Pork Carnitas in the Instant Pot

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These pork carnitas are easy to make when you use your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker!  Juicy pork with crispy edges stuffed in a low carb tortilla…does life get any better?  I don’t think so.

I went on a whim the other day and made these pork carnitas.  We love juicy pork any day of the week, especially with lots of lime juice squeezed on top.  I’m not sure how carnitas are supposed to be made traditionally, but this is what I use to make them.  Pork shoulder (obviously), a grapefruit, garlic, onion, bay leaf, spices, and salt.

My dilemma is always what to do with all of this leftover juicy pork.  You can only make tacos on Tuesday, right?!  Well, I have come up with some low carb ideas over the years that don’t include lettuce cups.  Go ahead and thank me now.

• Pork carnitas on top of cilantro lime cauliflower rice
• You can get a little more fancy and have pork carnitas mixed with cheese and stuffed into zucchini boats
• Carnitas, avocado, a runny egg, OMG
• Cloud bread, mashed avocado, carnitas, cotija cheese, cilantro and lime juice
• Pork nachos with carnitas!
• Just carnitas…boom.  These are so good, they need no accompaniments.

My mouth is watering.

When these are pulled out of the instant pot they are so juicy, but to make them amazing, you have to crisp them up under the broiler for a few minutes.  Its a small step that cannot be skipped.  Then you must squeeze fresh lime juice all over them.  This also cannot be skipped.  Unless you’re allergic to limes.  If that is the case, I am terrible sorry.

So have I mentioned that I love my Instant Pot?  It is currently my most used kitchen appliance, behind my microwave.  If you don’t own an Instant Pot yet, you can still make pork carnitas!  You can use a slow cooker to make them, or you can use a dutch oven to make them.  They will just take a bit longer.

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Pork Carnitas in the Instant Pot

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

1 hrs

 

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 4-5 lb pork shoulder , cut into large chunks
• 1 grapefruit , zested and juiced
• 1/2 an onion , sliced
• 4 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tsp kosher salt
• lime juice and chopped cilantro for serving

Instructions

1. Pour grapefruit juice into the liner of the Instant Pot 

2. In a separate bowl, add chunks of pork, grapefruit zest, garlic, oregano, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, and salt. mix to combine

3. Add pork, onion, and bay leaf to the Instant Pot

4. Replace the lid, make sure it is set to sealing, and press the manual button. Change the time to 35 minutes.  
5. After the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally. This could take 20-30 minutes.

6. After the pressure releases, remove the lid and use a slotted spoon to remove the meat from the liquid and onto a baking sheet.  

7. Pre-heat your broiler.
8. Using 2 forks, shred the meat and remove any large chunks of fat. Place the meat under the broiler and let the meat get brown and crispy.  
9. Serve with lime juice and chopped cilantro

Recipe Notes

My kids love these carnitas just the way they are or I put them in a low carb tortilla or some crispy corn tortilla boats.  They love those!  My son loves his with sour cream and olives.  

Sometimes I'll make them a little plain white rice and put the carnitas on top when they are not feeling like tacos.