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Instant Pot Carnitas

Tender, flavorful carnitas made quickly in the Instant Pot, perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pork
  • 3 pounds pork shoulder cut into large chunks
Spices
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
Liquids
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 cup chicken broth
Aromatics
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
Toppings
  • cilantro chopped, for garnish
  • lime wedges for serving

Method
 

Prepare the Pork
  1. Season the pork shoulder chunks with cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Sauté
  1. Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode. Add a little oil and sear the pork chunks on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
Cook
  1. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot, sautéing until softened. Pour in the orange juice, lime juice, and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits.
  2. Return the pork to the pot, close the lid, and set to 'Manual' for 60 minutes on high pressure.
Release and Shred
  1. Once cooking is complete, allow for a natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure. Remove the pork and shred with two forks.
Serve
  1. Serve the carnitas in tacos or burritos, garnished with chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

Notes

For extra crispy carnitas, broil the shredded pork in the oven for a few minutes after cooking.