Easy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas are bite-size pieces of pork rubbed with a smoky, slightly sweet homemade spice mix, pressure cooked with fresh lime until fork-tender, then shredded and broiled until the edges turn crispy. If your go-to order at a taco shop is carnitas, this is an easy way to make them at home on a weeknight.
A single pound of pork makes four servings, so there’s no giant pork shoulder to wrestle with or a week of leftovers to get through. Hands-on time is about 10 minutes of cutting and seasoning, and the Instant Pot cooks the pork until it pulls apart with a fork. A few minutes under the broiler gives you those browned, caramelized edges that carnitas are known for, while the inside stays juicy.
For more taco night recipes, be sure to also try my Crispy Baked Chicken Tacos, Shrimp Tacos With Cilantro Lime Crema, or Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
Pork: I use boneless pork shoulder (sometimes labeled pork butt). It has enough marbling to stay juicy under pressure, and I trim off the thick pieces of fat before cubing it. I like ButcherBox pork, which comes from crate-free pigs raised without added hormones or antibiotics.
Spice Rub: Paprika and chili powder bring the smoky flavor, cumin and coriander add warmth, and the teaspoon of brown sugar helps the edges caramelize under the broiler. I usually mix a double batch and save half for next time.
Lime: Pick a lime that feels heavy for its size, since that means it’s juicy. Rolling it on the counter before cutting it makes it easier to squeeze.
Dried Herbs: Regular dried oregano is fine, but if you can find Mexican oregano, it has a more citrusy flavor that tastes great here.
Recipe Variations
Make It Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne or ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder to the spice rub.
Orange Juice: Swap the ½ cup water for ½ cup fresh orange juice for a sweeter, more traditional carnitas flavor.
Carnitas Bowls: Serve the pork over cilantro lime rice with black beans, pico de gallo, and avocado.
Lettuce Wraps: Spoon the carnitas into butter lettuce leaves instead of tortillas for a lower-carb dinner.
Double Batch: Use 2 pounds of pork and double the spices, lime, and water. Keep the pieces 1 inch and the cook time stays the same.
How To Make Easy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas: Step by Step
Here are quick visual instructions. Be sure to check out the full instructions with exact ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: Slice the pork into 1-inch cubes.
Step 2: Rub the spice mix all over the pork.
Step 3: Put the seasoned pork in the Instant Pot.
Step 4: Squeeze fresh lime juice over the pork.
Step 5: Add the lime halves and water, then pressure cook.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Cut all the pork into the same 1-inch size. Even pieces finish cooking together and shred in seconds.
Let the pressure release naturally for the full 15 minutes. A quick release can leave the meat tougher and drier.
Spread the shredded pork in a thin, even layer on the baking sheet. Piled-up pork steams instead of getting crispy.
Spoon 2 or 3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid over the shredded pork before broiling. The edges still crisp up, and the rest of the meat stays juicy.
Stay close to the oven while it broils. The brown sugar in the rub can go from caramelized to burnt in under a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Put everything in the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, until the pork shreds easily. Then shred and broil it the same way.
I'd skip it for this recipe. Those cuts are very lean and turn dry and stringy after 40 minutes under pressure. Pork shoulder has the fat it needs to stay tender.
Layer the pork over rice with beans, salsa, and lettuce. If your family likes bowls, my Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowl is another easy one to add to the rotation.
I hope you love this Easy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas. Please consider leaving a star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below. Thank you so much!
More Recipes To Try
Easy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas (Small Batch)
Ingredients
For the pork
- 1 pound boneless pork shoulder trimmed
- 1 lime
- 1/2 cup water
For the spice rub
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
Instructions
- Stir the brown sugar, salt, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, basil, chili powder, cumin, and coriander together in a small bowl.
- Trim any large pieces of fat from the pork and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle the spice mix over the pork and rub it in until every piece is coated.
- With the Instant Pot still off, arrange the pork in the inner pot and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Halve the lime lengthwise, squeeze the juice over the pork, and drop both halves into the pot. Pour in the ½ cup water.
- Lock the lid, turn the valve to Sealing, and cook on Manual (Pressure Cook) at high pressure for 40 minutes.
- When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to come down naturally for 15 minutes, then carefully release whatever pressure remains.
- Turn the oven broiler to high (500°F if your oven has a setting) and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Lift the pork onto the baking sheet with a slotted spoon, leaving the limes behind. Pull it apart with two forks and spread it out.
- Broil for about 5 minutes, until the edges are browned and crisp. Check often so it doesn't burn.
Notes
The nutritional details for recipes are estimated using MyFitnessPal and can vary with different products, measurement accuracy, and source reliability. We aim to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee the precise accuracy of the nutritional data