Instant Pot Pork Loin

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This pork loin roast served with a thick reduction of pan juices is tender and juicy and will be on your dinner table in less than an hour.

Pork loin with a few slices cut at the end on a white platter with juices.

Can Pork Loin Be Made In The Instant Pot?

Yes! One of my most popular posts is How to Roast Pork Loin Perfectly. The feedback has been so positive that I decided to test a recipe for pork loin roast using the Instant Pot to help you get this delicious roast on your table even quicker.

I really love my Instant Pot – this is the one I use! It will really help you get a delicious roast on your table quicker than ever.

What’s The Difference Between Pork Loin And Tenderloin?

I think that it is important to mention here, this recipe is for pork loin roast and not a pork tenderloin. Pork loin and pork tenderloin actually come from different parts of the animal and both look and cook differently.

Pork tenderloin is best cooked quickly over a high heat while a pork loin is often slow roasted or grilled. You can learn more about these cuts of meat over at The Kitchn.

How Should You Season Pork Loin Roast?

I like to season the roast with a simple mixture of salt, pepper, and garlic powder after rubbing it with a little olive oil.

Searing the roast in the Instant Pot using the sauté function creates a caramelized exterior – yum! And it leaves behind some tasty bits on the bottom of the pot to flavor the pan juices – double yum!

Can I Leave The Browned Bits On The Bottom Of The Instant Pot?

No. After searing the roast, some browned bits will be stuck to the bottom of your Instant Pot. This is normal. However, you need to scrape those up before pressure cooking begins.

This is because the browned bits stuck to the bottom get really hot when pressure cooking starts. This heat signals to the unit that something is burning. You can then get a burn notice from the Instant Pot and it will shut itself off.

To prevent this burn notice, after searing the roast, add liquid to the Instant Pot. Let it come to a simmer. This softens and loosens the stuck bits.

Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned stuck bits so that they’re floating in the liquid. From there, you can proceed with the recipe.

How Do I Know The Pork Is Done?

After the pressure cook and natural release, check your pork loins internal temperature.

Tip: Use an instant read thermometer to check the cook on your meats. The recommended safe temperature is 145°F for pork.

If your pork isn’t quite there, put the lid back on your instant pot for 2-5 minutes and let the residual heat continue cooking it a little longer. Once your pork loin is done, it’s time to remove it so you can make use of all the delicious juices in there.

What Should I Do With The Pan Juices?

The juices left behind from the cooking process are like liquid gold. After I take the roast out of the pot and remove the trivet, I use the sauté function again to turn pan juices into a delicious, rich sauce to serve over the pork.

If you’d like more of a gravy, check out my recipe for Instant Pot Gravy over here or my recipe that you can use without any pan drippings.

In just under an hour, you can have a tender, flavorful roast on the table any day of the week or for a special occasion.

Instant Pot Pork Loin with Pan Juices

★★★★★

4.7 from 3 reviews

Author: Christine Pittman
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Category: Entrée
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

DESCRIPTION

This pork loin roast served with a thick reduction of pan juices is tender and juicy and will be on your dinner table in less than an hour.

Note: This recipe has been retested and edited in January 2021. The original used a 2 lb. pork loin and less liquid. We’ve also added in some butter and onion to this updated recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 1/2 lb. pork loin roast, boneless or bone-in
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 of an onion, cut in quarters
1 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth or water
1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch (optional, to thicken pan sauce)

Instructions

Take roast out of the fridge and cut slits in the fat.
In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir to combine.
Rub pork roast with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with the salt mixture on all sides.
Let seasoned pork rest for 45 minutes.
Select the Sauté button to heat the Instant Pot. When “Hot” is displayed, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter.
Add the seasoned pork and sear on all sides, approximately 3 minutes each on top and bottom and one minute each on the long sides.
When roast has been seared on all sides, press Cancel and remove pork from the Instant Pot. Set aside on a plate.
Add the broth or water to the Instant Pot, scraping any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
Place the trivet and onion in the bottom and lay the pork fat side up on top of the trivet.
Cover pot, lock on the lid, and set the steam release valve to Sealing
Select the Meat/Stew or Pressure Cook button and set the cook time to 19 minutes.
When the cooking cycle has finished, do a 12 minute Natural Release.
Check internal temperature, recommended temperature is 145°F.
Remove the pork loin roast to a cutting board with tongs or a slotted spoon. Remove the trivet from the Instant Pot.
Select the Sauté button. Bring the juices to a boil and reduce by 1/2, stirring occasionally, about 5 – 7 minutes. If you’d like to turn the pan juices into more of a gravy, stir cornstarch into some cold water and then add that slurry into the juices.
Carve pork into 1/2” pieces and serve with pan juices.

Notes

If you like a crispy crust, you can use the final-sear method by placing the pressure cooked roast on a sheet pan or roasting pan and putting in an oven that has been heated to 475˚F for 10 minutes.

This post originally appeared in June 2018. It was revised and republished in January 2021.

See COOK the STORY's nutrition and recipe disclaimers.

Hi! I’m Christine. My passion is creating recipes that take less time in the kitchen, so that we can all spend more time enjoying life! I’m a busy single mom of two, so I totally get how tough it can be. That’s why I’ve been figuring things out for my own family, and that’s why I want to share this knowledge with others. I now help over 2 million people a month get delicious meals onto their tables. Come along with me and see how much easier it can be!

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