Instant Pot Carnitas

Want the best short cut in town for making delicious, tender and flavorful carnitas? All you need to do is grab your Instant Pot and a few simple ingredients and you’ll be on your way to the tastiest carnitas you’ve ever made!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Pressurize 25

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Calories 214kcal

Author Jennifer Draper

Ingredients

4 pound boneless pork shoulder
2 jalapeno peppers diced (ribs and seeds removed)
1 sweet onion diced
2 tablespoons jarred minced garlic
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

Finely dice peppers, onions and garlic and stir together in a sauce with seasonings and remaining ingredients
Cut pork into smaller 2-3 inch cubes
Add to Instant Pot along with sauce
Cover, seal and set to high pressure for 30 minutes
Allow natural pressure release
Remove pork from Instant Pot and shred, adding back spoonfuls of juice as desired
If you’d like crispy carnitas, place on a baking sheet and broil for 5-10 minutes until the end are crispy

Notes

Use boneless or bone-in pork butt (shoulder) for identical results
Increase cooking time to 60-75 minutes if pork isn't cubed
Browning under the broiler is optional
Freeze in portioned containers for quick dinners

Nutrition