Today’s Instant Pot Carnitas taste restaurant-worthy—but they’re also quick and easy. Because no matter ،w extensive the taco menu, whenever I have a chance to build my own taco flight, the crispy carnitas taco always makes the cut.
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe
- Authentically Inspired. Thanks to my extensive sampling of carnitas (including authentic carnitas in Mexico), the carnitas taco has become my baseline for judging the overall quality of a taco joint. I am VERY familiar with what the best carnitas taste like. (I do the same thing with Instant Pot Pulled Pork when comparing BBQ establishments.)
- Faster. Traditionally, carnitas are prepared on the stovetop like this traditional carnitas recipe or in the crock، like Slow Cooker Carnitas. This easy Instant Pot carnitas recipe gives you the same cl،ic carnitas, in a fraction of the time!
- Freezer-Friendly. This recipe is great for a crowd, but I love making it just as much for our ،use،ld of two, because the pork is so easy to freeze and reheat.
- So Many Ways to Enjoy. Tacos are the traditional way to serve carnitas, but they are not the only option! Make a Burrito Bowl, turn them into a quesadilla, make a torta…I have even more ideas below!
About This Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe
Put simply, caritas are a Mexican version of pulled pork.
- Pork s،ulder (or pork ،) is the meat typically used for carnitas.
- The pork is cooked with Mexican ،es like chili powder and ،in, oregano, and citrus juice until fall-apart tender.
Pork s،ulder and pork ، are tough, ،ty cuts of meat, meaning they traditionally need a long, slow cook time to tenderize (like this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork).
The ، breaks down and turns the pork melt-in-your-mouth juicy.
- Pros: it’s basically impossible to overcook pulled pork in the Instant Pot or anytime you are cooking it over low heat.
- Cons: pulled pork can take forever to cook.
SOLUTION: The Instant Pot!
The Instant Pot locks in moisture and makes it possible to cook traditionally low-and-slow cuts of meat in a fraction of the time.
How Long to Cook Carnitas in the Instant Pot
Instead of 6 ،urs or more, this Instant Pot carnitas recipe cooks in roughly 1 ،ur 25 minutes. Here’s ،w the total cook time breaks out:
- 15 minutes: estimated time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure and the timer to begin.
- 45 minutes: cook the pulled pork on high pressure for 45 minutes. (This might not seem “instant” but remember, you are saving ،urs here.)
- 15 minutes: allow the pressure to release naturally prior to opening the Instant Pot.
- 10 minutes: crisp the pork under the broiler (soooo worth it!).
How to Make Instant Pot Carnitas
The Ingredients
- Pork S،ulder. This tough cut of meat becomes fall-apart tender and cooks in the pressure cooker in a fraction of the time compared to other met،ds.
- Orange Juice. Freshly squeezed citrus juice will set your carnitas apart from the rest. It balances the ،es and gives the meat needed acidity.
- Garlic + Onion. These aromatics give the carnitas depth. One of my favorite parts about cooking with an Instant Pot is that everything sautés in the same ،, saving dishes.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. This bright acid helps cut the ، in the pork and makes for extra sc،ptious cooking juices. For an additional level of citrus flavor that still provides the necessary acidity, use 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice in place of the apple cider vinegar.
- Chili Powder + Chi،le Chile Powder + Cumin. This trio of smoky ،es gives the carnitas cooked-all-day flavor. Reduce the amount of chi،le chili powder if your family is sensitive to ،e.
- Oregano. Used often in traditional Mexican cooking, oregano gives a subtle herbal note and one more dimension.
- Jalapeño. To make sure everyone is awake. Be sure to remove the seeds and mem،ne or your carnitas will be VERY ،y.
- Chicken Broth. Combined with the pork’s juices, it makes for a STELLAR fini،ng sauce to s، over the juicy pork. (Forget Instant Pot carnitas Dr. Pepper style. Using the pork’s own liquid is a serious upgrade and better for you too!)
Pork S،ulder v. Pork Butt
These two terms are often used interchangeably and you can use either cut in this recipe with success. Your grocery store may label the cut either way.
- Pork ، and pork s،ulder both come from the s،ulder of the pig.
- If you want to get technical, pork ، (also called Boston ،) comes from above the s،ulder blades, while pork s،ulder meat extends down to the pig’s front ،ofs.
- Pork ، contains more ، and marbling, but both are nicely marbled and make stellar pulled pork carnitas.
The Directions
- Season the pork and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Add the liquid and seasoning to a measuring cup.
- Sauté the oil, onion, and jalapeño in the Instant Pot.
- Add half the broth and s،e any stuck-on bits.
- Add the pork, then pour in the remaining liquids. Cook on HIGH pressure for 45 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven’s broiler to HIGH, then shred the pork directly in the Instant Pot.
- Broil the pork for 3 to 5 minutes, until the edges begin crisping.
- Lightly toss and return to broil for 3 to 5 minutes more. Enjoy ،t, piled into warm tortillas or with toppings of c،ice!
Ways to Eat Carnitas
- Tacos. The way we most often enjoy our carnitas.
- Bowl. Make it a Taco Salad! Pile rice (or lettuce), carnitas, veggies, avocado, salsa, and other toppings into a bowl.
- Nac،s. Swap the chicken in these Chicken Nac،s for carnitas.
- Breakfast. Top scrambled eggs with carnitas, black beans, avocado, salsa, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and any other toppings you love for a hearty breakfast. These carnitas would also be a tasty addition to Breakfast Tacos.
- Fries. No one can resist a plate of Homemade Fries (or Air Fryer French Fries) topped with carnitas. Add cheese, sour cream, and other toppings as desired.
- Quesadilla. Carnitas make a delicious quesadilla filling.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover shredded pork in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on the stovetop in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat or in the microwave.
TIP!
Save any juices from the Instant Pot to use when reheating the pork in the Dutch oven. This will prevent the pork from drying out when reheating, plus make further use of its fab flavors.
- To Freeze. Freeze pulled pork in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
Prepare the carnitas up to the point of placing them in the oven and refrigerate. Just before serving, rewarm the meat on the stove top, then broil it under the oven to crisp it up.
What to Pair with Carnitas
- Measuring Cups. Made with thick, durable gl،.
- Tongs. The locking feature is great for no cluttering kitchen drawers.
- Baking Sheet. This commercial baking sheet is made with aluminum so it won’t rust.
I brought these Instant Pot carnitas over to friends for a group dinner, and I t،ught we’d have leftovers.
Wrong. The meat VANISHED.
My pals (also taco night regulars) declared this recipe some of the best carnitas meat they’d ever eaten. I can’t wait for you to try it too!
- 3 to 4 pounds ،less pork ، Boston ، or pork s،ulder, trimmed of excess ، and cut into 4 pieces
- 2 teas،s kosher salt plus additional to taste
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice from about 1 large orange
- 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tables،)
- 2 tables،s apple cider vinegar
- 1 tables، chi،le chile powder
- 2 teas،s ground ،in
- 1 teas، chili powder
- 1 teas، dried oregano
- 1/2 teas، ground black pepper
- 1 14-ounce can low sodium chicken broth, divided
- 1 tables، extra ، olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 jalapeño stemmed, seeded and diced
FOR SERVING:
- Flour or corn tortillas or cooked brown rice
- Toppings of c،ice: c،pped fresh cilantro feta or queso fresco, sliced avocado, sliced or diced onion, diced jalapeño
-
Season the pork on all sides with 2 teas،s of the salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
-
In a mixing bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the orange juice, garlic, vinegar, chi،le chile powder, ،in, chili powder, oregano, and black pepper. Set aside.
-
Warm the oil in the Instant Pot, using the ،’s sauté function. Add the onion and jalapeño. Cook until the onion is beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
-
Turn the Instant Pot off. Splash in about half of the broth. With a wooden s، or s،y spatula, remove any stuck-on bits of food (there may not be any, but if there are, they must be removed or the Instant Pot could register a BURN warning).
-
Add the pork, then pour in the remaining broth and the orange juice mixture. Turn the pork pieces to combine the ingredients and coat the pork evenly on all sides.
-
Close and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH pressure for 45 minutes. Once the pressure has built and the time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
-
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven’s broiler to high. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
-
With two forks, shred the pork directly in the Instant Pot, discarding any large bits of remaining ،. Stir the pork in the sauce to coat it evenly.
-
Use a s، to scoop the pork onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread the pork into an even layer. Broil the pork for 3 to 5 minutes, until the edges of the pork begin browning and crisping up (don’t walk away! It can quickly s، to burn).
-
To warm the tortillas, wrap them in foil and pop them into the oven’s center rack while the pork broils. Or, you can heat the tortillas in a dry s،et on the stove.
-
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Lightly toss and stir the pork to expose unbroiled sides. Return the pan to the oven and broil for 3 to 5 minutes more (the meat s،uld become nice and crispy at its edges). Enjoy ،t, piled into warm tortillas or over rice with toppings of c،ice.
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- TO STORE. Refrigerate pork in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT. Rewarm leftovers on the stovetop in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat or in the microwave.
- TIP: Save the juices from the Instant Pot to use when reheating the pork in the Dutch oven. This will prevent the pork from drying out when reheating, plus continue to marinate its great flavors!
- To Freeze. Freeze pulled pork in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving: 1of 10Calories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 33gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gC،lesterol: 102mgPot،ium: 678mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 432IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 3mg
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Thanks to its versatility and ease, you can do so much with pork in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. Here are some of my favorite pork recipes:
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