Five-Ingredient Instant Pot Carnitas – A Calculated Whisk

Introduction

These Five-Ingredient Instant Pot Carnitas are the ultimate solution for anyone craving authentic, flavor-packed Mexican pork with minimal effort and ingredients. Thanks to the Instant Pot’s pressure-cooking capabilities, you can achieve melt-in-your-mouth tender, restaurant-quality carnitas in under an hour—without hours of oven roasting or monitoring the stovetop.

This recipe is your best bet for foolproof weeknight tacos, a dazzling protein for nacho platters, or even a delicious meal prep protein, making it perfect for cooks who value speed, simplicity, and unmatched taste.

Irresistible Flavor with Simplicity

What sets this carnitas recipe apart is the balance of bold citrus, smoky undertones, and a savory pork finish—all with just five staple ingredients. Using the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart not only speeds up the cooking process but also locks in flavor and juiciness, giving you deeply seasoned carnitas every time.

The Secret to Perfect Carnitas Texture

After pressure cooking, the carnitas are shredded and broiled for a few minutes to achieve those signature crispy edges. To make shredding a breeze, reach for a Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen, Elegant Black. This gadget turns tender pork shoulder into perfect carnitas strands in seconds, streamlining meal prep and minimizing mess.

Assembling and Serving Your Carnitas

Serve your carnitas in warm corn tortillas, atop rice bowls, or as a topping for salads and nachos. Use a sturdy Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet, Black to quickly crisp the shredded meat if you don’t want to heat up the oven, giving you even more flexibility in your kitchen.

Round out your carnitas meal by prepping quick toppings like diced onions, cilantro, or radishes. The Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper makes slicing and dicing toppings effortless, keeping your prep streamlined and uniform.

Perfect for Meal Prep and Leftovers

These carnitas can be made ahead and stored for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week. Keep your carnitas fresh using Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup)—they’re airtight, leakproof, and perfect for stacking in the fridge.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 3–4 cups of carnitas, enough for 6–8 generous taco portions. Each serving is packed with protein and, thanks to a minimal ingredient list, contains moderate fat and sodium while being gluten-free.

Five-Ingredient Instant Pot Carnitas Recap

Achieve the rich, savory, and slightly crispy carnitas of your dreams with only five ingredients and a handful of minutes in the Instant Pot. This is the kind of main dish that’s destined to become a family favorite for its ease, unbeatable flavor, and crowd-pleasing flexibility.

Instructions

1. Cut pork shoulder into 3–4 large chunks for even cooking. Place them in the insert of your Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart.
2. Sprinkle salt, oregano, and cumin evenly over the pork. Pour the orange juice on top.
3. Seal the Instant Pot and set it to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode on high for 40 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then use the quick release function to finish venting.
4. Remove pork from the Instant Pot and use the Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen, Elegant Black to shred the meat directly on a cutting board or large dish.
5. For crispy carnitas, spread the shredded pork onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (use a sheet of Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll, 45 Square Feet for easy cleanup) and broil in the oven for 3–5 minutes, or crisp in a Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet, Black over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Serve carnitas in warm tortillas with desired toppings, or use for rice bowls, salads, or nachos.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes (plus 10 minutes natural release)

Finish/Crisping Time: 5–8 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

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With just five ingredients and the magic of the Instant Pot, these carnitas will delight everyone at the table—and leave you plenty of time to enjoy your meal!