My Instant Pot Pork Carnitas are juicy, flavorful, and perfectly crisped for that authentic street-style taco experience. Slow-cooked taste meets quick and easy prep, thanks to pressure cooking. The pork is seasoned with warm, earthy spices and citrus juices, then shredded and crisped in a skillet for irresistible texture. Whether you're serving them on tacos, burritos, or burrito bowls, these carnitas are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and your new favorite way to cook them.
This Instant Pot pork carnitas recipe is great to customize with your favorite toppings and sides for a delicious meal. Whip up a batch on meal prep Sunday, Taco Tuesday or if you are hosting a Cinco de Mayo gathering with family and friends,
What are Pork Carnitas?
Carnitas in Spanish means "little meats". In Mexico it is a very popular way to slow cook a pork shoulder (Boston butt), then shred it up to use on popular dishes. The meat is typically cooked with citrus juice and spices, then crisped up in a hot pan, like a cast-iron skillet, to create a delicious contrast of juicy, flavorful pork with golden, caramelized edges. Carnitas are a staple in Mexican cuisine, often served in tacos, burritos, or bowls, and paired with toppings like pickled onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime for a perfect balance of rich, tangy, and savory flavors. Our Instant Pot version makes these traditional carnitas so quick and simple by cooking in a fraction of the time, making it an easy option to use for meal prep or serving a crowd.
Jump to:
- What are Pork Carnitas?
- Why You Will Love Cooking Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- COOKING PORK IN INSTANT POT:
- CARAMELIZE THEN ASSEMBLE:
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- What to Serve with Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot Recipe
This recipe is actually one of my husband's favorites. He has been making it for years and changes it how we serve it! If you're a lover of Mexican-inspired recipes like me, try my Guac and Chips, Pickled Red Onions, Spaghetti Squash Enchilada Boats, Southwest Chicken Casserole, Mexican Candy Shot or Margarita Mix.
Why You Will Love Cooking Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- Quick and Easy: The Instant Pot cuts traditional slow cooking time in half.
- Packed with Flavor: A mix of cumin, coriander, and citrus infuses deep, rich taste.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Make ahead and use throughout the week in tacos, bowls, or salads.
- Crispy Texture: Caramelizing the shredded pork in a hot skillet gives it the signature crispy edges that are a perfect contrast to a soft tortilla.
- Family-Friendly: Like a lot of homemade Mexican dishes, you can get creative and build your own carnitas with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
A short trip to the grocery store to get some staples for this easy carnitas recipe.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Ground Cumin: A spice that is warming with a subtle nutty profile.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the other spices and flavors, while helps to keep the pork moist.
- Dried Coriander: Adds to the citrus profile, while also adding an earthy balance.
- Garlic Powder: Brings in a sweet flavor; can be subbed for minced garlic is preferred.
- Ground Pepper: Used to add a bite of spiciness. You can omit this or sub it for ground cayenne pepper to intensify the spice.
- Onion Powder: Complements the other spices; can be subbed for shallots, white or yellow onions if desired.
- Pork Shoulder: A great cut of meat to use for carnitas because it is fatty and tough but when cooked slow (or under pressure) it tenderizes up and shreds easy.
- Orange and Lime Juice: Used to tenderize the meat and add a subtle citrus flavor. The sugars work to caramelize the pork when assembling.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand an Instant Pot, measuring cups and spoons, cast-iron skillet or griddle, and a mixing bowl.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this easy carnitas recipe but want to try something different next time? Here are some ideas to give you inspiration.
- Pork Shoulder Swap: Can swap for pork loin for a leaner option (though it won’t be as tender).
- Lime and Orange Juice: Can use all lime juice or even pineapple juice for a sweeter twist. Alternatively, you can freshly squeeze your oranges instead of using store-bought.
- Corn Tortillas: Can substitute with flour tortillas or lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
- Cilantro: Swap with green onions or parsley for a different flavor.
- Spice It Up: Add some cayenne pepper to your rub or add some hot sauce to the Instant Pot before cooking. Alternatively, you can add hot sauce or hot peppers when assembling your tacos.
- Toppings: Pickled onions, avocado, cilantro, hot sauce and a squeeze of lime is what we do at our house, but the options are limitless. Try pickled or fresh jalapeños, fresh red salsa, salsa Verde, mango salsa, chopped white or red onion, cotija cheese or sour cream to name a few.
How to Make Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
Check out how quick and easy it is to make these juicy carnitas in the Instant Pot.
COOKING PORK IN INSTANT POT:
In a small bowl whisk together ground cumin, salt, dried coriander, garlic powder, ground pepper, and onion powder. Rub over the pork on all sides.
Lightly spray the base of the Instant Pot with non-stock spray or brush with olive oil and place pork inside the base of pot.
Pour the lime/orange juice mixture over top and close the lid. Ensure the steam valve is sealed and cook on manual (or pressure cook) for 90 minutes.
Allow a natural pressure release once the timer is complete, which may take another 25-30 minutes, then release any pressure, and open the lid.
Remove the bone, and any string and shred the meat using two forks.
CARAMELIZE THEN ASSEMBLE:
To make these crispy carnitas, heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Add an even layer of pork (do not over-crowd) with its juices, and additional squeeze of lime juice, to the skillet and cook without touching to caramelize and crisp up the meat. This takes about 3-5 minutes.
Work in batches for a more even browning, crisping up as much pork as needed.
Assemble the carnitas with pork, picked red onions, a squeeze of lime juice, hot sauce, avocados and cilantro or any desired toppings.
Store any leftover pulled pork in an airtight container.
Hint: We prefer to store the unused pulled pork in the juices without caramelization, so if it requires freezing it is easier to do so. Then we just take out what we need and cook as needed.
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How to Store Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
This is a fantastic meat to cook in advance and use for meal prepping or storing in the freezer, here are some ways we do it.
- Refrigerator: Once cooked, place pulled pork in an airtight container along with the juices from the Instant Pot in the fridge for 3-4 days. Any meat that has been caramelized can also be stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Freezer: If the meat hasn't been caramelized yet, place in the freezer. If you have already caramelized up some meat that you want to freeze, you can place it in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, and it can last up to 3 months. When you thaw the caramelized pork, you may want to crisp it up again as it likely will not retain that crunch.
- Reheating: Thaw in the fridge overnight and cook or warm up on a skillet as needed.
What to Serve with Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
- Mexican Rice: A great side to complete your meal.
- Pickled Red Onions: Adds a tangy crunch, our recipe for pickled onions with apple cider vinegar is quick and easy to make.
- Homemade Guacamole and Chips: Creamy and fresh, a perfect complement along with fresh tortilla chips, try our simple recipe.
- Black Beans or Refried Beans: Add some extra protein and texture with this hearty addition.
- Margaritas: The quintessential drink pairing for any Mexican dish, is margaritas! We have a great recipe for a margarita mix and cocktail.
- Fresh Salsa or Pico de Gallo: A bright and zesty topping.
- Corn Elote (Mexican Street Corn): A deliciously rich and creamy side.
Top Tips
Here are some helpful tips we have learned along the way to get the best carnitas.
- Well-Marbled Cut: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) that has a good amount of fat content ensures tender carnitas.
- Don’t Skip the Citrus: It balances the flavors and keeps the pork juicy.
- Natural Release: Letting the Instant Pot depressurize naturally helps keep the meat tender, allow it at least 25-30 minutes unless it finishes before that time.
- Crisp in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the skillet when crisping the pork. Work in small batches for the best texture and cook as needed.
- Save the Juices: Use leftover cooking liquid to drizzle over the carnitas before serving for extra moisture and flavor or for storage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot
Do you have questions about cooking pork carnitas in an Instant Pot?
You might not have enough sugars from the cooking liquid. You can squeeze a half a lime or orange all over, this helps promote caramelization. Alternatively, you might be moving the pork around too soon. Allow it to sit and get some lightly burnt edges before flipping.
While you can, we don't recommend it. We have found that pork shoulder is the most optimal cut for carnitas. While pork loin or tenderloin are leaner, the tenderness and cooking time will vary.
Yes. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours, then shred and crisp as instructed.
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Pork Carnitas in Instant Pot Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Cast Iron Skillet/ Griddle
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Pulled Pork:
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- ½ tablespoon dried coriander
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 4- pound pork shoulder pork butt
- 5 limes juice into a 1 cup measuring cup and top up with orange juice
- orange juice about ¾ cup
Carnitas:
- corn tortillas
- pickled red onion
- limes
- hot sauce
- avocados
- cilantro
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together ground cumin, salt, dried coriander, garlic powder, ground pepper, and onion powder. Rub over the pork on all sides.
- Lightly spray the base of the Instant Pot with non-stock spray or brush with olive oil and place pork inside the base of pot.
- Pour the lime/orange juice mixture over top and close the lid. Ensure the steam valve is sealed and cook on manual (or pressure cook) for 90 minutes.
- Allow a natural pressure release once the timer is complete, which may take another 25-30 minutes, then release any pressure, and open the lid.
- Remove the bone, and any string and shred the meat using two forks.
- To make these crispy carnitas, heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add an even layer of pork (do not over-crowd) with its juices, and additional squeeze of lime juice, to the skillet and cook without touching to caramelize and crisp up the meat. This takes about 3-5 minutes.
- Work in batches for a more even browning, crisping up as much pork as needed.
- Assemble the carnitas with pork, picked red onions, a squeeze of lime juice, hot sauce, avocados and cilantro or any desired toppings.
- Store any leftover pulled pork in an airtight container.
Notes
- We prefer to store the unused pork in the juices without caramelization, so if it requires freezing it is easier to do so. Then we just take out what we need and cook as needed.
- Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) that has a good amount of fat content ensures tender carnitas.
- The citrus juices balance the flavors and keeps the pork juicy.
- Letting the Instant Pot depressurize naturally helps keep the meat tender, allow it at least 25-30 minutes unless it finishes before that time.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet when crisping the pork. Work in small batches for the best texture and cook as needed.
- Use leftover cooking juices to drizzle over the carnitas before serving for extra moisture and flavor or for storage.
- Nutritional information is for the pork only, and will vary depending on quantity and toppings.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Joanne says
Great recipe.
Eva Filer says
Glad you liked it!
Abi says
Loving your Mexican inspired recipes Eva!
Eva Filer says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you are enjoying them all!
Eva Filer says
This pork has so much flavor, it is one of our favorite things to make when hosting friends!