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instant pot pork carnitas
5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

You can’t go wrong with the BEST Instant Pot Pork Carnitas. They’re easy to make at home for a dish with a restaurant flavor!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Additional Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Dish Recipes
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: instant pot pork carnitas
Servings: 8
Calories: 3571kcal

Ingredients

Seasoning Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ tablespoon chili powder
  • ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Carnitas

  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 3.5 - 4.5 lbs. pork shoulder roast trimmed and cut into chunks
  • 1 medium red onion diced
  • 1 medium jalapeno diced
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • ¾ cup orange juice
  • 3 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

  • Combine seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Rub the mixture onto pork until each piece is thoroughly covered. Don't be shy, press to coat!
  • Press “Sauté” on your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and half the seasoned pork shoulder pieces to the pot. Sear until pork is browned on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side.

    Note: Be sure to keep the lid OFF OF the Instant Pow while using the “Sauté” function
    3.
    Once browned, transfer your seared pork to a plate and repeat this process with another tablespoon of olive oil and the remaining pork. Remove browned pork from the Instant Pot and set aside.
  • Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pot, along with red onion and jalapeño. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add your browned pork back to the pot and pour the chicken broth, orange juice, and lime juice on top. Add your lid and lock it into place (make sure you have the silicone ring inserted in your lid). Set the steam vent to “Seal.” Press the “Manual” or Pressure Cook button. Set the cook time to 30 minutes. (Select 40 minutes for 4+ pound roasts).
  • When the Instant Pot® cook time is done, let the pressure release for 20 minutes before doing a quick release.
  • Transfer pork to a dish or baking sheet and gently shred with two forks. Drizzle with ¼ cup juices from the pot and toss to combine.
  • Tip: If you'd like crispier pork carnitas, you can spread your pork into a single layer and broil for 4-5 minutes in the oven. I highly recommend it!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 3571kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 278g | Fat: 262g | Saturated Fat: 95g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 143g | Cholesterol: 1072mg | Sodium: 1341mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
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