Cooking Pigs Feet in a Pressure Cooker – Quick & Flavorful Soul Food

cooking pigs feet in a pressure cookerCooking Pigs Feet in a Pressure Cooker

If you’ve ever wondered about cooking pigs feet in a pressure cooker, you’re in the right place. This traditional soul food dish, long celebrated in African American kitchens, becomes faster and easier without losing its bold, comforting flavor. Using a pressure cooker transforms this rich and gelatinous cut into tender, fall-off-the-bone deliciousness in a fraction of the time.

Why Cooking Pigs Feet in a Pressure Cooker Works

Traditionally, pigs feet require hours of slow simmering to become tender. But with a pressure cooker, you can cut that time significantly — often by more than half — while still achieving the same deep, savory flavor and smooth texture. It’s the perfect blend of old-school soul food with modern kitchen efficiency.

Whether you're new to Southern cooking or just want a quicker way to enjoy classic dishes, cooking pigs feet in a pressure cooker offers a satisfying solution.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • 4 pig’s feet, split lengthwise
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tsp crushed red pepper
  • Water to cover
  • Optional: Barbecue sauce or hot sauce for serving

How to Cook Pigs Feet in a Pressure Cooker

  1. Clean the Pig’s Feet: Rinse thoroughly under cold water. Remove any remaining hairs with a kitchen torch or razor.
  2. Load the Pressure Cooker: Add the cleaned pig’s feet, onions, celery, garlic, bay leaf, vinegar, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper.
  3. Add Water: Pour in enough water to just cover the ingredients.
  4. Cook: Seal the lid and bring the cooker to high pressure. Once pressurized, reduce the heat to maintain pressure and cook for 45 minutes.
  5. Release: Let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid carefully once safe.
  6. Serve: You can enjoy them as is or top with barbecue sauce or a splash of vinegar-based hot sauce.

What to Serve with Pigs Feet

Pair this dish with classic soul food sides for a complete, hearty meal:

Tips for the Best Results

  • For Bolder Flavor: Add bay leaves, thyme, or a dash of cayenne.
  • Make It Sticky: After pressure cooking, reduce the cooking liquid on the stove for a rich, sticky glaze.
  • Leftovers: Store in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat gently for best texture.


    • Preserving Tradition in a Modern Kitchen

    Cooking pigs feet in a pressure cooker blends heritage with convenience. You still honor the traditions of Southern cooking — the flavors, the textures, the soul — but you gain back time in your busy day. It’s proof that old-school flavor doesn’t have to take all day.

    Looking for more quick ways to cook traditional soul food? Explore more of our soul food dinner recipes for inspiration.

    Best Tips For Cooking Pigs Feet In A Pressure Cooker

    Mar 06, 2018
    It All Depends on Preference (by: Anonymous)
    There are very few hard rules when it comes to cooking. Recipes are meant to be a guideline, unless one is baking. Pressure cooker times vary with amount of pressure used and water amount. Not all pressure cookers are alike as some will handle varied pressures safely while some require staying with lower heat settings for safety.

    Some people like their trotter chewy, some like them to fall apart. While many people like to have their trotters split or cut up before cooking, I do not. I feel that there are enough small bones to deal without cutting them up. I cook them whole, that's just my preference, and I know it requires that I cook them a little longer.

    My pressure cooker pressure cannot be adjusted, so the manufacturer requires keeping pressure at lower range by keeping heat at low medium. Whole feet take an hour for me, sometimes a few minutes more as I like them to fall apart, and yes, for the calcium I do like to chew up the bones that are soft enough.

    Have you ever made an all day bone stock? At 45 minutes the bones won't pull apart in my cooker. The core of the trotters remain en mass. So, I suggest experimenting and see what works for you, starting with maybe 30 minutes. If they are not done, simply put the lid back on and go for another 10 and check. If 30 minutes is too much, it certainly won't be enough to be problematic. Just try 10 minutes less next time and see how that works for you.

    Apr 01, 2017
    45 mins in a pressure cooker?????? Noooo (by: Anonymous) 
    I'm glad that I have used my pressure cooker for many many recipes over the years, and I know that there is no way pig feet will take 45 mins in a pressure cooker.
    I used 2 cups water, 3/4 cup white vinegar, two bay leaves balanced atop each of three split pig feet, pepper corns resting on areas not covered by bay leaves. Secured lid. Placed rocker on vent. Brought cooker to steam. Adjusted heat to keep rocker moving gently, evenly. DONE in 20 minutes.

    Meat and bone were separated. Allowed cooker contents to cool before handling. Lifted meat into heated jar. Strained liquid. Poured off fat. Poured liquid over meat in jar. Topped off with white vinegar so that all meat was submerged in liquid. Capped. Placed in frig until gelatin was firm. And ENJOYED!

    In 25 more minutes (or 45 mins total as instructed by "Soul food and Southern Cooking") the bones would have been mush and I could have eaten those, too. Well, maybe that was the idea all along. But thanks, I'll return the bones to the earth, and swoon for the delicious pickled meat. Mmmmmm!

    Feb 02, 2012
    Best pig feet recipe ever (by: Tina)
    You don't have to drown them. Put four to five split feet in 2 cups of water, 1/2 c. vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (to taste), 2 to 3 stalks celery, and 1 small onion. Put top on and after it rocks cook 45 minutes to an hour. I checked after 45 minutes and gave it another 15 minutes for falling off the bone and really tender skin.

    Mar 11, 2011
    Cooking pigs feet in a pressure cooker (by: Anonymous)
    I just bought myself a new pressure cooker. The first meal I cooked was a pot of beans. Surprisingly it only took me 12-15 minutes. I should have adopted the practice of using a pressure cooker many years ago. Had I done so, I could have saved myself thousands of hours away from the kitchen.
    In any case, my next adventure is trying to pressure cook pigs feet and then I'll try my luck with some chitterlings. I'll let you know how things turn out.

    Feb 04, 2010
    Answer to How Long it Takes to Cook Pigs Feet in a Pressure Cooker (by: Anonymous) 
    It takes approximately 45 minutes to cook some tender and juicy pigs feet in a standard pressure cooker.

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