped red onion, 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice, and a pinch of salt.
- Chill the Salsa: Stir all ingredients together until well combined. For the best flavor, set the salsa in the refrigerator to chill until you’re ready to assemble your bowls. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Assembling Your Flavorful Bowls
- Shred the Pork: Carefully remove the cooked pork from the Instant Pot insert and transfer it to a large cutting board. Using two forks, shred the tender pork until it’s pulled apart into desired strands. Alternatively, for a super-fast shredding method, you can place the pork in a large bowl and use an electric hand mixer on low speed to shred the meat. Stir the shredded pork back into the sauce in the Instant Pot to keep it moist and infuse it with even more flavor.
- Assemble the Bowls: To build your delicious bowls, start with a bed of fluffy white or brown rice. Spoon a generous portion of the teriyaki pulled pork over the rice.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with a spoonful (or two!) of the chilled mandarin salsa. Finally, add your desired garnishes: slices of creamy avocado, chopped green onion, and a sprinkle of vibrant shredded purple cabbage. Serve immediately and savor the explosion of tropical Asian flavors!
Need More Instant Pot Inspiration?
If you’re loving the ease and efficiency of the Instant Pot, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of quick and delicious meals waiting to be discovered. Check out my Instant Pot recipes page for more creative and convenient meal ideas!
Frequently Asked Questions & Recipe Variations
Can I use different citrus fruits for the salsa?
Absolutely! While mandarin oranges provide a unique sweetness and aroma, you can certainly substitute them if they’re not readily available. My top recommendation would be to use clementines, which have a similar sweet and easy-to-segment profile. If clementines are also hard to find, naval oranges will work wonderfully, though their flavor might be a bit bolder. Remember to adjust the amount slightly if using larger oranges to maintain the desired balance of fruit to other salsa ingredients. You can also get creative with other tropical fruits! For a completely different but equally delicious twist, try using this pineapple mango salsa.
What other proteins can I use?
This recipe is quite versatile! While pork shoulder is fantastic, you could easily adapt this teriyaki and mandarin flavor profile to other proteins. Chicken thighs or breasts would cook even faster in the Instant Pot and absorb the flavors beautifully. Beef chuck roast is another excellent option for pulled meat, though it might require a slightly longer cooking time to reach that shreddable tenderness. For a vegetarian option, consider using firm tofu or jackfruit, marinating them in the sauce and sautéing them for a delicious plant-based alternative.
How to store and reheat leftovers?
These bowls are fantastic for meal prep! Store the pulled pork separately from the rice and salsa in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The mandarin salsa is best fresh but will keep for 1-2 days. To reheat, gently warm the pulled pork and rice in the microwave or on the stovetop. Once heated, assemble your fresh bowl with chilled salsa and fresh toppings. This makes for super quick and healthy lunches throughout the week!
More Irresistible Pork Recipes
If you enjoyed this dish and are looking for more delicious ways to incorporate pork into your meals, here are some other fantastic recipes to try:
- Spicy Pork Instant Pot Ramen: A comforting and flavorful ramen dish that’s perfect for chilly evenings.
- Avocado Pulled Pork Flatbread with Grilled Tomatillo Salsa: A unique and delicious way to use pulled pork in a light and savory flatbread.
- Roasted Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Cranberries: An elegant and flavorful option for a special dinner.
- Grilled Pulled Pork Tex Mex Stuffed Avocados: A low-carb, high-flavor meal that’s both satisfying and fresh.
Teriyaki Pulled Pork Bowls with Mandarin Salsa
5 minutes
55 minutes
1 hour
prevent your screen from going dark
equipment
-
Wusthof Knife Set
-
Utility Cutting Board
-
Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt
ingredients
-
2
pounds
of pork shoulder
cut into 3 to 4-inch cubes -
2
tablespoon
of olive oil -
1 1/2
cups
of teriyaki sauce -
1/2
cup
freshly squeezed mandarin juice
about 3-4 mandarins -
1/2
tsp
salt -
1
tsp
black pepper
-
4
mandarin oranges
peeled, separated, and roughly chopped -
1/4
cup
chopped red bell pepper
about 1/4 pepper -
1/2
jalapeno
seeded and diced -
1
Tbsp
chopped fresh cilantro -
1
Tbsp
chopped red onion -
1/2
tsp
freshly squeezed lime juice -
Pinch
of salt
instructions
-
Set Instant Pot to Saute and add oil. Once hot, sear pork pieces on all sides, about 1-2min per side. Remove the pork, pour in mandarin juice and teriyaki sauce, then use a wooden spoon to scrape up the bottom of the insert.
-
Return pork to the pot and close lid. Set to Manual and cook on High pressure for 40 minutes. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes before releasing remaining pressure.
-
Toss together all ingredients for salsa together and set aside.
-
Remove pork from insert and shred on a cutting board using two forks.
-
To assemble bowls, add rice, then top with pork and mandarin salsa. Add avocado, sliced green onion, and shredded purple cabbage as desired.
Asian
Instant Pot