Instant Pot Carnitas (Best Recipe Ever!)

This Instant Pot Carnitas recipe is made in a fraction of the time thanks to the pressure cooker / Instant Pot. Pork butt is seasoned with warm spices, orange juice and lime juice and cooked until fall-apart tender. Mexican shredded pork carnitas can be served in many ways, from simple corn tortillas to burrito bowls.

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Recipe

Incredibly tasty and juicy pork Carnitas is one of my favorite traditional Mexican dishes but, cooking carnitas on the stove top in a Dutch oven or regular pot can take a very long time. Time that I don’t usually have available, especially during busy weekdays.

That’s why I love making Instant Pot Carnitas! Cooking a tough cut of meat like pork roast at high pressure cuts the cooking time significantly and delivers flavorful fork tender meat you’ll want to use for meal prep, tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more!

Don’t worry! If you love the crispy edges of traditional carnitas we got you covered! This instant pot version has one simple extra step that makes the best crispy carnitas you’ll ever have! And it only takes 2-3 additional minutes (that’s not even enough time to pour yourself a cerveza!)

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What’s Carnitas?

Carnitas in Spanish means “little meats” which is what this tasty shredded pork or pulled pork dish looks like when is ready to be served.

Although recipes vary from household to household, authentic carnitas are traditionally made with a large piece of pork seasoned with a quick marinade made with onions and a mixture of spices such as cumin, chili powder and bay leaves and fresh citrus like orange juice and lime juice. The pork is cooked slowly in lard until fork tender, and then it’s crisped up in a skillet with some extra lard. The result is a combination of juicy and tender shredded pork with some browned bits of crispy fried pork pieces.

Easy Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

Be sure to check the printable recipe card below for the complete ingredient’s list and their exact quantities.

• Pork: Boneless pork roast such as pork shoulder roast or pork butt aka Boston butt, cut into big chunks (about 2-inches) and trimmed from any excess fat.
• Beer: Mexican beer, pilsener or lager beer works well. If preferred, you can substitute the beer with chicken broth or stock.
• Orange Juice: Fresh orange juice is preferred as bottled juice has a high sugar content however, if bottled juice is all you have, go for it!
• Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed. Bottled lime juice doesn’t taste like the real citrus juice so I try not to use it.
• Oil: Although I mostly cook with olive oil, I usually make pork carnitas with vegetable oil. Canola oil, olive oil, avocado oil and lard can be used as well.
• Garlic: I use fresh garlic. can be used also. You can substitute fresh garlic with 1 tablespoon of garlic paste (which I always keep in my fridge) or with 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
• Spices / Seasonings: Chili powder, onion powder, dried oregano (use dried Mexican oregano if available), ground cumin. Salt and ground black pepper.

How to Make Carnitas in the Instant Pot?

If this is your first time making carnitas, don’t worry! This is a super easy recipe. For the full recipe and detailed instructions on how to make this instant pot recipe, check the recipe card below.

• Season the Pork: Pat the pork cubes dry with paper towels and season them with salt and pepper.
• Sear the Meat: Click the sauté setting and heat the oil. Sear the pork until it browns on all sides. You may need to do this in 2 batches not to overcrowd the pot. Transfer the meat to a plate and press “cancel”.
• Deglaze the Pot: Pour the beer (or chicken broth), orange and lime juice over the seared pork. Deglaze the pot by scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to remove any brown bits.
• Cook on High Pressure: Add the spices and return the seared pork to the pressure cooker. Close the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 60 minutes. Do a natural release for 15 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure.
• Reduce Cooking Liquid: With a slotted spoon, remove the pork from the pressure cooker. Click the saute function and reduce the cooking liquid for about 5 minutes then, press cancel.
• Shred the Pork: In the mean time, shred the pork. Return the meat to the instant pot and toss it until the carnitas are well coated with the cooking liquid. 
• Broil (optional): Turn on the broiler. Transfer the pork to a baking sheet pan and spread the meat into an even layer. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking liquid over the meat. Broil for a few minutes until the pork edges begin to get golden brown and crispy. Serve.

Why Is My Pulled Pork Tough In The Instant Pot?

If the meat is not fork-tender and cannot be easily shredded after cooking it in the Instant pot for 60 minutes at high pressure, then the pork needs to be cooked longer. Seal the pot and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes and release the pressure naturally for 10 -15 minutes.

What Is the Difference Between Carnitas and Pulled Pork?

The difference betweenCarnitas and Pulled Pork are the seasonings. Both dishes are made with pork shoulder, pork butt or Boston butt cooked until the meat is so tender that it can be shredded or pulled with a fork. Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish seasoned with citrus juices and spices like cumin and chili powder. Pulled pork is usually seasoned with a dry rub and served tossed with BBQ sauce.

Can You Overcook Pork Shoulder In the Instant Pot?

Any meat can be overcooked whether you use an instant pot, crock pot, air fryer, oven or stove top however, pork shoulder is one of those cuts of meat that are hard to overcook or “mess up”. Because of the marbling of the meat (that’s the fat that gives the meat it’s delicious flavor!), pork tends to stay moist when cook for long periods of time.

Is It Better to Slow Cook or Pressure Cook pork Shoulder?

Both methods work just fine! If you have time use a slow cooker or braised the pork slowly on the stove. If you are short on time and need to put dinner on the table quickly, nothing beats the pressure cooker! Because the meat is sealed in the Instant pot, the flavors really penetrate the meat making it delicious!

How To Serve Pork Carnitas?

Mexican Pork carnitas is an incredibly versatile and delicious meal that can be made ahead, and can serve a crowd without breaking the bank! Carnitas is the perfect recipe to make for birthdays or celebrations, for game night, during the holidays and a must on Cinco de Mayo!

We love making carnitas tacos with warm corn tortillas and Pico De Gallo served with a side of Mexican rice. Other serving ideas are:

• Charro Beans Recipe
• Mexican Three Bean Salad Recipe
• Creamy Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
• Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Can I Make Carnitas In the Slow Cooker

Absolutely! Try this Slow Cooker Carnitas recipe and let us know how you like it!

Making Ahead, Storage and Reheating

Make Ahead and Storage:

• Instant Pot Carnitas can be made 2 days ahead. Keep the cooked shredded meat stored in an airtight container, covered with the cooking liquid, in the fridge until ready to serve.
• You can also sear the pork the night before, keep it covered in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the fridge and finish the cooking process.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 days.

Freezing Carnitas:

• Cool the meat completely. Divide the shredded Mexican pork into smaller portions and store in resealable freezer bags with some of the cooking liquid for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheating:

• Reheat the shredded meat and juices covered, in the microwave until the meat is heated through.
• To reheat carnitas in the oven, preheat the oven to 325ºF. Spread the carnitas on a baking sheet, and pour some of the cooking liquid over the meat. Cover with aluminum foil and reheat until warm through. As an optional step, turn on the broiler. Uncover the meat and broil it keeping the sheet pan about 6 inches from the heat source. Broiling only takes 2-3 minutes. Keep an eye on it to prevent the meat from burning!

This post has been updated to provide the reader with additional information. The recipe remains the same.