Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork

Introduction

Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork brings classic comfort to your dinner table in a fraction of traditional slow-cooked time. This dish features irresistibly tender pork, caramelized in savory soy-based sauce with aromatic spices, all infused quickly thanks to the Instant Pot. If you crave deep, rich flavors but are short on time, this recipe is a crowd pleaser that captures authentic Chinese essence with effortless ease.

Why You’ll Love Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork

Unlike stovetop braising, the Instant Pot locks in moisture and infuses every bite with flavor in under an hour. The pork melts in your mouth, coated in a glossy sauce that pairs beautifully with rice or steamed buns. Balanced with the fragrance of star anise, ginger, and garlic, this dish is surprisingly simple yet impressive enough for guests.

The Secrets to Authentic Braised Pork Flavor

Authentic Chinese braised pork relies on layers of soy sauce, a hint of sugar, and warm spices for its characteristic depth. Brown sugar brings caramel notes, while aromatics add complexity. Briefly browning the pork before pressure-cooking seals in flavor and recreates the beloved red-braised style (hong shao rou) without hours of simmering.

Effortless Preparation Using Your Instant Pot

The Instant Pot makes meal preparation nearly hands-off. Sauté the aromatics and pork to develop flavor, then let the pressure cooker work its magic. Natural pressure release finishes the pork at the perfect texture—fall-apart tender, but not mushy.

Serving Suggestions for Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork

This saucy pork begs to be served over fluffy white rice to soak up every drop, or try it with steamed bao buns for a fun twist. A simple side of crisp stir-fried greens completes the meal and balances the dish’s richness. Garnish with fresh scallions or cilantro for an added burst of color and freshness.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each portion contains approximately 400-500 calories, depending on your choice of pork cut and any trimming of excess fat. Serve with sides to create a satisfying, balanced meal.

Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork (Recap)

Rich, savory, and deeply aromatic, this Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. Enjoy a family favorite with all the complexity of traditional braising, streamlined for your modern kitchen.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate an organized shopping list, sorted by grocery sections—making every store trip more efficient and helping you never miss an ingredient.

Instructions

1. Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’. Add oil and brown the pork pieces in batches, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
2. Add garlic, ginger, and the white parts of the scallions to the pot. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Return pork to the pot. Add both soy sauces, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, five-spice powder (if using), star anise, cinnamon stick, and water. Stir to combine.
4. Secure the lid. Set the Instant Pot to ‘Pressure Cook’ or ‘Manual’ on high for 30 minutes.
5. Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then quickly release any remaining pressure.
6. If desired, set to ‘Sauté’ again to reduce the sauce to your preferred thickness, skimming excess fat if needed.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chopped scallion greens or cilantro before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

Instant Pot Chinese Braised Pork is ideal for batch cooking and meal planning. Save and add this recipe to your weekly meal plan to automatically see all required ingredients in one consolidated shopping list, sorted by aisle and avoiding duplicate purchases.

Planning Benefits:

– Instantly calculates total ingredient amounts for multiple recipes
– Groups all items by grocery store category for faster shopping
– Reduces forgotten items and overbuying
– Streamlines weekly prep with automatic reminders

Pro tip: When mapping out your week, schedule all your meals in CookifyAI to see overlapping ingredients—like garlic or soy sauce—so you buy exactly what’s needed, minimizing waste and saving time.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes