This Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Recipe is fall-apart tender, versatile, and a breeze to make. With so many different ways to serve them, you’ll love these pork carnitas.

These juicy pork carnitas are one of my favorite instant pot recipes! Of course, if you don’t have an instant pot, feel free to make them in your slow cooker! Or if you don’t like pork, try chicken thighs! 

Generally, large pieces of boneless pork shoulder or pork butt is used. You can also use a cut of pork known as a Boston Butt if you’d prefer. These particular cuts of meat are definitely more on the flavorful and tender side, making them perfect to make instant pot carnitas with. A pork roast is a piece of pork that won’t work well here.

The best part about making these Instant Pot Pork Carnitas is that it’s basically fool proof. If you just bought a new instant pot, these tender pork carnitas are an easy recipe to start off with. You really cannot overcook pork, it just becomes easier to shred. 

These Pork Carnitas are such a great recipe because they make enough to feed a crowd. Which is fine, since I always love to have leftovers!

Important Note: Different Instant Pot models offer different features and buttons. 

Let’s start by talking about what Carnitas actually are. 

Carnitas are a Mexican dish where a pork shoulder is braised or seared until tender. Once the meat is tenderized, it’s then crisped up and then pulled apart, think Mexican pulled pork. If you love Mexican food, this will become one of your favorite recipes.

Make Your Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Be sure to scroll down because I have a full printable version of this recipe for you with an ingredient list and instructions.

Make the dry rub 

First, you need to make a dry rub for your pork. I keep this on hand already made for when I want to make this Instant Pot Carnitas recipe.

In a bowl or small jar, combine: 

• ½ T. chili powder
• ½ T. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 t. garlic powder
• 1 t. ground cumin
• ½ t. smoked paprika
• ½ t. chipotle powder
• 1 t. dried Mexican oregano
• 1 t. sea salt
• ½ t. ground black pepper

In addition to the above dry rub ingredients, you will also need:

• chicken broth
• a citrus juice like fresh orange juice or 2 large oranges
• lime juice
• salt & pepper
• extra virgin olive oil
• 3½ – 4 lbs pork shoulder roast
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 medium jalapeno
• 2-3 garlic cloves

If you want you can play around the seasonings, next time try bay leaves, onion powder, brown sugar, orange zest or a little bit of cayenne pepper in your broth.

Make Your Broth – In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, fresh orange juice, and lime juice with the chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic and ground cumin. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and set aside. 

Season and sear the pork – Rub your dry rub onto pork until each piece is thoroughly covered. Press well to adhere. Use the sauté setting on your Instant Pot® and set to “High.” Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and half the seasoned pork shoulder pieces to the container. If your cut of meat is too big, you can cut it down into smaller pieces. Sear until pork is browned on all sides, for a cooking time of approximately 2-3 minutes per side.

Note: DO NOT use lid while using the “Sauté” function on an Instant Pot.

Once your pork is browned, transfer seared pork to a plate and repeat this process with another tablespoon of olive oil and the remaining pork, transferring the seared pork to the plate when it is done.

Saute onion & jalapeno – Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom of the pot, along with red onion and jalapeño. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Pressure cook – Add the browned pork back into the instant pot and pour the seasoned broth that you made earlier on top. Add lid and lock into place.

Set the steam vent to “Sealing.” Press the “Manual” button and adjust to the High Pressure setting, if necessary. Adjust cook time to 30 minutes. (Select 40 minutes for 4+ pound roasts). When the Instant Pot® cook time is complete, do a natural release for 20 minutes before doing a quick release of any remaining pressure and remaining steam.

Shred – Transfer pork to the prepared baking sheet with a slotted spoon and gently shred with two forks.

Want Crispy Carnitas?

Preheat the oven broiler to high and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Transfer pork to the prepared baking sheet and gently shred with two forks.

Drizzle with ¼ cup juices from the Instant Pot and toss to combine before spreading into a thin, even layer. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.

Place pork under broiler for 4-5 minutes, then remove from oven and add a little more juice before turning the meat to brown the other side. Place back under broiler for another 4-5 minutes or until the pork is nice and crispy on the edges.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Pork Carnitas:

• homemade guacamole,
• salsa or pico de gallo
• sour cream 
• Refried Beans 
• Cilantro 
• Diced Red Onion 
• warm homemade tortillas or corn tortillas
• chipotle peppers
• black beans
• or any of your favorite toppings

You can make these pork carnitas into rice bowls, nachos, quesadillas, carnitas tacos, enchiladas, burritos, tamales or onto a salad.

Slow Cooker Pork Carnita Instructions

After seasoning your meat with the dry rub, add it to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook low and slow for 8-10 hours and then shred. At this point, you can follow the broiler instructions if you’d like.

Notes on making this recipe: 

The instructions for this recipe include a couple of optional steps that can be omitted to save time. For example, the aromatic blend of onion, jalapeno, and garlic does not need to be sautéed before cooking the pork, but doing so deepens and releases more flavor.

In addition, the pork can be shredded and served as soon as it is done cooking. However, the extra step of tossing it with some cooking liquid and broiling under high heat delivers the delicious, crispy edges found in traditional carnitas recipes. 

Continue to Content

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Yield: 6-8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Recipe is fall-apart tender, versatile, and a breeze to make. With so many different ways to serve them, you'll love these pork carnitas.

Print

Ingredients

• Dry Rub Ingredients:
• ½ T. chili powder

• ½ T. unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 t. garlic powder

• 1 t. ground cumin

• ½ t. smoked paprika

• ½ t. chipotle powder
• 
1 t. dried Mexican oregano

• 1 t. sea salt

• ½ t. ground black pepper
• Ingredients for pork:
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice , approximately 2 large oranges
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3½ - 4 lbs pork shoulder roast, trimmed and cut into 6-8 chunks
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 1 medium jalapeno, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, peeled & chopped

Instructions

1. Combine dry rub ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.
2. Rub mixture onto pork until each piece is thoroughly covered. Press well to adhere. 
3. Push the “Sauté” button on Instant Pot® and set to “High.” Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and half the seasoned pork shoulder pieces to the container. Sear until pork is browned on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side.
4. Note: DO NOT use lid while using the “Sauté” function on an Instant Pot.
5. Once browned, transfer seared pork to a plate and repeat this process with another tablespoon of olive oil and the remaining pork.
6. Remove browned pork from the Instant Pot® and set aside.
7. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil to the container, along with red onion and jalapeño.
8. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
9. In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, fresh orange juice, and lime juice. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and set aside. 

1. Add browned pork back to the pot and pour your broth & juice mixture on top. Add lid and lock into place.
2. Set the steam vent to “Sealing.” Press the “Manual” button and adjust to the “High” setting, if necessary. Adjust cook time to 30 minutes. (Select 40 minutes for 4+ pound roasts).
3. When the Instant Pot® cook time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes before doing a quick release of any remaining steam.
4. Shred your pork with 2 forks.
5. Want Crispier Instant Pot Pork Carnitas? Preheat the oven broiler to high and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
6. Drizzle shredded pork with ¼ cup juices from the Instant Pot® and toss to combine before spreading into a thin, even layer. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
7. Place pork under broiler for 4-5 minutes, then remove from oven and add a little more juice before turning the meat to brown the other side.
8. Place back under broiler for another 4-5 minutes or until the pork is nice and crispy on the edges.

Notes

The instructions for this recipe include a couple of optional steps that can be omitted to save time. For example, the aromatic blend of onion, jalapeno, and garlic does not need to be sautéed before cooking the pork, but doing so deepens and releases more flavor.

In addition, the pork can be shredded and served as soon as it is done cooking. However, the extra step of tossing it with some cooking liquid and broiling under high heat delivers the delicious, crispy edges found in traditional carnitas recipes.

Slow Cooker Instructions: After seasoning your meat with the dry rub, add it to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook low and slow for 8-10 hours and then shred. At this point, you can follow the broiler instructions if you'd like.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  McCormick Dark Chili Powder, 20 oz
• 
  McCormick Gourmet, Paprika, 1.62 oz
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Unsweetened Cocoa Pouch, 8 Ounce
• Genuine Instant Pot Sealing Ring 2 Pack Clear – 5 or 6 Quart
• Accessories for Instant Pot,Accessories Compatible with 5/6/8Qt Instant Pot - 60 Pcs Parchment Papers,2 Steamer Baskets,Non-stick Springform Pan,Egg Rack,Egg Bites Mold,Kitchen Tong,Dish Plate Clip
• Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer

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