Carnitas
This Instant Pot Carnitas recipe delivers tender, flavorful pork with a blend of citrus and spices. The pork shoulder is marinated in a mixture of orange juice, lime, garlic, and seasonings, then pressure-cooked to perfection. After shredding, you can crisp the pork for added texture. It’s perfect for serving in whole wheat tortillas with fresh toppings like avocado and bell peppers, making it a great option for tacos or burrito bowls.
Servings 6
Calories 300kcal
Ingredients
- 3 lbs 1.36 kg pork shoulder, cut into large chunks
- 2 tsp dried oregano 4 g
- 1 tsp paprika 2 g
- 1 tsp thyme 1 g
- 1 tsp onion powder 3 g
- 4 cloves garlic mashed
- 1 tbsp lime juice 15 mL
- 1 tbsp vinegar 15 mL
- 2 tbsp soy sauce 30 mL
- 1 cup orange juice 240 mL
- 1 tsp salt 6 g
- ½ tsp black pepper 1 g
- 1 tsp olive oil 5 mL for browning
For serving:
- Whole wheat tortillas
- Sliced red bell peppers
- Avocado sliced
- Grilled bell peppers or jalapeños optional
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, combine the oregano, paprika, thyme, onion powder, mashed garlic, lime juice, vinegar, soy sauce, orange juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until all the ingredients are well blended.
- Marinate the Pork: Place the pork shoulder chunks into the marinade and mix thoroughly. Ensure each piece is well-coated. If you have time, let the pork marinate for 30 minutes to an hour. For a more intense flavor, you can even marinate it overnight in the refrigerator.
- Cook in the Instant Pot: Place the marinated pork in the Instant Pot along with the marinade juices. Cook until the pork is tender enough to shred with a fork. In most cases, this will take around 60-90 minutes. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can use a slow cooker or pressure cooker.
- Natural Release: After the 30 minutes of cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully release any remaining pressure by turning the valve to "Venting."
- Shred the pork: Once the pork is fully cooked, it should easily fall apart when you pull it with a fork. You can fry it in a pan to crisp up the edges, but I often skip this step because I find the top of the pork gets nicely browned in the Instant Pot.
- Shred the Pork: Once the pork is fully cooked and tender, remove it from the Instant Pot. Use two forks to shred the meat. If you want a crispy texture, transfer the shredded pork to a baking sheet and broil it in the oven for 5-7 minutes until the edges are crispy.
- Serving: Serve the carnitas on whole wheat tortillas with slices of red bell peppers, avocado, and grilled peppers for extra flavor and texture. You can also serve them with your favorite toppings like salsa or cilantro.