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Instant Pot Pork Carnitas - The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!

The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas - The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!

reasons to make instant pot pork carnitas

  • Ridiculously easy. With the help of the Instant Pot, pork carnitas comes together so much faster than the stovetop and slow cooker (and tastes as if it’s been simmering for hours on end). Simply brown the meat, add your seasonings and close the lid. 30 minutes later, you have carnitas perfection.
  • So tender, so crispy. You’ll have super tender, perfectly shredded, fall-apart juicy, crispy pork for the whole family to enjoy.
  • Great for a large crowd. With its large serving size and minimal prep, this recipe is perfect for big parties, family gatherings and holiday get togethers.
  • So many ways to serve. Carnitas can be enjoyed as tacos, quesadillas, burritos or burrito bowls, salads, enchiladas, nachos and so much more.
  • Freezer-friendly. Pork carnitas is incredibly freezer-friendly, great for meal prep for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas - The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!

pork carnitas vs. pulled pork vs. al pastor

Pork carnitas

Carnitas, translating to “little meats”, is a classic Mexican dish typically made from pork shoulder, a high fat cut of meat, braised and simmered until tender enough to shred, then roasted until crispy.

Pulled pork

Pulled pork is an American barbecue dish, cooked similarly to pork carnitas, but the former is much more tender and mixed with sauce such as BBQ sauce.

Al pastor

Al pastor is also a Mexican dish but is often times made with thinly sliced pork and marinated with pineapple for its sweet flavors.

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas - The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!

tips and tricks for success

  • Don’t skip the beer. The beer serves as a braising liquid, helping to tenderize the meat, provide moisture and add flavor.
  • Add some heat. For a kick of heat, add 1 diced jalapeno or chipotle pepper in adobo sauce with a little bit of sauce for added smokiness.
  • Broil for a few minutes. For that favorited crispy texture and all the flavorful brown bits, pop the shredded pork carnitas on a baking sheet with a little bit of the pan juices, broiling until nice and crisp.
  • Mix it up. Swap out the pork for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
  • Freeze as needed. Divide the carnitas into meal-sized portions in freezer-safe bags, thawing overnight in the fridge for a quick and easy dinner.
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas - The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

The best Mexican pork carnitas! Juicy, fall-apart tender, and so flavorful. Made in just a fraction of the time!
4.9 stars (32 ratings)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 4 pound boneless pork shoulder, excess fat trimmed and cut into 3-inch chunks
  • 12 ounces pilsner or lager beer
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • Set 6-qt Instant Pot® to the high saute setting.
  • Heat vegetable oil; working in two batches, add pork and cook until evenly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Stir in beer, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, oregano, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 30 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
  • Remove pork shoulder from the Instant Pot® and shred the meat using two forks; season with salt and pepper, to taste, if needed.
  • Preheat oven to broil. Place pork onto a baking sheet and broil until crisp and crusted, about 2-3 minutes.
  •  Serve immediately.

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