5-Star Rated Instant Pot Carnitas

Introduction

Transform weeknight dinners and party spreads with these 5-Star Rated Instant Pot Carnitas—juicy, tender pork with irresistibly crispy edges, ready in a fraction of the traditional time. These carnitas capture the flavor and texture of long-simmered Mexican classics while leveraging the convenience and speed of modern electric pressure cooking.

Impress your family or guests with restaurant-quality carnitas that fit busy schedules. Whether loaded into tacos, served atop salads, or stuffed in burritos, this recipe delivers bold, crowd-pleasing results.

Why These Carnitas Stand Out

The magic of this recipe is its unbeatable combination of mouthwatering flavor, incredible tenderness, and a speed that’s tough to beat. The pressure cooker infuses each piece of pork with citrus, garlic, and spices in under an hour—without drying it out. A quick broil or air fry at the end creates that signature crispy finish everyone craves.

Essential Prep for Maximum Flavor

For the best texture and flavor, start by trimming the excess fat from a pork shoulder and cutting it into large chunks. Use the Fullstar Vegetable Chopper and Spiralizer or Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper to effortlessly prep aromatics like onions and jalapeños.

Setting up your Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart is simple—just toss in your prepared ingredients and let it work its magic!

How to Achieve Restaurant-Quality Crispiness

After pressure cooking, the pork will be juicy and tender. For that authentic carnitas texture, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet lined with a sheet from the Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll, then broil for a few minutes until the edges are perfectly crispy. Alternatively, use the COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1, Compact & Large 6-Qt to crisp up the pork even faster and more evenly.

Use a Chicken Shredder Tool Twist to make quick work of shredding the pork straight in the pot, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.

Serving Suggestions for the Ultimate Carnitas Experience

Serve your carnitas hot, garnished with chopped cilantro, diced onions, and lime wedges. They’re perfect for tacos, tostadas, nachos, or taco salads. Transport your meal easily for picnics or work lunches using the Bentgo Salad Container.

Round out your meal with fresh guacamole, pickled onions, or a crisp slaw. Paired with your favorite salsa and warm tortillas, these carnitas are destined to steal the show.

Nutritional Information and Yield

This recipe yields about 8 servings of flavorful carnitas. Each serving contains roughly 240–300 calories, depending on portion size and garnishes. Pork shoulder adds satisfying protein and richness—perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.

Best-Ever Instant Pot Carnitas (Recap)

This recipe isn’t just 5-star rated for its taste: speed, versatility, and that addictive crispy finish make it a go-to for weeknights and fiestas alike. With a handful of fresh ingredients and the brilliance of the Instant Pot, you’ll have restaurant-quality carnitas with minimal effort.

Instructions

1. Pat pork chunks dry and season all over with salt, pepper, oregano, and cumin.
2. Place pork in your Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart. Add onion, garlic, jalapeño, orange juice and zest, lime juice, and chicken broth.
3. Lock lid and set to Pressure Cook on high for 40 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then quick release the rest.
4. Remove pork to a large bowl. Shred with two forks or the Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for speed and consistency.
5. For crispy carnitas, preheat broiler and line a baking sheet with Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll. Spread shredded pork in a single layer and drizzle a few spoonfuls of the cooking juices over the top. Broil for 4–5 minutes, turning once, until edges are crispy.
6. Alternatively, transfer the pork to the COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1, Compact & Large 6-Qt in batches and air fry at 400°F for 4–7 minutes, shaking halfway through.
7. Serve hot with desired garnishes and fresh tortillas.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Enjoy your 5-Star Rated Instant Pot Carnitas—delicious simplicity for any occasion!