Instant Pot Carnitas

Name: Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: mexican
Ingredients: 4 lb pork shoulder; 2 teaspoons cumin; 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 2 teaspoons oregano; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 4 cloves of garlic; 2 small or 1 large orange; 2 limes

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Instant Pot Carnitas give you the delicious taste of slow-cooked pork carnitas in less than an hour thanks to the pressure cooker. Serve as tacos, burritos, nachos or in a bowl, any way you eat them, they are delicious!

carnitas on baking sheet topped with chopped cilantro

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Have I mentioned that I’m obsessed with my Instant Pot lately? I know, I’m about five years late on this trend but good gracious this thing is a lifesaver now that school is back in session!!

I’ve been having a great time testing and converting our family’s favorite recipes like carnitas-style chicken into the pressure cooker and this Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe is most definitely one of my family’s favorite meals to eat!

A close up of Carnitas with chopped cilantro garnish

What are carnitas?

Carnitas (literally “little meats”) are simply Mexican pulled pork. They are made with a pork butt or pork shoulder and traditionally slow cooked for hours before being fried to crisp up the meat.

Ingredients

This recipe is packed with flavor. I know it may seem odd at first to cook the meat with the citrus but I promise you, once you taste it you’ll see how much flavor it adds to the pork!

pork shoulder or pork butt – they are very similar cuts of meat and either will work in the recipe
cumin, salt & pepper, chili powder, and oregano add the perfect Mexican flair to this recipe
onion and garlic – aromatics that bring out the savory flavor of the meat
oranges and limes add acidity and bring out the flavor of the spices

Step by step

This recipe is super simple!

The key to making this recipe so fast is to cut the pork shoulder into chunks before putting it in so the meat gets cooked through. The pressure cooker takes care of the rest. Then, popping under the broiler to finish it off gives you those delicious crispy bits we love so much.

Cut the pork into 2″ pieces and place in Instant Pot.
Combine all spices and sprinkle over the meat..
Place orange and lime slices over the meat.
Seal the pressure cooker and set to manual for 35 minutes.
Allow the pressure to release naturally when done cooking, about 20 minutes.
Preheat the broiler to 500 degrees. Shred the meat with two forks and spread on a baking sheet and broil 5-10 minutes or until crisp if desired.

Serving suggestions

There are a ton of options for sides for carnitas, anything from rice to refried beans.

My kids love theirs over as tacos, over nacho chips, or rolled up burrito style with cheese while my husband and I eat our burrito bowl fashioned usually, tossed with rice, pico de gallo, and lots of veggies!

We eat our carnitas in a lot of different ways depending on our moods. I also like to make a huge batch so I can have leftovers for lunch for a few days afterward or use the leftover carnitas in other easy recipes.

You can also use the meat on salads or simply eat it on its own!

close up of carnitas meat with chopped cilantro

FAQs

Do I need to sear the meat before pressure cooking?

I have tried this recipe with and without searing and have found no difference in the final result so I don’t sear the meat to save time.

Do I have to broil pressure cooked carnitas?

You can skip the broiling step if you prefer your carnitas tender instead of crisp.

My carnitas look pink, is that okay?

The USDA recommends cooking pork to 145 degrees F. It is possible that the meat could still be a little pink at this temperature. Simply test the meat with a meat thermometer to ensure it is cooks to 145F.

How long do leftover carnitas last?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. I recommend saving the juices from the Instant Pot to keep the meat moist when reheating.

Can I freeze carnitas?

Yes! This is a great recipe for freezing up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Is your mouth watering yet? I know mine is! On to the recipe!

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!