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Pork carnitas on a tortilla with toppings, with the Instant Pot behind.
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Easy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas (Small Batch)

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Natural Release15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Rachel Oostdyk

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

Timing: Cook Time is 40 minutes at pressure plus 5 minutes under the broiler. The Instant Pot also takes about 10 minutes to come up to pressure.
Storage: Keep leftover carnitas in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze cooled carnitas with a few spoonfuls of the cooking liquid for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheating: Warm the pork in a hot skillet for a few minutes, or spread it on a baking sheet and broil again to re-crisp the edges.