Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Pork

Make takeout-style sweet and sour pork at home with tender pork, pineapple, colorful bell peppers, and a tangy-sweet sauce. The Instant Pot brings the ingredients together, then a quick cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce right in the pot.

Dr. J sears the pork first for extra flavor, then pressure cooks it with a homemade sauce of ketchup, low-sodium tamari, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Serve the finished pork over jasmine rice and adjust the optional crushed red pepper to suit your taste.

Dr. J’s Kitchen

Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Pork

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Tender pork with pineapple, bell peppers, and onion in a tangy homemade sweet and sour sauce, pressure cooked in the Instant Pot and served over jasmine rice.

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Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 or 2 pork tenderloins Dr. J uses one; you can double the pork without changing the other ingredient amounts
• 3 tablespoons avocado oil (45 mL)
• 1 20-ounce can pineapple chunks with juice; reserve the juice for the sauce (567 g)
• 2 bell peppers any colors, seeded and cut into large chunks
• 1 large onion cut into large chunks
• 1/2 cup ketchup (120 mL)
• 1/4 cup low-sodium tamari or soy sauce (60 mL)
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (45 mL)
• 2 tablespoons ginger paste (30 mL)
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste (10 mL)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper optional; omit for a milder sauce (2.5 mL)
• kosher salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch (45 mL)
• 3 tablespoons water (45 mL)
• cooked jasmine rice for serving

Equipment

• Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker
• Cutting board and knife
• Measuring cup or mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon

Method

 

1. Trim excess fat and silver skin from the pork. Cut each tenderloin lengthwise in half, then cut it into pieces about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.
2. In a measuring cup or mixing bowl, whisk together the ketchup, tamari, rice vinegar, pineapple juice, ginger paste, garlic paste, and optional crushed red pepper until combined.
3. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté, More or High. Add the avocado oil. When the display reads HOT, add the pork, season with salt and black pepper, and sear for 2 minutes. If using two tenderloins, sear in batches. Press Cancel.
4. Pour the sauce into the pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom so they do not trigger a burn notice.
5. Add the pineapple chunks, onion, and bell peppers on top of the pork and sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Secure the lid and set Pressure Cook to High or More for 5 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure. When cooking is complete, press Cancel and quick release the pressure according to your Instant Pot instructions. Wait for the pressure pin to drop before opening the lid.
7. Stir together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté, High, and stir in the slurry. Let the sauce bubble for 2 to 3 minutes, until thickened. Press Cancel and serve over jasmine rice.

Video

Notes

Yield: Dr. J lists 4–8 servings, depending on the amount of pork used. She uses one pork tenderloin; you can use two without changing the other ingredient amounts.

Adjust the heat: The crushed red pepper is optional. Omit it for a milder sauce.

Serving: Serve over jasmine rice.

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Tips for Instant Pot sweet and sour pork

If you use two pork tenderloins, sear the meat in batches so the pieces brown instead of crowding the pot. After adding the sauce, scrape the pot bottom thoroughly to help prevent a burn notice.

The pineapple juice goes into the sauce, while the pineapple chunks, peppers, and onion are layered over the pork before pressure cooking. Stir the cornstarch slurry in after pressure cooking and let the sauce bubble for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.

The recipe’s 5-minute setting is pressure-cooking time; the pot takes about 10 minutes to reach pressure, with additional time for trimming, searing, and thickening.

What to serve with sweet and sour pork

Serve the pork and sauce over jasmine rice, as Dr. J does. The rice catches the tangy-sweet sauce and makes the meal easy to portion for dinner.

Frequently asked questions

Can I double the pork?

Yes. Dr. J says you can use two pork tenderloins without changing the other ingredient amounts. Sear the pork in batches.

Can I make this without spicy heat?

Yes. The crushed red pepper is optional, so omit it for a milder sweet and sour sauce.

How long does the pork cook under pressure?

Set the Instant Pot for 5 minutes on High or More. The source estimates about 10 minutes for the pot to reach pressure; trimming, searing, and thickening the sauce add more time.

How do I thicken the sauce?

After pressure cooking and releasing the pressure, stir in a slurry made from 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water. Let it bubble on Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until thickened.

What should I serve with sweet and sour pork?

Serve it over jasmine rice.

Watch Dr. J Make Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Pork

Watch Dr. J make Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Pork and see how it comes together.

Products used

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Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

4 Pack Silicone Utensils Set

Luvan 4 Cup Glass Measuring Cup

HANSGO Long Handle Wooden Spoons, 6PCS

Stainless Steel Pastry Scraper & Chopper