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.
Easy Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas Recipe
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!!!
Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas
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
- Rinse and pat dry pork with a paper towel. Trim excess fat and cut into 2-3 inches chunks.
- Combine oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon and minced garlic in the Instant Pot. Add pork and toss to coat.
- Add orange juice, lime juice, chicken broth, bay leaves and onion. 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".
TO CRISP IN THE 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.
- 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.
- Strain the cooking liquid. Note: skim and discard extra fat.
- 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.
- Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, if desired and serve. Use the carnitas to make tacos, sandwiches, sliders, arepas or anything your heart desires.
Nutrition
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Works every time,perfectly. My new go to carnitas recipe. Love it.
Hello Patricia! Sounds like you nailed it =) Thanks so much for trying my recipe and for taking the time to come back and let me know!
I have made this recipe several times and have put this on my favorites list. I have increased the cooking time however by at least 30 minutes for fall off the bone meat. thanks so much
Hello Mary Jane! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know!
This recipe is phenomenal!! So flavorful and tender. Thank you so much for posting it! My husband couldn’t stop raving about it.
Hello Dianne! I’m SO GLAD you and your husband enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!?
I made it but marinated the pork in the mojo sauce overnight. They were extra flavorful.
Hello Annie! Thanks so much for your feedback and for trying my recipe. This is one of our favorites!
I love this recipe! Honestly the best carnitas I’ve ever had. The cinnamon is a special touch. We’re making them tonight and my mouth is already watering! I cut the recipe in half since there are only two of us and it comes out great, no problem.
Hello TJ! I’m SO GLAD you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!?
What do you do with the quartered onion?
Never mind, I see it now: Add pork and toss to coat. Add orange juice, lime juice, chicken stock, bay leaves and onion into the Instant Pot. It didn’t say that in the recipe part. That is what I did so all is good.
Thanks for your interest in my recipe, Patti! Please come back and let me know how you like it. ?
Please update Step #3 of printed recipe card to include adding Onion.
Hello JDD! Thanks so much for letting me know. It’s updated. Thanks for your interest in my recipe. Please come back and let me know how you like it. ?
Can I substitute pineapple juice for orange? I want to make this tonight and it’s all I have.
Hello Tim! Yes, you can. Thanks for your interest in my recipe. Please come back and let me know how you like it. ?
Your recipes are amazing! Do you have an Instant Pot cookbook coming out?
Hello Jazzy! You are so kind ?. I have so many IP recipes that I am thinking about it. Thanks so much for your support and for stopping by. ?
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! My whole family LOVED it. I am planning to make another batch this weekend.
Hello Teresa! I’m SO GLAD you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!?