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.
- Serve immediately.
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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. There is alot leftover for sandwiches and more carnitas. 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 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. However, I have a high end Breville Multi Pot (rice / slow cooker with browning capabilities and two slow cooking setting. Can I substitute my Breville for the Instant Pot? High or low setting. 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.