Instant Pot Carnitas

This is a very easy and very delicious way to cook pork shoulder.

Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
8 to 10
Yield:
8 Cups

When you make Instant Pot carnitas you get a lot of delicious shredded pork for little effort. Simply toss the pork shoulder with oregano, cumin, and cayenne, plus one of our favorite pantry staples, canned chipotles in adobo sauce. Add some orange and lime juice, an onion, and eight cloves of garlic, then seal the multicooker and let it do its work. After 50 minutes of hands-off cooking (plus time to let the pressure release naturally), it's ready to shred and you'll have delicious carnitas ready to fill tacos with all your go-to fixings or to use for sandwiches. 

instant pot carnitas with tortillas, avocado, and cabbage

Bryan Gardner

Ingredients

  • 1 boneless pork shoulder (6 pounds), trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2-inch pieces

  • 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (2 chiles)

  • Kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice (from 1 orange)

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime), plus lime wedges for serving

  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and quartered

  • 8 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled

  • Corn tortillas, for serving

  • Shredded red cabbage, chopped avocado, cilantro leaves, and crumbled queso fresco, for serving

Directions

  1. Combine pork, chiles, and seasonings in multicooker:

    In the bowl of a multicooker, toss together pork, chiles, 4 teaspoons salt, oregano, cumin, and cayenne.

  2. Add juices, onion, garlic, and water and cook:

    Add orange and lime juices, onion, garlic, and 1 cup water. Secure lid of multicooker. Cook on "Meat/Stew" setting for 50 minutes.

  3. Allow pressure to release naturally and discard onions and garlic:

    Once time is complete, allow pressure to release naturally. Carefully remove lid. Discard onions and garlic.

  4. Shred meat:

    In the bowl of the multicooker, use two forks to shred pork into bite-size pieces.

  5. Toast tortillas:

    Using tongs, place a tortilla directly on a gas flame or in a heavy skillet over high heat. Cook, flipping once, until lightly toasted and charred in places, about 30 seconds. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

  6. Serve:

    Serve carnitas in tortillas with cabbage, avocado, cilantro, cheese, and a squeeze of lime.

Variations

These carnitas can also be made in a slow cooker: cook on low for 8 hours.

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