• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Paint The Kitchen Red
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Other
  • Tips
  • Shop
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Tips
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Other Recipes
  • About
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Char Siu | Chinese Pork Bbq

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure.    

    Published: Sep 10, 2020 | Updated: Oct 18, 2022 | Author: Paint the Kitchen Red | 8 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    Instant Pot Char Siu - Chinese bbq pork in a bowl with rice, cucumbers and bell peppers pinterest pin

    Instant Pot Char Siu is a pressure cooker adaptation of the iconic Chinese pork bbq dish popular at Chinese restaurants. Hoisin, soy sauce, honey, and spices combine to create a sweet, salty, sticky glaze that gives the tender pork bold flavors. Slice the pork and serve with sauteed vegetables in a rice or noodle bowl or shred the pork for Asian-inspired tacos.

    Instant Pot Char Siu - Chinese bbq pork in a bowl with rice, cucumbers and bell peppers

    Table of Contents


    1. INTRODUCTION
    2. TIPS
    3. INGREDIENTS
    4. STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
    5. RECIPE CARD – PRINTABLE
    6. RELATED RECIPES AND GUIDES

    Introduction

    Char Siu (also called Xa Xiu or Chashu) is a sticky Chinese bbq pork dish that’s very popular at Chinese restaurants. Cantonese in origin, it’s referred to as cha siu in Cantonese and cha shao in Mandarin.

    Although traditionally made with pork belly, char siu can also be made with pork shoulder or pork butt. And that works out perfectly when you make Instant Pot Char Siu since pork shoulder is the best pork cut to pressure cook in the Instant Pot.

    Char siu is translated as “fork roasted”, which is the traditional way to make it: strips of seasoned pork are skewered with long forks and cooked in an oven or an open fire.

    In this recipe, the pork is pressure cooked first and then finished by searing on a grill, frying pan, or broiler. This allows me to pre-cook the pork and save time before dinner since the final searing is so quick. It’s also very helpful when I’m entertaining because I save time by getting most of the work out of the way.

    I like to make rice bowls with the Chinese bbq pork using brown rice, vegetables (bok choy, carrots, spinach, and/or bell peppers) sauteed in soy sauce and oyster sauce, and a drizzle of the reserved sauce over everything. Sometimes I add pickled cucumbers and carrots. And if I’m in the mood, I top it with a fried egg.

    A noodle bowl, ramen, or Asian tacos are also great ways to incorporate char siu pork. See the tips below on how I make Asian tacos with the char siu pork.

    The Instant Pot Chinese bbq pork is so aromatic when it’s pressure cooking that you need to be prepared for your family to come into the kitchen exclaiming how good it smells and asking you when dinner is – happens to me every time!

    Here are some Chinese recipes you might enjoy:
    – Instant Pot Chinese Fried Rice

    – Instant Pot Chinese Brown Fried Rice
    – Instant Pot Beef Lo Mein

    Tips and Substitutions


    Pork

    I like to use pork shoulder for this char siu recipe because it’s a fattier cut and cooks so well in the Instant Pot.  Using a leaner cut of pork such as pork loin or tenderloin just won’t give you the same results.

    The pork is cut into long strips that are about 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide. I like to cut the meat into long pieces rather than large chunks because that allows the flavors to penetrate the pork.

    I frequently use boneless country-style ribs, which are strips of meat that come from the pork shoulder too. They are a convenient size that allows you to cook them as is, with no cutting! Be aware that there are also bone-in country-style ribs and I don’t like to use them for this recipe.


    Marinade

    If you have the time, I recommend that you marinate the pork overnight in the refrigerator. That will give the Instant Pot Char Siu added flavor and is worth the effort.

    If you don’t have the time, marinate for as long as you can or skip the marination and pressure cook right away.


    Red Color

    The red color that’s traditionally associated with char siu can be achieved in two ways: with red fermented tofu or red food coloring. I’ve chosen to omit these ingredients in my pressure cooker char siu recipe. Feel free to add either of them if you wish.


    Chinese Five Spice Powder

    Five-spice powder is commonly used in Chinese recipes. A mixture of spices including star anise, fennel seeds, Szechuan peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon, it’s commonly available in the spice aisle of grocery stores.


    Chinese Rice Wine

    There are different kinds of rice wine. Chinese rice wine is called Shaoxing and Japanese rice wine is known as Mirin. It would be best if you get the Shaoxing, but it can be more expensive than the alternatives.

    Mirin is sweeter than Shaoxing, so if you use it, you’ll need to reduce the honey or sugar quantity. Aji Mirin is similar to mirin but sweeter and is more readily available at grocery stores. Make sure you don’t confuse rice wine vinegar with rice wine!


    Light Soy Sauce

    There is a difference between Japanese soy sauce and Chinese soy sauce. When a Chinese recipe calls for soy sauce, it’s generally Chinese light soy sauce. Keep in mind it’s NOT the same as low sodium soy sauce. If you can’t find Chinese light soy sauce, substitute Japanese soy sauce.

    This can be confusing! Learn more about Chinese soy sauces.


    Dark Soy Sauce

    Chinese dark soy sauce is slightly thicker and sweeter than Chinese light soy sauce due to the addition of caramel or molasses. It’s used to add color and flavor to Chinese dishes.

    If you can’t get your hands on Chinese dark soy sauce, substitute Chinese light soy sauce or Japanese soy sauce. Add a dash of molasses if you have it.


    Browning the Meat

    The meat is pretty tasty even if you don’t brown it after pressure cooking is complete. But browning it gives it that caramelized, shiny look and it does add great flavor.

    You can either saute the meat in a frying pan as I mention in the recipe or you can broil the pork in the oven for about 4 minutes per side until browned. I haven’t tried grilling it, but that could also be an option.


    Burn Message

    The quantity of liquid in this recipe is enough to bring my Instant Pot to pressure and I tested it on various 6 quart models. If you’re using an 8 quart, you may need to increase the marinade quantity by 50%. If your Instant Pot is prone to getting the Burn Message or having sealing issues, go ahead and increase the water to 1/4 cup.


    Asian Pulled Pork Tacos

    I like to use the char siu in rice bowls, noodle bowls, ramen and Asian-style pork tacos. Here’s how I make the tacos:

    • After pressure cooking, remove the pork and shred it. Reserve the sauce.
    • Coat a nonstick frying pan with a tablespoon of oil over medium heat.
    • Saute the pork to crisp it up, adding reserved sauce one tablespoon at a time to flavor the meat and deglaze the frying pan.
    • Reserve the remaining sauce for reheating leftovers.
    • Serve shredded pork on tortillas, with red cabbage, cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots, reserved sauce, and jalapeno or sriracha mayo.

    If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, you might find it helpful to first read one of the following guides and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.

    • Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot PRO Beginner’s Manual
    • Instant Pot PRO CRISP Beginner’s Manual

    Instant Pot Char Siu – Ingredients

    Instant Pot Char Siu Ingredients - pork, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, five spice, honey, sesame oil, rice wine, ginger
    • Pork
    • Soy sauce (Light soy sauce)
    • Dark soy sauce
    • Hoisin sauce
    • Garlic
    • Five spice powder
    • Honey
    • Rice wine
    • Ginger
    • Sesame oil
    • Sesame seeds to garnish (not pictured)
    • Vegetable oil (not pictured)
    • Water (not pictured)

    How to Make Instant Pot Char Siu (Step by Step Instructions)

    1. Combine sauce and pork
    2. Pressure cook
    3. Do a natural release
    4. Remove pork and reduce the sauce
    5. Saute char siu pork

    Combine Sauce and Pork

    Instant Pot Char Siu Instructions collage - marinade, pork, both mixed
    • In a medium bowl, stir together honey, hoisin, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, five-spice powder, ginger, garlic, and water.
    • Stir together the sauce and pork. If possible, marinate for a couple of hours or overnight.
    • Transfer the pork and sauce to the Instant Pot.

    Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 25 minutes

    Instant Pot Duo Manual mode 25 minutes collage - close lid, press manual, press - or +, display shows 25 - Paint the Kitchen Red
    • Close the lid and make sure the steam release handle is in the Sealing position.
    • Press Manual (or Pressure Cook) and + or – until the display reads 25 (25 minutes).

    Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 25 minutes

    Instant Pot Ultra pressure cook 25 minutes collage - close Instant Pot Ultra, set time to 00:25 and select Pressure Cook, press start - Paint the Kitchen Red
    • Close the lid.
    • Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 25 minutes (00:25).
    • Press Start.

    Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)

    Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooking collage - display shows On, float valve is down, display shows L0:00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Ultra pressure cooking collage - Ultra display shows On, float valve is up, display shows 00 00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
    • Instant Pot display will change to On.
    • Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
    • The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to Keep Warm mode and display L0:00  or 00 00 and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.

    How to Naturally Release Pressure (NPR) on the DUO and ULTRA

    Instant Pot Duo natural release cancel and open collage - float valve is down, arrow pointing to Cancel, lid is open - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Ultra Natural Release Cancel and Open collage - arrow pointing to float valve down, press cancel button, lid is open and Instant Pot Ultra display shows Off - Paint the Kitchen Red
    • Allow the pressure to release naturally (NPR).  The float valve will be in the down position.  This may take 15 to 30 minutes. [Find out more about the pressure release methods and how and when to use them. ]
    • Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.

    Remove Pork and Reduce Sauce

    Instant Pot Char Siu Instructions collage - cooked pork, remove to bowl, reduce sauce
    • Carefully transfer pork to a medium bowl.
    • Heat the sauce in Saute mode to reduce it.
    • If desired, add a cornstarch slurry to the sauce to thicken it quickly. (To make the cornstarch slurry, combine 1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch with equal parts water and whisk into a smooth paste).
    • Simmer the sauce until thickened.

    Saute Char Siu Pork

    Instant Pot Char Siu Instructions collage - oil in frying pan, fry pork, turn over
    • Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
    • Drizzle a teaspoon or two of oil in the frying pan.
    • In batches, brown the pork on both sides. Don’t crowd the pan.
    • Add some of the reduced sauce as needed to deglaze.
    • Slice the pork against the grain. Serve over a bowl of rice and sauteed vegetables, drizzling the top with the reserved sauce. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

    I have my eye on a new frying pan from Mealthy! If you’re in the market for one, make sure you check out this unbiased review of the Mealthy nonstick frying pan.

    Instant Pot Char Siu - Chinese bbq pork in a bowl with rice, cucumbers and bell peppers

    Instant Pot Char Siu | Chinese Pork Bbq

    Instant Pot Char Siu is the pressure cooker adaptation of the popular and iconic Chinese pork bbq dish found at Chinese restaurants. Hoisin, soy sauce, honey, and spices combine to create a sweet, salty, sticky glaze that gives the tender pork bold flavors. Slice the pork and serve in a rice or noodle bowl or shred the pork for Asian-inspired tacos.
    5 from 6 votes
    PRINT PIN RATE
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 422
    Author: Paint the Kitchen Red

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Large Nonstick Frying Pan
    • Medium Bowl
    • Slotted Spoon
    • Silicone tongs

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 Tbsp honey
    • 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce
    • 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce
    • 2 Tbsp light soy sauce
    • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
    • 2 Tbsp Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing wine)
    • 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
    • 1 Tbsp ginger minced
    • 2 tsp garlic minced
    • 2 Tbsp water
    • 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder
    • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
    • 2 tsp sesame seeds to garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Cut pork into long strips about 3 inches thick .
    • Mix together honey, hoisin, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, five spice powder, ginger, garlic and water.
    • If you have the time, marinate the pork in the sauce for 8 hours or overnight.
    • Transfer the pork and marinade to the Instant Pot.
    • Close the lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes.
    • Do a natural pressure release (NPR).Β [Read More:Β The Different Pressure Release Methods]
    • Open the Instant Pot and carefully remove pork from the Instant Pot using a large slotted spoon or tongs, place it in a bowlΒ and let it cool for a few minutes.
    • Heat some oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
    • Brown the pork, in batches, on both sides until caramelized and browned, about 5 to 8 minutes. If necessary, pour 2 to 3 Tbsp of the sauce from the Instant Pot over the meat to moisten the pork while it’s cooking. Make sure it doesn't burn. Transfer pork to a serving dish.
    • In Saute mode, reduce the sauce in the Instant Pot until thickened. If desired, add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. To make the cornstarch slurry, combine 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with equal parts of water and whisk into a smooth paste. Gradually add the cornstarch to the sauce.
    • Slice the pork into medallions and serve with vegetables and rice or noodles. Drizzle with reserved sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

    Notes

    • Country-style ribs can be used instead of pork shoulder.
    • See the blog post for more detailed recipeΒ tips.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 (1/6 of quantity) | Calories: 422 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 63 g | Fat: 13 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 185 mg | Sodium: 503 mg | Sugar: 9 g
    Course Main Dishes
    Cuisine Asian, Chinese
    Main Ingredient pork
    Have you made this recipe? I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed or #PaintTheKitchenRed!

    Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!

    I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

    If you loved this recipe, please give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!

    BACK TO TOP

    Recipes You Might Also Like

    Asian Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe

    This versatile and easy Asian pulled pork recipe can be used to make rice bowls, Asian pork tacos, sliders, or sandwiches. Tender pieces of pork are spiced to perfection with the Asian flavors of soy sauce and chili paste, making every flavor-packed bite worth savoring. The Instant Pot makes cooking the pork easy and the pork cooks perfectly every time.
    GET RECIPE DETAILS
    Black bowl with pulled pork, carrots, red onions, bell pepper, asparagus, fried egg and rice on black background

    Instant Pot Korean Beef

    This streamlined recipe for Instant Pot Korean Beef makes for a quick weeknight dinner that tastes great on a bed of rice or ramen noodles, accompanied by pickled carrots, Kimchi, and a fried egg on top.  
    GET RECIPE DETAILS
    Instant Pot Korean Beef on a bed of rice with sauteed vegetables and fried egg in a black bowl

    Instant Pot Pork Tacos | Crispy Pork Carnitas

    This Instant Pot pork tacos recipe is so delicious and you won't believe how easy it is to make. It's an easy entertaining idea that's a crowd-pleaser. The pulled pork shoulder carnitas can also be used in burritos, fajitas, nachos, or as part of a rice bowl.
    GET RECIPE DETAILS
    Three Instant Pot Pulled Pork Tacos on a table

    « Which Instant Pot to Buy in 2023
    Instant Pot Trivet – What is it and How to Use it? »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jim

      June 02, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you! I’ve been trying to find an easy way to make charsiu. We all loved the recipe.

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        June 06, 2022 at 2:48 pm

        Hi Jim, I’m thrilled to hear that you loved the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Suzanne

      October 10, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      Just finished making this, fantastic!

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        October 13, 2020 at 11:32 am

        Awesome, thank you for commenting, Suzanne.

        Reply
    3. Sarah Empey

      September 25, 2020 at 4:01 am

      5 stars
      Made this last night, as directed, and it was delicious. I took screenshots of the soy sauces and rice wine and took them to my local Asian market. With the help of an employee, we found the exact ones for only $1.99 per bottle.

      I’m looking into making my own Chinese Five Spice just for fun. THANK YOU for such fabulous recipes and such thorough descriptions of ingredients and suggestions of your favorite brands. My goal is to cook my way through your recipes πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        September 25, 2020 at 2:33 pm

        Awesome, Sarah! Thank you for following the blog and for trying out my recipes – I’m excited that you’ve found me πŸ™‚

        Reply
    4. Jan

      September 22, 2020 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      Thank you soooo much for this recipe! I’ve been using an oven method -really delicious, but very messy, so I don’t do it often.. Your recipe is fantastic & so much easier & sooooo delicious! I only had one soy sauce & no rice wine on hand, but went ahead with everything else. I did use 1/4 cup water as you suggested as well as boneless country style ribs. Perfect. Then browned it all up with a mealthy crisp lid. OMGosh! Best Char Siu pork ever – even better than take out & melt in your mouth tender! Can’t wait to try with all ingredients & pork shoulder. GREAT recipe – you are a genius – thank you, thank you, thank you!

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        September 22, 2020 at 11:32 am

        Hi Jan, thank you for that comment – you’ve really made my day! I’m excited to hear how much you like the recipe <3

        Reply

    Questions, Comments? I love hearing from my readers and I reply to all comments! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate This!




    Primary Sidebar

    Neena in red sweater head tilted

    Hi, I'm Neena and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

    More about me β†’

    Popular

    • Easy Instant Pot Fried Rice Recipe (Chinese Style)
    • Coconut Chicken Curry Soup
    • Instant Pot Sausage Pasta in Creamy Tomato Sauce
    • Best Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe

    Seasonal

    • Coconut Chicken Curry Soup
    • Instant Pot African Peanut Stew
    • Vegetarian Instant Pot Moroccan Stew
    • Creamy Instant Pot Chipotle Shrimp Soup

    Footer

    AS FEATURED ON

    Paint the Kitchen Red As Featured On Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Brides.com, CNBC, msn, NBC News, Popsugar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Me
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Web Stories

    • Google Web Stories

    Instant Pot

    • Recipe Index
    • Tips and Resources

    Air Fryer

    • Recipes

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright Β© 2023 Paint the Kitchen Red