Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
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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.
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.
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.
what to serve with instant pot pork carnitas
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas: Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe works very well with pork shoulder or pork butt due to its fat marbling (the high fat content helps keep the meat moist and flavorful) as well as its easy shredding capabilities.
The beer will help tenderize the pork but water, chicken broth or plain soda water can also be used instead.
This can happen if the pork is not cooked long enough. Place the pork back into the Instant Pot, cooking in increments of 5 minutes as needed.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.
Yes! Pork carnitas is incredibly freezer-friendly. Let cool completely and portion into plastic freezer bags in individual servings, squeezing out any excess air before sealing. Lay the bags flat in a single layer in the freezer (this will help them freeze quickly). Label, date and freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge, reheating in the oven or stovetop in a skillet to crisp them up.
Yes! We have a recipe for that here.
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
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
Equipment
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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