This Instant pot pork carnitas recipe is a great way to make a delicious batch of Mexican pulled pork to enjoy so many ways! A great recipe to try our your new Instant Pot with.
Traditional carnitas are slow simmered in a Dutch oven or other large pot. These Instant Pot carnitas are tender and flavorful in so much less time than slow cooker or stove top preparation.
What are Carnitas?
Carnitas are the Mexican take on pulled pork. The name literally translates as "little meats" and originated in the Mexican state of Michoacán. The meat is simmered in fat, citrus juice and regional spices. This typically takes several hours, but with an Instant Pot the cook time is 90 minutes (including pressurizing and natural pressure release).
The shredded pork is infused with the flavors of the region and perfect for making tacos and burrito bowls with.
What Cut of Pork is Best for Instant Pot Carnitas?
When selecting meat for this Mexican pulled pork you will be looking for tougher more inexpensive cuts of pork. Not only does that save money, but they work better for shredded pork and the pressure cooker is renowned for working wonders on meat cuts like this.
Pork Butt cuts such as Boston butt, boneless pork shoulder, picnic shoulder even a bone-in pork roast are good choices.
Pressure cooking will result in fall apart tender pork even when starting with these tougher cuts and the excess fat in a cut of meat like this will give you juicy pork carnitas. These are the same cuts that work well for my Instant Pot Keto Pulled Pork Recipe.
How to Make Instant Pot Carnitas... Quick and Delicious!
Let's make a big pot of pressure cooker carnitas Mexican pulled pork. Print recipe carb below.
Ingredients you will need to make Instant Pot Carnitas:
- pork shoulder or pork butt
- olive oil
- Sweet peppers *** optional
- sweet or red onion
- garlic cloves
- water (or chicken broth)
- orange juice
- fresh lime juice
- apple cider vinegar
- tomato paste
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano (yes, you can swap the regular herb if you need to)
- sea or Kosher salt
- black pepper
- cayenne pepper *** optional
Preparation:
Start by turning your pressure cooker on to sauté function. Set aside and allow to heat up while you mix the marinade.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix your liquids and tomato paste together. The dry seasonings can be mixed in with this or simply tossed into the pot before sealing to pressure co
Once your instant pot is hot, pour in your cooking oil. Place your pork in the pot and brown each side for 3-4 minutes, then turn off sauté function.
Pour the marinade over the meat, and top with the minced garlic and spices. Add sliced onions and peppers if you are including them.
Close the Instant Pot by twisting the lid on and closing the valve by pushing it away from you. Set the instant pot to high pressure for 1 hour. It will take the electric pressure cooker some time to build up adequate pressure.
Once your timer is done, allow the instant pot to complete a natural release for another 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, manually release the Instant Pot by using a towel or spoon to twist the valve toward you and open.
Shred the meat with two forks. You may find it easier if you remove the meat from the instant pot to a cutting board for this step.
Keep in the cooking liquid for juicy carnitas. Scoop out with a slotted spoon to serve.
Stove Top Carnitas
If you don't have an electric pressure cooker, simply cover and simmer on low in a Dutch Oven for 3 ½ to 4 hours after searing the pork.
Slow Cooker Carnitas
In the slow cooker, sear the pork on a skillet, then place in slow cooker with sauce and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until fork tender.
Crispy Carnitas
After shredding the pork, spread it out on a baking sheet and pour about a cup of the juices over the pork. Broil for 4-5 minutes, toss, then broil a few more minutes, until edges are crispy. the reduced sauce will stick to the meat better now too.
Instant Pot Keto Carnitas
The only real change I would make to the recipe for those on a strict keto diet would be to swap broth and orange zest for the orange juice. The zest of one fresh orange should be plenty.
Serving Pork Carnitas
The pulled pork is typically topped with diced onion, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole and salsa. Refried beans, black beans, corn, roasted peppers and rice are popular sides to serve with carnitas.
Instant Pot Carnitas are so flexible. Serve over corn tortilla chips like nachos or in a burrito bowl. Make carnitas tacos with all the fixings or use the meat as a topping on Mexican Sopes. The meat is also great in a quesadilla or simply scooped over some rice or Mexican cauliflower rice.
In the mood for chicken? You may like my Instant Pot Salsa Chicken, when shredded is goes great in tacos too!
Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs. pork shoulder or pork butt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ medium onion sliced (sweet or red onion)
- 1 sweet pepper sliced *** optional
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and minced (or 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic powder)
- ½ cup water or chicken broth
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 4 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano or regular
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper *** optional
Instructions
- Turn your instant pot on to sauté function. Set aside and allow to heat up while you make the marinade.
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix your liquids and tomato paste together. The dry seasonings can be mixed in with this or simply tossed into the pot before sealing to pressure cook.
- Once your instant pot is hot, pour in your cooking oil. Place your pork in the pot and brown each side for 3-4 minutes, then turn off sauté function.
- Pour the marinade over the meat, and top with the minced garlic and spices.
- Close the Instant Pot by twisting the lid on and closing the valve by pushing it away from you. Set the instant pot to high pressure for 1 hour. It will take some time to build to pressure.
- Once your timer is done, allow the instant pot to complete a natural release for another 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, manually release the Instant Pot by using a towel or spoon to twist the valve toward you and open.
- Shred the meat with two forks. You may find it easier if you remove the meat from the instant pot to a cutting board for this step.
- Enjoy your pork carnitas with rice or in a a taco topped with fresh chopped cilantro and lime wedges.
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