Delicious Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe

Name: Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 4 lb boneless pork roast cut into 2-4 chunks; 8 slices jarred jalapenos; 3 lg garlic cloves (diced); 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp oregano; ½ tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp black pepper; ½ tsp soy sauce; 1 tsp ground cumin; 8-10 corn or flour soft tortillas; 4 lg tomatoes (diced); ½ c diced red onion; ½ c chopped fresh cilantro; 1 tbsp diced cilantro stems; ⅓ c diced green onion; 1 tsp diced fresh garlic; 2 tbsp diced jalapeno; ½ tsp salt; 4 tbsp fresh lime juice; 10½ oz plain greek yogurt; juice of 1 med. lime; zest of 1 med. lime; ½ tsp chili powder

Oh my goodness. If you have never had Instant Pot carnitas before then you are in for a real treat. This fantastic Carnitas recipe is absolutely to die for and one your family will never get tired of.

Contents

Why Do We Love Delicious Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe

Flavorful and Juicy: This recipe guarantees tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork with a rich, savory taste.
Versatile Meal: Use the carnitas in tacos, burritos, or bowls for a filling main dish.
Time-Saver: The Instant Pot cuts down traditional cooking time, making your meal prep easier.

Ingredients Needed for Instant Pot Carnitas

Instant Pot Carnita Meat

Boneless Roast: A tender and flavorful cut of meat is ideal for making carnitas.
Jarred Jalapenos: Add a spicy kick and a tangy flavor to the carnitas, enhancing its overall taste profile.
Garlic: Contribute a pungent and aromatic flavor to the dish, adding depth and richness.
Salt: Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients while helping to tenderize the meat and balance the overall taste.
Oregano: Oregano adds a savory and earthy note to the carnitas, enhancing its aromatic profile.
Cinnamon: Adds a subtle warmth and depth to the dish, complementing the other flavors and providing a unique twist.
Black Pepper: Adds a hint of spiciness and a robust flavor to the carnitas, enhancing its overall taste.
Soy Sauce: Adds umami and depth to the dish, enhancing the savory flavors of the meat.
Ground Cumin: Adds a smoky and slightly nutty flavor to the carnitas, enhancing its overall taste profile.
Corn or Flour Soft Tortillas: Serve as the base for serving the delicious carnitas, providing a soft and versatile vessel for wrapping the meat.

Pico de Gallo Ingredients

Medium Tomatoes: Serve as the fresh and juicy base for the pico de gallo, providing vibrant color and a burst of flavor.
Medium Red Onion: Adds a crisp texture and mild onion flavor, enhancing the overall crunchiness of the pico de gallo.
Fresh Cilantro: Infuses the salsa with citrusy and herbaceous notes, elevating its freshness and adding a delightful aroma.
Jalapeno Peppers: Bring a controlled level of heat to the pico de gallo, balancing with the other ingredients.
Garlic Cloves: Offers a subtle and savory kick, complementing the overall flavor profile of the pico de gallo.
Lime Juice: Provides a zesty and citrusy brightness, enhancing the refreshing taste of the pico de gallo.
Salt: Added to taste, enhancing the flavors of the ingredients and ensuring a well-seasoned and delicious salsa.
Black Pepper: Adds a hint of spiciness and contributes to the overall savory character of the pico de gallo.

Crema Ingredients

Plain Greek yogurt: Provides a creamy and tangy base for the crema, offering a rich texture and a source of protein.
Juice of 1 medium lime: Infuses a zesty and citrusy flavor, adding brightness to the crema.
Zest of 1 medium lime: Enhances the lime flavor, contributing aromatic citrus notes to the overall profile of the crema.
Chili powder: Introduces a subtle, smoky heat, elevating the crema with a hint of spiciness.

How To Make Carnitas In The Instant Pot?

Cooking the Pork in the Instant Pot

Place pork and all spices, jalapenos and soy sauce into the Instant Pot. Toss meat around in the spices to coat.

Seal Instant Pot and cook at high pressure for 40 minutes.

Release pressure manually and remove meat to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Remove jalapenos and discard. (If you prefer extra hot, just leave the jalapenos in the meat.)

Using your hands or two forks, shred the meat. Pour juice from the Instant Pot over the meat and toss to mix. I use the meat as it is at this point but if you prefer a crispy meat, place in skillet over high heat until edges of the meat starts to caramelize and crisp.

How to Make Pico de Gallo?

Mix together all ingredients.

This is even better if chilled for several hours to allow flavors to meld.

Making Carnitas Crema

In a bowl, whisk yogurt with the lime juice and zest.

Sprinkle the chili powder over the top.

What to Serve With Carnitas?

You can serve the tortilla right out of the package or heat lightly in the microwave, oven or stovetop.
Place pork on your tortilla shell, top with Pico de Gallo and finish with a dollop of the crema. Fold up.
Add cheese, olives, avocado or extra jalapenos if you desire.

This Instant Pot Carnitas recipe is delicious and one recipe the whole family will enjoy!

Why not try making this today and enjoy the flavors of pork carnitas with pico de gallo and crema.

Looking for more fantastic recipes? Why not try out the following?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Carnitas?

The Spanish word carnitas translates into “little meats. Carnitas are a Mexican pork dish where the pork cut is cooked for several hours until tender enough to be shredded. The carnitas meat is then served on a dish or used as a filling for tacos, enchiladas or burritos.
Carnitas are often served with a dressing such as pico de Gallo, a chunky salsa which accompanies the Mexican dish.

What Cut of Meat Are Carnitas Made From?

Carnitas are best made from Pork shoulder which is sometimes referred to as pork butt. Meat taken from the top of the shoulder of the pig can also be called, Boston shoulder, shoulder roast, fresh pork butt and Boston butt. The reason pork shoulder got the name pork butt is due to Colonial times when pork shoulder was packed in barrels named butts.
Pork Butt when cooked well is moist tender and happens to be one of the cheaper cuts of pork which makes this meal budget friendly.

Are Carnitas Keto?

Carnitas can be kept friendly for sure! You don’t have to eat them with tacos or burrito bread, and can instead eat your carnitas meat with the salsa dressing and creme. Leave out the carbs and make this Carnitas pork recipe more keto friendly.

Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe

Yield: 4-5

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

You got to try this Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe now! This will surely love by your whole family.

Ingredients

4 lb boneless pork roast cut into 2-4 chunks
8 slices jarred jalapenos
3 lg garlic cloves (diced)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp soy sauce
1 tsp ground cumin
8-10 corn or flour soft tortillas
4 lg tomatoes (diced)
½ c diced red onion
½ c chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp diced cilantro stems
⅓ c diced green onion
1 tsp diced fresh garlic
2 tbsp diced jalapeno
½ tsp salt
4 tbsp fresh lime juice
10½ oz plain greek yogurt
juice of 1 med. lime
zest of 1 med. lime
½ tsp chili powder

Instructions

Place pork and all spices, jalapenos and soy sauce into the Instant Pot. Toss meat around in the spices to coat.
Seal Instant Pot and cook at high pressure for 40 minutes.
Release pressure manually and remove meat to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Remove jalapenos and discard. (If you prefer extra hot, just leave the jalapenos in the meat.)
Using your hands or two forks, shred the meat. Pour juice from the Instant Pot over the meat and toss to mix. I use the meat as it is at this point but if you prefer a crispy meat, place in skillet over high heat until edges of the meat starts to caramelize and crisp.
Mix together all ingredients for delgado.
This is even better if chilled for several hours to allow flavors to meld.
In a bowl, whisk yogurt with the lime juice and zest.
Sprinkle the chili powder over the top.
You can serve the tortilla right out of the package or heat lightly in the microwave, oven or stovetop.
Place pork on your tortilla shell, top with Pico de Gallo and finish with a dollop of the crema. Fold up.
Add cheese, olives, avocado or extra jalapenos if you desire.
This Instant Pot Carnitas recipe is delicious and one recipe the whole family will enjoy!

Notes

Boston butt is the best cut for this pork dish

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1765Total Fat: 103gSaturated Fat: 37gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 56gCholesterol: 408mgSodium: 1752mgCarbohydrates: 92gFiber: 9gSugar: 13gProtein: 120g

Delicious Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe

Why Do We Love Delicious Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe