Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Recipe: Easy, Tender & Crispy Carnitas in Under an Hour
Discover the secret to making incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful pork carnitas right in your electric pressure cooker. This Instant Pot Pork Carnitas recipe delivers authentic taste with minimal effort, allowing you to enjoy this beloved Mexican dish in about an hour! Perfect for busy weeknights or when you crave rich, slow-cooked flavors without the wait.
Why Instant Pot Carnitas is Your New Go-To Recipe
Living in the Pacific Northwest means cherishing those rare sunny days, but sometimes, the heat can make cooking feel like a chore. On scorching days, the last thing anyone wants is to fire up the oven and turn their kitchen into a sauna. That’s where the mighty Instant Pot comes in as a true kitchen hero!
Electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot have revolutionized home cooking, offering a safe, efficient, and incredibly fast way to achieve results that typically take hours. For a dish like carnitas, traditionally slow-cooked for hours to reach peak tenderness, the Instant Pot is a game-changer. You get that same melt-in-your-mouth texture and deep flavor profile in a fraction of the time, all while keeping your kitchen cool.
Beyond the temperature control, the Instant Pot makes homemade carnitas accessible to everyone. No more elaborate setups or constant monitoring – just a few simple steps, and you’re on your way to enjoying some of the best pork carnitas you’ve ever tasted, ready and tender in less than an hour.
What are Carnitas? A Taste of Mexican Tradition
Carnitas, meaning “little meats” in Spanish, is a beloved Mexican dish originating from the state of Michoacán. Traditionally, pork is braised or simmered in its own fat (and sometimes lard) for several hours until it’s incredibly tender. The meat is then often shredded and lightly fried or broiled to achieve crispy, caramelized edges, creating a delightful contrast of textures: tender, succulent interior with a slightly crisp exterior. The slow cooking process infuses the pork with rich, savory flavors, making it a versatile staple in Mexican cuisine.
While the traditional method is a labor of love, our Instant Pot version condenses this process, allowing the pressure cooker to tenderize the pork perfectly. We then finish it with a quick broil or pan-fry to replicate those irresistible crispy bits that define authentic carnitas.
Explore More Instant Pot Delights:
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast Potato Dinner
- Instant Pot Simple Pot Roast
For a visual guide, be sure to watch the video showing how I make Instant Pot Pork Carnitas.
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
By Sandy Clifton
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas are incredibly delicious and easy to make. This pressure cooker carnitas recipe is ready in under an hour, delivering tender, flavorful, and optionally crispy pork perfect for any meal!
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Total Time: 55 mins
Yields: 4 – 8 Servings
Ingredients
Carnitas Seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1 Tablespoon Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Adobo Powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander
Main Ingredients
- 3 lbs Pork Shoulder, cut into large chunks (about 2-3 inches)
- 1 Onion, diced
- 1 cup Orange Juice (freshly squeezed for best flavor)
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
Optional Additions (for extra flavor and heat)
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Powder (or more for extra heat)
- 1 Jalapeño Pepper, chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil and all the listed spices (Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Oregano, Cumin, Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Adobo Powder, Ground Coriander, and optional Cayenne Powder). Mix thoroughly until a fragrant paste forms.
- Add the pork shoulder chunks to the spiced oil mixture. Toss them well to ensure each piece is completely coated with the flavorful seasoning. Set aside while you prepare the Instant Pot.
- Dice the onion into roughly ½-inch pieces. If using, chop the jalapeño pepper.
- Pour the fresh orange juice into the Instant Pot inner liner. This liquid is crucial for pressure building and adds a lovely citrus note to the carnitas.
- Add the cinnamon stick to the pot. This traditional addition contributes a subtle warmth and depth of flavor.
- Carefully add the seasoned pork chunks and the chopped onion (and optional jalapeño) to the Instant Pot. Stir gently to combine the ingredients, ensuring the pork is nestled in the orange juice.
- Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and ensure the sealing knob is set to the “Sealing” position.
- Select the “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) button/dial and set the cooking time to 35 minutes on High Pressure. The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure before the cooking cycle begins.
- Once the cooking cycle finishes, allow for a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 15 minutes. This means letting the Instant Pot sit undisturbed for 15 minutes after it beeps, allowing the pressure to decrease gradually. This helps keep the pork extra tender and juicy.
- After 15 minutes of NPR, carefully perform a Manual Quick Release (QR) for any remaining pressure. Turn the sealing knob to the “Venting” position (use a kitchen towel or oven mitt to protect your hand from the steam).
- Once the float valve (pin on the lid) drops, indicating all pressure has been released, carefully open the lid away from your face to avoid any lingering steam.
- Remove the tender pork chunks from the Instant Pot to a large plate or bowl. Using two forks, shred the pork into desired pieces. Avoid shredding too finely; you want a mix of textures, including some slightly larger, more robust pieces.
- Very carefully strain the cooking liquid from the Instant Pot into a fat separator. Discard the cinnamon stick. Save the cooked onions from the strainer – they are full of flavor!
- Once the fat has separated from the liquid, pour as much of the degreased, flavorful liquid as you like over the shredded pork and onions in a large serving bowl. Mix well to re-moisten and infuse the carnitas with the rich braising liquid.
- Optional Crispy Carnitas Step: For truly authentic carnitas with crispy edges, spread the shredded pork (without too much liquid) onto a baking sheet. Broil on high for 5-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can pan-fry small batches of carnitas in a hot skillet with a little oil until crispy.
Notes
Serve these delicious Instant Pot Pork Carnitas warm on your favorite tortillas for classic tacos, in burritos, over a fresh salad, in rice bowls, on a bun for a unique sandwich, or alongside warm cornbread.
Garnish generously with your favorite toppings! Excellent choices include fresh cilantro, diced avocado, chopped tomatoes, sliced green onion, your favorite salsa, crumbled Cotija cheese, a dollop of sour cream or crema, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice for brightness.
Nutrition
Calories: 179kcal
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
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Recommended Kitchen Tools for Instant Pot Carnitas and More
Enhance your cooking experience with these helpful kitchen essentials. While we are a participant in affiliate advertising programs, designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to various online retailers, rest assured that we only recommend products we genuinely love and use ourselves.
Here are some tools that will make preparing your Instant Pot Carnitas (and other delicious meals) even easier:
- Electric Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot): The star of this recipe, essential for tender carnitas in record time.
- Fat Separator: Makes it easy to remove excess fat from your braising liquid for a healthier, more flavorful sauce.
- Mixing Bowls: For seasoning your pork and combining ingredients.
- Sharp Chef’s Knife: Crucial for dicing onions and prepping pork shoulder.
- Cutting Board: A sturdy surface for safe food preparation.
- Meat Shredding Claws or Forks: To efficiently shred the tender cooked pork.
These tools are investments that will serve you well in many culinary adventures beyond this recipe!
