Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas

These Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas are flavorful, tender, juicy, zesty, and they could not be easier to make! Toss it all in your Instant Pot, let it cook, and listo! These are great to make tacos, tostadas, sandwiches, sliders, arepas and more. Whole30 compliant.

We all could use more Instant Pot recipes in our lives… am I right? This Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas recipe is awesome!

One of the things that I love most about this recipe is that It could not be easier.  

Yes…

Toss it all in your Instant Pot, let it cook, and voila!

You’re rewarded with the most flavorful, tender, juicy, and zesty pork carnitas. Plus, it’s great for feeding a crowd. I’d say this recipe is the total package!

These Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas are great to make tacos, tostadas, sandwiches, sliders or arepas. 

How do I make pork carnitas in the Instant Pot?

Rinse and pat dry pork with a paper towel. Combine oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon and minced garlic. Add pork and toss to coat. Add orange juice, lime juice, chicken stock, bay leaves and onion into the Instant Pot. Mix to combine. Secure lid and close pressure-release valve. Select Meat/Stew adjust to more (45min). When the time is over, let the pressure release on its own for 15 minutes. Then, carefully turn the valve to “Venting,” to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid. Press “cancel”. Use 2 forks to shred the pork. Serve.

What kind of meat is the best to make pork carnitas?

The best meat for carnitas is pork shoulder or pork butt. it is important to highlight that pork shoulder or butt are the same thing, a cut of meat from the same section of the pig: the shoulder.

How do I crisp up carnitas?

You can crisp up carnitas in the oven or on the stove:

• Oven: Preheat oven to 450º F and position one of the oven racks into the center of the oven. Line a baking pan with foil for easy cleanup later, if desired. Spread pork into an even layer. Add ¼ – ½ cup of the cooking liquid to the shredded pork to moisten. Bake pork for 5 – 10 minutes, or until it reaches the desired crispiness level.
• Stove: Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, add pork in batches and sear until just crisp. Add about 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and continue cooking until the liquid reduces down and the meat is nice and crispy.

How to serve pork carnitas.

Carnitas are so versatile, you can fill tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, arepas, or use them as a topping for nachos! 

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?

• Instant Pot Cuban Pulled Pork
• Easy Instant Pot Stroganoff Meatballs
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs
• Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork
• Instant Pot Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
• Easy Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
• Instant Pot Hawaiian Pineapple Pork
• More Recipe

This is a foolproof recipe!

Super delicious, crowd-pleasing, and incredibly easy. Does it get better than that?

Happy Cooking!!!

4.7 from 10 votes

Print

Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 10 mins

Total Time

1 hr 20 mins

 

These Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas are flavorful, tender, juicy, zesty, and they could not be easier to make! Toss it all in your Instant Pot, let it cook, and listo! These are great to make tacos, tostadas, sandwiches, sliders, arepas and more. Whole30 compliant. 

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 6 servings

Calories per serving: 348 kcal

Author: Oriana Romero

Ingredients

• 2 ½ - 3 lb skinless, boneless pork shoulder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup orange juice (about 2 oranges)
• ¼ cup lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 onion, quartered
• Fresh cilantro, chopped to garnish

Instructions

1. Rinse and pat dry pork with a paper towel. Trim excess fat and cut into 2-3 inches chunks.

2. Combine oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon and minced garlic in the Instant Pot. Add pork and toss to coat.

3. Add orange juice, lime juice, chicken broth, bay leaves and onion. Mix to combine. Secure lid and close pressure-release valve.

4. Select Meat/Stew adjust to more (45min). When the time is over, let the pressure release on its own for 15 minutes. Then, carefully turn the valve to "Venting," to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid. Press "cancel".

TO CRISP IN THE OVEN:

1. Preheat oven to 450º F and position one of the oven racks into the center of the oven. Line a baking pan with foil for easy cleanup later, if desired.
2. Using a slotted spoon remove pork from the cooking liquid and transfer to the baking pan. Use 2 forks to shred the pork (remove and discard any unwanted fat). Spread pork into an even layer.
3. Strain the cooking liquid. Note: skim and discard extra fat.
4. Add ¼ - ½ cup of the cooking liquid to the shredded pork to moisten.
5. Bake pork for 5 - 10 minutes, or until it reaches the desired crispiness level.

6. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, if desired and serve. Use the carnitas to make tacos, sandwiches, sliders, arepas or anything your heart desires.

Recipe Notes

If you have leftovers carnitas store them in the extra cooking liquid to keep them moist and juicy.

 

You can also crisp up the carnitas on the stove: Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, add pork in batches and sear until just crisp. Add about 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and continue cooking until the liquid reduces down and the meat is nice and crispy.

 

If you are following the Whole30 program make sure you use a Whole30 compliant chicken broth. I usually use Kettle & Fire bone broth.

 

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?

• Instant Pot Cuban Pulled Pork
• Easy Instant Pot Stroganoff Meatballs
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs
• Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork
• Instant Pot Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
• Easy Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
• Instant Pot Hawaiian Pineapple Pork
• More Recipe

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 348 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 11g 17%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 146mg 49%

Sodium 1099mg 46%

Potassium 1003mg 29%

Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 3g

Protein 50g 100%

Vitamin A 2.4%

Vitamin C 22.6%

Calcium 4.2%

Iron 8.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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