Make really amazing Carnitas right in your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. The pork will turn out fall-apart-tender. Crisp it up under the broiler for the authentic Carnitas texture! Serve it up in tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, and more....LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO RECIPE WITH THE PLAYER BELOW!
Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 30 minutesminutes
Natural Release & Crisping in Oven 20 minutesminutes
Trim any large portions of fat cap from the pork butt. Since we are not cooking low and slow the fat will not render all the way.
4-5 lb. pork shoulder
Cut the pork into large 2-3 inch pieces. If you have a bone-in pork butt, leave some meat around the bone and use it just like the other pieces (after cooking the meat will fall off the bone and you can discard the bone).
Searing the Pork
Season all sides of the pork pieces with the KOSHER salt and pepper.
1.5 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper
Brown/Sear the pork in 2 batches, about 1 tablespoon of oil per batch. Brown the pork for about 2-3 minutes per side. PRO TIP: Highly recommend doing it in a cast iron skillet on the stove top over high heat, it will be MUCH faster than in the Instant Pot. But if using the Instant Pot be sure to turn the sauté function on high.
3 tablespoon canola oil
Meanwhile, mix together the cooking liquid.Pro tip: be sure to crush the Mexican Oregano in the palm of your hand to release the beautiful flavor!
1 cup lemon-lime soda, 6 garlic cloves, ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice, ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder, 1 ½ teaspoon Mexican Oregano, ½ teaspoon each: garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Pour the cooking liquid in and deglaze either the Instant Pot or cast iron skillet, wherever you browned the meat. Scrape up all the browned bits, that is FLAVOR!If you used a cast iron skillet, after deglazing pour the liquid into the Instant Pot.
Pressure Cooking
Add the browned pork pieces, onion and bay leaf to the Instant Pot, nestling it down into the cooking liquid.
1 bay leaf, 1 large white onion
Close the Instant Pot and set to cook for 30 minutes, normal heat, high pressure. Do a 15 minute natural release, then finish releasing the pressure by turning the pressure valve to vent.
Remove the meat from the Instant Pot and shred either with two forks, clean hands or placing the (warm) meat in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and run it for about 30 seconds.
You can use the Carnitas at the point, or crisp them up in the next step.
Crisping
If you want traditional crispy edges on your carnitas, preheat the broiler.
Place the shredded carnitas on a large rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with a little juice from the Instant Pot.
Pop under the broiler for about 3 minutes.
Flip the meat and sprinkle with a little more juice. Broil for another 3-5 minutes.
Serving
Serve your carnitas as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, burrito bowls and more!
Store any leftover Carnitas in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Some fat may turn white when it cools in the fridge, it will look normal after reheating.
To extend the shelf life of your Instant Pot Carnitas you can freeze for up to 3 months. To use from frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight or thaw in the microwave. Then to get the crispy edges broil in the oven for about 3-5 minutes.
Video
Notes
Use a pork butt, pork shoulder, or Boston butt, they are all basically the same. You can use bone-in or boneless. If you have a bone-in pork butt simply cut around the bone, leaving some meat around the bone. After cooking the meat will fall right off the bone and you can discard the bone.
It doesn't matter what brand of lemon-lime soda you use; Sprite, 7-Up, Starry, Sierra Mist, etc... However we do recommend that you use full sugar soda, not diet soda.
Mexican Oregano is a little different than traditional Oregano. It has a different flavor profile that marries perfectly with Mexican flavors. I can find it near other Mexican ingredients, like dried chilies, which is in the produce section of my grocery store. If you cannot find that, regular oregano will work!