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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Instant Pot Carnitas

    Instant Pot Carnitas

    Posted: Mar 2, 2019 Last Modified: May 5, 2023 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    You will love this simple Instant Pot Carnitas recipe. It’s juicy, flavourful, and tender! In addition, it is a super easy and versatile recipe! Great for meal prepping, a quick dinner, or for freezing for later.

    Carnitas in tortillas.


     

    Pressure Cooker Carnitas

    So what are carnitas? Carnitas is braised or roasted pork served shredded in small pieces. They are often used as a filling in tacos, burritos, etc. You may even recognize it on the Chipotle menu!

    Carnitas are quite easy to make – even easier if you have an Instant Pot! As recommended by the official Instant Pot website, pork is cooked for 15 minutes per pound, so this recipe only takes 45 minutes to “braise” in the Instant Pot. If you have a smaller piece of pork, it would take even less time!

    What I love about these Instant Pot Carnitas is that when a batch is made, they can be used in many ways. Having a batch in the fridge can make mealtime much easier. Serve it with some tortillas, over nachos, in a salad, over rice, and more!

    What You Need To Make This Instant Pot Carnitas

    • seasoning — smoked paprika, chili powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt & pepper.
    • pork — I recommend using pork shoulder or pork butt. You want there to be fat on the meat so the pork doesn’t dry out as it slowly cooks. Skip the pork loin or tenderloin when making carnitas. The fat keeps the pork juicy and moist!
    • onion & garlic — aromatics are always a must!
    • orange juice — orange juice adds natural sweetness to the carnitas and helps balance out the flavor. I recommend freshly squeezed orange juice to ensure it’s just pure orange juice.
    • lime
    Instant Pot Carnitas - an easy and versatile recipe! Great for meal prepping, a quick dinner, or to freeze for later. 

    How To Make This Easy Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe

    • Mix together all your spices and rub onto the pork.
    • Place the pork into the Instant pot, then onions, garlic, 1 cup of orange juice, and the juice of one lime.
    • Press the “manual” button and set Instant Pot to high pressure for 45 minutes.
    Instant Pot Carnitas - an easy and versatile recipe! Great for meal prepping, a quick dinner, or to freeze for later. 
    • Quick release, remove the pork, and shred. Place the meat back into the IP and put it on sauté mode and let the juices thicken and coat the meat more.
    • Optional: Using a slotted spoon, place the shredded pork onto a sheet pan and put some of the liquids on before placing it under the broiler for 5 minutes to crisp it up.

    Don’t have a pressure cooker? Try this slow cooker carnitas recipe.

    Serving Ideas

    Need some ideas of what to serve with your instant pot carnitas?

    • avocado — sliced avocado or guacamole
    • cheese
    • onions — sliced, diced, or pickled
    • jalapeño
    • shredded cheese or queso fresco
    • sour cream or crema
    • cilantro
    • lime wedges
    • salsa
    • shredded lettuce
    • diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
    • salsa or pico de gallo (try this avocado corn salsa or pineapple salsa)
    • air fryer tortilla chips
    • Instant Pot basmati rice with butter and garlic
    • Instant Pot cilantro lime rice
    • Stovetop cilantro lime rice
    Instant Pot Carnitas - an easy and versatile recipe! Great for meal prepping, a quick dinner, or to freeze for later. 
    Are Instant Pot carnitas Whole30 friendly?

    Yes! The carnitas themselves are Whole30 friendly – you can also use lettuce wraps as a sub for tortilla shells if you want them taco style!

    How do I store leftovers?

    To store the leftover crockpot carnitas, allow the pork to cool to room temperature and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave.

    Tips for Freezing Carnitas

    • You can prepare carnitas as a freezer meal by adding the seasoned pork, onion, and garlic to a large freezer-friendly ziptop bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight and add it to your pressure cooker alongside the orange and lime juice.
    • Alternatively, you can cook your carnitas in a large batch and then freeze the cooked carnitas. Make sure you use an airtight container or press all the air out of the Ziploc to avoid freezer burn. To reheat and crisp the carnitas back up, place thawed meat in the oven for around 20 minutes.
    Instant Pot Carnitas - an easy and versatile recipe! Great for meal prepping, a quick dinner, or to freeze for later. 
    Carnitas in tortillas.

    Instant Pot Carnitas

    You will love this simple Instant Pot Carnitas recipe. It's juicy, flavourful, and tender! In addition, it is a super easy and versatile recipe! Great for meal prepping, a quick dinner, or for freezing for later.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
    Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    • ½-1 tablespoon cumin, optional
    • 3 teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon salt & pepper, or a pinch
    • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder or butt
    • 1 large onions
    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 1 cup orange juice
    • 1 lime juice

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Instructions

    Instant Pot Instructions

    • Mix together all your spices and rub onto the pork.
    • Place the pork into the Instant pot then onions, garlic, 1 cup of orange juice, and the juice of one lime.
    • Press the “manual” button and set Instant Pot for high pressure for 45 minutes.
    • Quick release, remove the pork and shred. Place the meat back into the IP and put it on sauté mode and let the juices thicken and coat the meat more.
    • Optional: Using a slotted spoon, place the shredded pork onto a sheet pan and put some of the liquids on before placing it under the broiler for 5 minutes to crisp it up.

    Notes

    • It might take up to 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
    • Slow Cooker Carnitas
    Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I’m always so happy to hear about it! I’d love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I’d really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 69g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 1300mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 696IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 4mg
    Author: Carmy
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Instant Pot
    Nutrition Disclaimer

    More Instant Pot Recipes to Try

    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
    • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
    • Instant Pot Goulash
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti
    • Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Salsa Chicken
    • Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
    • Instant Pot Chicken Vegetable Soup
    • Instant Pot Chicken Stroganoff

    Other places to connect with me
    @carmyshungry on Instagram
    Facebook
    Shop my Amazon faves
    Email: [email protected]

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    Comments

    1. Gina says

      March 03, 2019 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is easy and fabulous. Love it!

      Reply
      • Carmy says

        March 03, 2019 at 2:18 pm

        Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it :)

        Reply
    2. Lisa Lotts says

      January 30, 2020 at 9:45 am

      5 stars
      Boston butt is probably my favorite cut of pork for its flavor, tenderness (when braised or smoked) and versatility. You’re so right, just having a batch of these carnitas in the house will open up so many lunch and dinner options all week long. I think I’d even stuff a breakfast omelet with a little of this porky goodness with cheese, avocado and salsa! Muy bueno!

      Reply
    3. Sean says

      February 03, 2020 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe, with lots of helpful tips on how to use it. I like that you’ve got a lot of onion and garlic in the Instant Pot with the pork – really helps build the flavour (especially along with the spices) while keeping things neutral enough to use in a wide variety of dishes.

      Reply
    4. Debra says

      February 03, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      5 stars
      Is there anything that instant pot doesn’t do well? Seriously, we don’t need an excuse for taco night…but quick, easy and tasty pushes us over the top.

      Reply
    5. Dana says

      February 04, 2020 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      My stomach is growling right now. I’ve been wanting to dig out the IP for a while now, I just haven’t really felt inspired. BUT NOW I AM. Totally making these this weekend. My husband will be thrilled since we don’t do pork often, haha.

      Reply
    6. Trish Bozeman says

      February 06, 2020 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      OK, my husband would FLIP over this. I’m always testing vegetarian dishes in our Instant Pot, and he would adore it I made a flavorful meat dish for him. Hello Valentine’s Day, LOL! Love how you kept it light with the lettuce cups and avocado and corn. Great recipe, Carmy!

      Reply
    5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Carmy is a healthy-ish living blogger based in Ontario. Here, you can find healthy-ish recipes including meal prep recipes, Instant Pot recipes, air fryer recipes, and lightened-up family favorites! Follow along for easy, straightforward recipes for any cooking level.

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