Pork Carnitas in the Instant Pot take a fraction of the time of other cooking methods and they are SO DELICIOUS!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Instant Pot Carnitas
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour
Pressurizing and Release 30 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour40 minutesminutes
Calories
Author Robin Gagnon
Ingredients
2.5lbs.pork shoulder or pork butt
2tablespoonsolive oil
½medium onionsliced (sweet or red onion)
1sweet pepper sliced *** optional
3garlic clovespeeled and minced (or 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic powder)
½cupwater or chicken broth
½cuporange juice
¼cuplime juice
2tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
1tablespoontomato paste
1tablespooncumin
4teaspoonschili powder
1teaspoondried Mexican oreganoor regular
2teaspoonssea salt
black pepper to taste
¼teaspooncayenne 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.