Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
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There’s nothing better (or easier!) than making perfectly shredded, juicy, tender pork carnitas right in your pressure cooker!
Is there anything better than super tender, perfectly shredded, juicy pork carnitas?
I THINK NOT.
It’s so stinking good, and you can serve them in any way possible – tacos, quesadillas, over rice, or you can legit just serve them off a baking sheet.
Hey, that’s what I did all week.
Ain’t nobody got time for tacos after a 10-hour work day. Just give me the shredded pork, a fork and I’m good.
Especially with this Instant Pot situation. Simply brown the meat, add your seasonings, and close the lid. 30 minutes later, you have carnitas perfection.
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola 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 a 6-qt Instant Pot® to the high saute setting.
- Heat canola 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.
- OPTIONAL: Preheat oven to broil. Place pork onto a baking sheet and broil until crisp and crusted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Â Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?
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As I go to make this for probably the 30th time, I figured I needed to write a review. This is hands down the best carnitas EVER. You don’t need to tweak this recipe at all. It’s legit perfect and the most incredible tasting carnitas ever. It will look like you slaved away at this for hours, but with the instant pot, it’s such a quick and fresh tasting meal. I know this will be one of those recipes that my kids will ask for long after they’ve moved out on their own.
Very good recipe. May I suggest the pressure cooker liquid be put to good use? Pour it into a fat separator fitted with a screen to prevent the detritus from clogging the spout. Carefully pour the liquid into a large skillet and crank up the burner, if they still exist, electric coil on induction unit to high and bring to a roiling boil. Reduce the liquid, stirring often, until it is nearly syrupy thick. When a trail is left behind as you drag a spatula across the bottom of the pain, you sauce is ready. Put the shredded meat on a sheet pan and ladle the sauce on top and mix if you like. Place the pan near the bottom of you oven and broil until bubbly.
How many tacos is considered one serving?
I keep this website as my secret weapon when I don’t know what to have for dinner. These recipes never fail me and this is one recipe I just treasure. I usually don’t have any oranges or orange juice, but pineapple juice is a great substitute. I open a can of pineapple and put the juice in with the other goodies in the Instant Pot but reserve the pineapple bits. Then once I am ready to crisp the pork, I add the pineapple bits in just after the meat crisps and it not only adds great flavor, it keeps the pork from getting too dry. I also add a ladle full of the liquids from the instant pot and once that cooks off it picks up all the carmelized bits and it ready to serve.
It’s delicious. If I want to double the recipe, do I double every other ingredient as well (as long as I don’t go over the fill line in my Instant Pot)?
OMG, the best pork carnitas I have ever had! I have made this 20+ times and my family and friends love them!! I only oven crisp what we will be eating right away and then I can save the rest to heat up later or tomorrow. They taste equally as good the next day!
This is the third time I have made this recipe with the same results each time. I get rave reviews and empty plates. Super easy to make. I accompanied the dish with flour tortillas, avocado, sour cream, and salsa. A corn salad rounded out the dinner.
I made this ahead for a taco bar. Broiling the meat just before setup. The previous reviews gave me an idea I transferred the broth to a sauce pan and reduced it a bit with an extra splash of orange juice so it could be drizzled on the tacos as they were built. It was still a bit thin and a little will go a long way for flavour. Super easy recipe too!
I have made this several times and it truly is one of the best IP recipes I have ever tried. If I don’t have an orange in the fridge, I use a half cup of Naranja Agria (Bitter Orange) It’s a bottled orange based marinade that I learned about from a friend who is Honduran. It makes a rich, delicious marinade, too, and I always have some on hand.
When I browse recipes, Damn Delicious is my go to. Thanks!!
Meat came out as suggested. REALLY DAM DELICIOUS!
i just got a new instant pot and this is the 2nd recipe i’ve used from this site. both were outstanding! the carnitas are so so good and the left over broth is a rich tasty treat. i used a pork shoulder cut and did have to increase the time in the pressure cooker – but then it was perfect. i made it ahead for guests and will put it under the broiler when we get ready to eat it.
the other recipe i used was the rotisserie chicken. the chicken was flavorful and again the broth was delicious.
i put off getting an instant pot for a couple of years because i had all the other things already – slow cooker, pressure cooker, saute pans, etc. now i know this is easier than any of them and so far, everything has turned out “damn delicious”
I would really love to make this but I only have a pork loin roast. Would it still work or would I have to add some type of fat?Â
I am making right now with pork loin. I know fat adds flavor but I think it will be fine. It smell heavenly!
Awesome recipe, quick and very tasty! Will make again and vacuum seal for future meals!
I’ve tried making carnitas many times and they’ve never turned out that great. I made these tonight and they were perfect! Tender, flavorful and crisped up nicely! Delicious!
This is one of my favorite recipes! Thank you so much for sharing! I just received a new 8 qt instant pot and am wondering how to adjust the recipe. What would you recommend?
No change. I have the 8 qt and all recipes work…most are created for 8 qt.
This was a little hit and miss. First, the pork came out perfectly tender. However, I found the flavor of the meat to be lacking. The broth that was left in the pot was amazingly flavorful, but I didn’t find that that flavor translated to the pork. And there was a ton of broth left. Easily three cups worth, which I’ll use as a soup base. Not sure why that much liquid is needed so I’ll cut down the beer next time. However, when i put the meat into a tortilla with some onion and cilantro, it tasted good.
I agree. The sour cream, scallions, and cilantro that I served with it gave it most of the flavor.
Amazing simple recipe. Everyone I’ve made it for loves it!
Made this a couple times now and followed the recipe exactly the first two times. Most recently I used tablespoons for the spice measurements and traded out pork shoulder for Chuck roast and it came out amazing. Either way you do it you can’t go wrong this always turns out great!
since I did not have any beer in the house nor orange juice what I did was I substituted beef broth 12 oz for the beer and I substitute lemon juice for the orange juice. Both of them worked together and the carnitas came out absolutely perfect.
I served it with diced avocado, fresh chopped cilantro, chopped tomato, and homemade Chipotle salsa.
I made fresh homemade corn tortillas while this was in the instant pot cooking away.
As they say, Magnifico!
My two teen boys LOVE this recipe! In fact, the carnitas are cooking in the IP as I type this since they are home for the Thanksgiving break…perfect lunch. Thank you for such great, easy recipes 🙂
I’ve made a fair amount of pulled pork recipes with the Instantpot and so far this is my clear favorite. The flavor is excellent and
with relatively few ingredients. I added a little paprika, onion & garlic powder and used store bought pre-squeezed OJ like
another reviewer.
The people you make this for will think it came from a restaurant, it’s seriously that authentic tasting.
So I never review anything online….too lazy. Always enjoy reading other people’s reviews. But I couldn’t not review this Instant Pot Pork Carnita recipe. SO DAMN DELICIOUS!!!!!! Best thing I’ve made in the Instant Pot and just as dang good as slow cooker pulled pork. LOVED the extra time under the broiler for crispy texture. For those of you who stress over details (like me), I had a 3.66 lb boneless Boston Butt. Cut it into a bunch of big chunks (don’t stress over the size of the chunks). Followed the recipe and cooked for 42 min. at high pressure and then let it vent for 12 minutes. Added a bunch of salt and pepper. Left the juice behind in the pot. Broiled it for about 4 minutes, stirring after 2. Served with corn tortillas, avocado, cilantro, fresh corn and salsa. The meat is so good, you don’t even need all that stuff!
If you plan to freeze the meat after you cook it, would you wait to use the broiler until you’d thawed the meat, just before serving? In other words, would you broil per the recipe and then freeze, or freeze/thaw and then broil just before eating? Thanks!
I would broil just before serving for maximum crispness! 🙂
I can’t believe how delicious this turned out. My husband and his friend had multiple servings and raved about the flavors incorporated in the recipe. Loved the fragrance and taste of the carnitas. My new favorite instapot recipe!
Rave reviews all around – we love hearing that! 🙂
I omitted the beer because I had none, only used 2 lbs of meat, but kept all the seasonings the same (except I halved the chili powder), marinaded the meat for a couple hours, and used bottled orange juice because I was lazy. Also I used olive oil instead of canola. Cooked for 40 minutes. Amazing!!!
We’re happy to hear it turned out so great!
Needed an additional 10 minutes pressure cooking to get the meat to pull apart. But was worth the wait – I crisped it under the broiler for 7 minutes and tasted amazing.
So glad you trusted your instincts and went a little longer. Sometimes a certain cut of meat may need some extra time, but we’re happy to hear this turned out so well for you! Thanks for sharing, Kate!
So good. The beer really sets the taste off. Great job!
Can this recipe be doubled? Â If so, do I need to make any adjustments? Â Thank you so much!!
Unfortunately, with Instant Pot recipes, simply doubling the ingredients and cooking time is not going to work. If only it were that easy!
You’ll first want to make sure that the doubled recipe can actually fit in your pressure cooker. From there, the general rule of thumb is to not increase the pressure cooking time. But as always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
I’ve doubled the recipe and it worked… I used pork sirloin from Costco. I always make 2 packages.Â
This was so delicious!! Â I made stir fried cauliflower rice with it tonight and quinoa last night.Â
Great idea!
Kay, randomly, I’m allergic to oranges.  Is there something else that would make a good substitute?
You could omit the orange juice and replace the liquid with water, or, if you don’t mind a slight change in taste, you can also try apple or pomegranate juice. But as always, please use your best judgement when it comes to substitutions and modifications.
Really flavorful and the texture was A+. Instead of broiling, I threw some in a cast iron pan and crisped it up on the stovetop.
I have made these carnitas 2 times already and both times it turned out super!! It was the first recipe I tried in my new instant pot!! I substituted apple juice for the beer..
Great!
Can you specify what you mean by 3 in chunks? is it squares or slabs?
(note, my review does not reflect my thoughts on the recipe as I have yet ot make it.)
Leah, it is best to cut the 4-pound boneless pork shoulder into 3-inch chunks. Does that help?
Is that correct? Or should it be 3-inch size pieces? Thank you!
You are correct. It should be cut into 3-inch size pieces.
I think this was some of the best pork we have had! We love our instant pot and every recipe we have made from Damn Delicious has been amazing. We will definitely be adding this to our repitoire of meals. So easy and delicious on its own or in tacos.Â
Thank you so much, Lauren!
I made this last night and it turned out amazing! I did take the extra step of broiling it since I still had some preparations left to do for the rest of the meal and it made the carnitas even better. I didn’t really change anything major, I used Coors Light (lol it’s all I had) and the orange juice….did not have lime juice until after it was cooked but it was fine. This morning I turned some of the leftover rice and pork into pork adobo omelets (I’d been craving my favorite Filipino restaurant like MAD) and it was soooo good.
Here’s the next best part….and I thought about this after reading a comment about not wasting the juices left over after cooking- I drained my meat, saving the juice, and spooned off a lot of the fat at the top and cooked my rice in it plus a little water in the IP. I used the 1:1 water to rice ratio (using rinsed jasmine rice, 4min manual with 10min natural release). It was phenomenal, my husband isn’t a huge fan of plain rice and he definitely approved. I just opened my IP two weeks ago and have probably used it at least 10 times, I love it. Especially for rice- this girl ALWAYS makes mushy rice in a pot, it’s pathetic. This rice was intact, cooked perfectly with just the right amount of bite, and not at all mushed together in a glob.
LOVE THE RECIPES HERE 🙂
Thank you so much for your feedback Brittany! We’re glad you liked the recipe!
I’m definitely going to try your rice idea!
I’m leaving the 5 star rating for your slow-cooker version of this which I’ve made a million(ish) times and love! Question: how does this version in the Insta Pot stack up to your Slow Cooker version? I keep thinking of the “slow and low” rule of thumb for pork. Is it as tender? Thanks.
Yes, the pork is just as tender when made in the IP! I truly love both versions to be honest – it just really depends on how fast you want dinner. 🙂
I made this today….I would giveit 4 stars! I followed the recipe exactly and wouldn’t change a thing. Just one question what do you do with the juice? It seems to good to throw out. Do you pour it over the pork?
Yes, you can absolutely pour it over the pork!
I made some rice and poured the juice on it and let it soak in for an amazing side.
I am planning to make this recipe tonight, but I have lesser meat, about 2.5 lbs. does the cooking time remain the same?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without having tried this myself, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
This recipe for the instant pot pork carnitas was delicious. My husband used the leftovers to put on nachos and said those were the best. Can’t wait to make again soon!!!!!!
That’s awesome!
Can you put pictures of the instant pot buttons you select?
How would I adapt this recipe to an 8-qt Instant Pot? Love your blog by the way!
When using an 8qt Instant Pot, the timing should stay relatively the same. It would just take a little longer for it to come to pressure. But as always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
this looks amazing! Really Gteat recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!!
I made this for dinner, this past weekend and it was excellent. It was a hit with everyone in the family and will be a regular in the dinner rotation now. I made it exactly per the recipe and nothing needs to change!
Great, Jeremy! Thanks for sharing.
I made this tonight for supper and it was very good. Â There is alot leftover for sandwiches and more carnitas. Â We will make it again.
Chungah! Made these carnitas the other day and they turned out so good! The broiler tho..makes them GREAT. Thank you!
Awesome! So happy you liked them.
Great recipe. Question, would replacing the beer with wine make a major difference? I would assume dry white wine.
Thanks in advance.
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
I have an Instant Pot and never use it! I even forget about the browning feature — I definitely need to bust it out, these look amazing!
Recipe sounds great! I need clarification. You said 30 additional minutes, is that 30 minutes added to the meat setting on high?
Yes, that is correct. 🙂
I want to try this but now with this comment I am so lost. I do not see where you talk about an additional 30 minutes. Did you adjust the originally recipe or am I missing something?
Yes, the original recipe has been edited. Please note step 3:
3. Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 30 minutes.
What kind of pressure cooker do you use or suggest? I Â interested in purchasing one for this recipe.
I use the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt.
This looks great! Are there other meats this might be good to make with?
Using other meats sounds like an amazing idea but unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
Unfortunately, I do not own an Instant Pot. Â However, I have a high end Breville Multi Pot (rice / slow cooker with browning capabilities and two slow cooking setting. Â Can I substitute my Breville for the Instant Pot? Â High or low setting. Â This sounds so good.
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing using the Breville Multi Pot, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
Can u make this in a Dutch oven if u don’t have an instant pot?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
Is there a substitute we can use for the beer?
Chicken stock would be a great substitute.