These Instant Pot carnitas are an absolute snap to throw together with only a few ingredients! Loaded with flavor, and perfect for busy families wanting to eat healthy too, this is a meal to put on the menu this week! It certainly doesn’t hurt that they are keto, paleo, and Whole30 friendly!
Lately, between work, kids, and all our activities…quick and easy meals are a god send. I especially appreciate meals that require minimal effort and prepping on my end. Most of the prep time here is browning the meat and waiting for the pot to come to full pressure. But since I get to do other things while this is happening, it means almost no time with hands on prepping…win!!
Carnitas are just another option for our weekly family taco nights I talked about needing some variety for ME on taco nights in my Chicken Tinga post. I am always dreaming up new and creative ways to get those classic Mexican flavors infused into our taco filling with minimal effort. Next up, I will be sharing my ground beef taco filling which is another family favorite!!
Can I make chicken carnitas?
Rather not eat pork? No worries!
This carnitas recipe will work well with boneless skinless chicken thighs as a replacement too!!
Just reduce the pressure cooking time to 8 minutes!
Can I make stovetop carnitas? Or slow cooker carnitas?
Stovetop version
If you have not jumped on the IP bandwagon (you should!), then you can do the whole recipe stovetop!
Just brown the pieces of meat, add the liquids, and then enough water to cover the meat.
Slow cooker version
Throw browned pieces of meat right into your slow cooker with the other ingredients, and cook on high heat for 3-4 hours, or low heat for 6-7.
Each slow cooker cooks at a slightly different temperature, so similar cooking times as you have used before is probably the most accurate!
Serving suggestions for these Instant Pot carnitas:
- Serve atop a bed of greens with all the fixings for a taco salad. We love my spicy slaw too.
- Serve inside any tortilla as taco…with all the fixings too of course (or some of the above mentioned slaw!!) I make these Cassava Flour Tortillas from the Urban Poser which rock!
- As a burrito bowl on a bed of rice and beans…….with…..you guessed it!! All the fixings (again!) And if you like beans, I have a bomber recipe for THE best darn pot of beans you’ll ever make that you should check out!
- I even thought making some sort of empanada inside my favorite Paleo Pie Crust would be amazing too!
- How about on top of a bed of freshly sautéed cauli rice (don’t forget the fixings!!)?
- and have your meal prep pull double duty by making enough taco fillings to turn around and repurpose them for the best gluten free baked chimichangas you’ll ever have!
Finally, do you like easy dinners? Here are some more Instant Pot recipes you could try!
- My Bacon Cheeseburger Soup has the added advantage of all your veggies hidden inside the cheesy broth!
- This Chicken Abobo couldn’t be any easier to prep, and it is delicious served up with some rice over an Asian slaw to keep it low carb!
- Instant Pot Cube Steaks are a great way to turn any inexpensive cut of beef (read: tough) into melt-in-your-mouth tender steak bites slathered in a savory gravy!
- Simple is always good, 2 Ingredient Pulled Pork is simplicity squared!
Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe:
Please don’t forget to leave a rating and a comment below when you give these a try!
Instant Pot Carnitas
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork shoulder roast sliced into 2" slices. This cut of meat has some marbling and is not super lean. like a loin. Boneless country style ribs also work.
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 12 oz jar favorite green salsa it could be slightly more or less than this, just make sure there is at least 1 cup liquid in the pot before bringing to pressure. (I used Trader Joe's Salsa Verde, flavorful but mild for my kids! Could also sub 1/2 cup lemon juice. w/ 1/2 cup water added.
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- Broth only if you you want it more saucy or soup like!
Instructions
- Preheat the Instant Pot to saute while you prep the pork.
- Mix the spice mix together, and dredge each slice of pork in the mixture.
- This step is optional for additional flavor. Place a single layer on the bottom of hot Instant Pot to brown. After 3-5 minutes, use some tongs to turn the slices and brown the other side. I do this is 2 batches usually. Do not crowd the pieces or they will not brown well.
- When all the pieces are browned, place all pork back into the pot, and add your green salsa, and lime juice or broth if using.
- Lock on the lid, and set the 'Meat/Stew" setting, 35 minutes at high pressure.
- Once the time is up, hit 'Cancel', and quick release.
- Open the lid, and hit the 'Sauté' button to get the liquid simmering. Boil down by at least half to concentrate the flavors (if you like)! I sauté until almost all the liquid is gone and the meat is frying in it's own fat and crisping up nicely!
Nutrition
Amazing!!!! You must try this! I use my instant pot the day before and cook a large shoulder pork roast. This it sits in my refrigerator overnight and I skim off the fat the next day. I now have several meals of meat prepared for tacos, chimichangas or pulled-pork sandwiches depending on the size of your family in relation to the size of the roast.
I can already taste this on a warm tortilla with cilantro and lime!
I tried this last night. It was very easy to make and the flavor is outstanding. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks
Glad you’re enjoying it Christie! Thanks for leaving feedback!
What a delicious way to make carnitas, and it’s so simple! I love the idea of making empanadas. I think I’m going to give that a try! Yum!
Amazing is all I can say. Both my husband and I are blown away by the awesome flavor of the pork. Thank you for posting this recipe. It was my lucky day to find you. This is the first time I have ever left a comment on a recipe and I just wanted you to know that your amazing recipe was why.
Lofty praise indeed Wendie! Thanks for making my night with such a thoughtful comment!
This was truly amazing! Have you tried a variation of this with chicken by chance??
I have not!! While I think chicken thighs would work…there wouldn’t be much crisping or flavor from the fat….they’re much leaner! So glad you liked it!
If you do the chicken thighs, follow the same path, use only 1 cup liquid total, pressure cook for 8 minutes, quick release, then simmer off the liquid as directed!
I love my Instant Pot so much! This recipe looks so delicious and easy! I can’t wait to make it for my next party!
Love that you added green salsa to this! It’s my favorite add-in for white chili too.
This sounds delicious! I bet it’s tasty on tacos.
My group really enjoyed it and my Mexican friends gave it a 10 out of 10! Good flavor and tender. I used pork butt.
That is lofty praise indeed, thank you Carolune!!
I made this recipe a couple of days ago and it was SOOO good! I love the flavor from the lime juice. I will definitely make this again. My whole family liked it!
Great Kim!! Lime juice and carnitas are amazing together!
I love the Instant Pot for meals like this! This is a great Sunday meal prep protein to make, for sure!
I’ve never actually made pork carnitas! This looks really amazing and will definitely try as I need to use my instant pot more often!
I love carnitas so so much. And I actually *haven’t* jumped on the IP bandwagon, but these are so moist AND crispy that they might be reason alone to go there. The flavor from the crockpot is great, but that CRISPY action is awesome.
Oh Danielle..they are SO good! You could do this on your stove too, just would have to simmer themeat 2-3 hours before cranking the heat to simmer off the liquid and crisp it up!
I love pork carnitas! Instant Pots are so amazing for meal prep – totally takes the stress out of cooking! Will bookmark this for next week! 🙂
Yum! I love a versatile meat recipe like this, perfect for batch cooking. Thank you for providing the alternate slow cooker instructions too 🙂
Green chili pork is about my favorite. This looks perfect! I LOVE your idea to make empañadas with the meat inside. OMGosh!!!! Savory pastry is THE best.
Those carnitas look so juicy and tender! So appetizing! Being from Texas, carnitas are a staple from my childhood cuisine. Definitely a fave!
Love all those serving suggestions! Thank you! Great weeknight dinner!
Yes please!!! This would be a HUGE hit in my home. And I love that you make it in the Instant Pot! I bet the meat is so tender and perfect!
Love me some carnitas. Looks so delicious!
This is so good and easy for feeding a big family! You made me hungry and I really need to cook pork shoulders again! Do you know if the 1 cup liquid requirement is for all size of IP? I have a 8qt, but I don’t remember if I need more liquid.
1 1/2 is the official amount, but the pork will release enough liquid for you that you will not need to worry about it Yang!!
I am a big carnitas gal! Love this recipe!
Carnitas is my jam! This looks fantastic!
Hi Tessa – this looks so good my mouth is watering. I have to try those Carnitas over the weekend! Thank you so much for sharing!
Of course Erin, any time!!