Crispy Pork Carnitas
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Crispy pork carnitas. They’re insanely delicious! Today we’re making this Mexican pulled pork recipe in an electric pressure cooker. For Instant Pot carnitas, I use the Mealthy MultiPot. Once done, the flavorful pork is shredded and crisped in a sizzling-hot skillet. Serve carnitas tacos at your next fiesta!
PIN CRISPY PORK CARNITAS TO MAKE IT LATER!
INSTANT POT CARNITAS
Grandma cooked this Mexican recipe the traditional way. But immersing meat in boiling fat takes a whole lot of lard! So when I crave carnitas tacos, I make Instant Pot carnitas in the Mealthy Multi-Pot 2.0. To maintain an authentic flavor profile, I cook the meat with all the fat left on.
As this mouth-watering recipe simmers in the pressure cooker, the fat combines with spices, citrus flavors, and Coca-Cola. After pan frying the pulled pork in its own savory juices, I’m transported back to Grandma Mercie’s ranch-style kitchen and the taste of her authentic carnitas!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
These are the ingredients you’ll need for this delicious recipe:
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- 4 pounds pork butt (or shoulder), boneless
- Coca-Cola
- Pineapple juice (optional)
- Oranges
- Limes
- Onion
- Cloves of garlic
- Jalapeno peppers
MEXICAN RECIPES TO MAKE ASAP: Festive MEXICAN SALSA, authentic MEXICAN GUACAMOLE, crispy BAJA FISH TACOS, and savory CARNE ASADA FRIES.
BEST CARNITAS RECIPE
Here’s how to make the best carnitas you’ve ever tasted!
CREATE THE SPICE RUB: Add olive oil and spices to a small bowl. Mix well.
PREP THE MEAT: Rinse the pork well. Dry it with paper towels.
EASY PULLED PORK RECIPE
Follow these quick easy steps for Instant Pot carnitas.
- STEP 1: Spoon spice rub over the pork. With clean hands, rub it into the meat.
- STEP 2: Add the pork (fat cap up) to the inner steel pot of an electric pressure cooker.
- STEP 3: Chop onion and jalapenos. Mince or press the garlic.
- STEP 4: Spread the onions, jalapeno and garlic on top of the meat.
RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
Continue following these easy instructions for this delicious pressure cooker recipe!
- STEP 1: Pour Coca-Cola and citrus juices over the meat.
- STEP 2: Lock pressure cooker lid in place. Cook for 80 minutes on high. Let pressure release naturally. For Mealthy Multi-Pot users: PRESSURE COOK + HIGH PRESSURE + NATURAL RELEASE. Cook for 80 minutes.
- STEP 3: After allowing pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, press CANCEL. Press and hold PRESSURE RELEASE for 3 seconds to quick-release remaining pressure.
- STEP 4: Lift meat from pressure cooker and transfer to a plate. The pork will be pull-apart tender, and may not lift out in a single piece. Reserve the liquid. With two forks, shred the pulled pork. Remove and discard chunks of fat.
HOW TO MAKE CRISPY PORK CARNITAS
- Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat. It’s important that the pan is well seasoned, as we don’t want the meat sticking to the pan while crisping!
- Work in batches so the pan is not crowded. Add carnitas to the pan.
- Drizzle some reserved liquid over the top.
- Once meat has become golden and crisp on one side, flip it over with a spatula. Allow the second side to sear just briefly! All of the liquid should evaporate during this process, leaving you with perfectly crisp and tender carnitas.
- Repeat above steps with remaining batches of pulled pork. To keep this dish from drying out, drizzle a bit of reserved liquid over the meat to keep it tender and juicy.
RECIPE FAQ
- WILL JALAPENOS MAKE THIS RECIPE SPICY? No. The primary heat of a chile is in the seeds and veins. Once removed, a chile pepper’s heat is mellowed out. After flavoring the meat while cooking, most of the jalapeno will stay behind in the liquid.
- HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE LOWER IN FAT? Remove chunks of fat from the pulled pork. Refrigerate juices in a heat-safe bowl. Once fat rises to the top and solidifies, skim it off and discard it.
- HOW MUCH FAT IS IN THE COOKED PORK? When separating out and discarding loose fat from the shredded meat, you may lose up to 1/3 of the total volume. It’s important to take this into account when planning how much meat to prepare for dinner.
- HOW TO SERVE CARNITAS? Serve it with beans, rice, salsa and tortillas. Serve carnitas tacos with chopped onion, cilantro, and slices of lime. Make carnitas burritos, chimichangas, tostadas or enchiladas.
- HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER CARNITAS? In the refrigerator, store the shredded meat and juices in separate air-tight containers. Pork carnitas will stay fresh for up to four days.
- CAN PULLED PORK BE FROZEN? Yes! It’s the perfect make-ahead recipe and freezer meal! After the meat has cooled, place it in a freezer bag with excess air pressed out. Store juices in separate freezer bags. Pulled pork can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw carnitas overnight in the refrigerator.
MORE COOKING METHODS FOR PULLED PORK
No pressure cooker? No problem! Here are two additional methods for cooking pork carnitas at home:
- HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CARNITAS: Crock Pot carnitas are easy to make! Follow the above recipe. But instead of using an Instant Pot, use a large slow cooker. Cook meat on low 8-10 hours OR on high 5-6 hours, until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- OVEN METHOD FOR CRISPY PORK CARNITAS: Preheat oven to 275 °F. Remove fat from pork. Roughly chop fat. Cut meat into 2-inch cubes. Rub all pieces with spice mix, and place them in a 9X13 baking dish. Pour citrus juices and Coca-Cola over the top. Sprinkle in onion, jalapenos and garlic. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 3-1/2 hours or until pork is fork-tender. Transfer meat to a plate and shred it. Reserve liquid. Preheat broiler. Arrange shedded meat on a baking tray. Drizzle it with some of the reserved juices. Broil 3 minutes. Drizzle more juices on top. Broil another 3-5 minutes until crispy.
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RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends and family say this Mexican pulled pork is wildly flavorful! Many rave it’s the best recipe for making carnitas tacos! If you agree, give it a 5-star rating in the comments below!
Crispy Pork Carnitas
- Total Time: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
- Yield: 6–8 Servings 1x
Description
These irresistible pork carnitas are cooked to perfection in a pressure cooker, then beautifully crisped up in a cast-iron skillet. This is the best Instant Pot recipe for Mexican pulled pork and carnitas tacos!
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR PORK CARNITAS
- 3 tablespoons virgin olive oil
- 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
- 4 pounds pork butt (or shoulder), boneless
- 2 cups Coca-Cola
- 3/4 cup orange juice (juice of 2 oranges)
- 1/4 cup lime juice (juice of 2 limes)
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice – optional
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
- 2–3 Jalapeno peppers (with seeds and veins removed), chopped
- Vegetable oil (or olive oil) for pan frying the carnitas
Instructions
INSTANT POT PORK CARNITAS
- Rinse the pork well. Dry it with paper towels. Create the spice rub: Add olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried spices to a small bowl. Mix well. Spoon spice rub over the pork. With clean hands, rub it all over the meat.
- Add the piece of pork (fat cap up) to inner steel pot of electric pressure cooker. Sprinkle chopped onion, jalapenos, and minced garlic on top. Pour Coca-Cola and citrus juices over the meat.
- Lock pressure cooker lid in place. Cook for 80 minutes on high. Let pressure release naturally. For Mealthy Multi-Pot users: PRESSURE COOK + HIGH PRESSURE + NATURAL RELEASE. Cook for 80 minutes.
- After allowing pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, press CANCEL. Press and hold PRESSURE RELEASE for 3 seconds to quick-release remaining pressure. Carefully lift meat from pressure cooker and transfer to a plate. Reserve the liquid. With two forks, shred the pulled pork. Remove and discard chunks of fat.
HOW TO MAKE CRISPY PORK CARNITAS
- Heat oil in a large well-seasoned skillet over high heat.
- Work in batches so the pan is not crowded. Add carnitas to the pan. Drizzle some of the reserved liquid over the meat.
- Once carnitas have become golden and crisp on one side, flip them over with a spatula. Allow the second side to sear just briefly! All of the liquid should evaporate during this process, leaving you with perfectly crisp and tender carnitas. Repeat with remaining batches of pulled pork. To keep carnitas from drying out, drizzle a bit of reserved liquid over the meat to keep it tender and juicy.
Notes
RECIPE FAQ
- WILL JALAPENOS MAKE THIS RECIPE SPICY? No. The primary heat of a chile is in the seeds and veins. Once removed, a chile pepper’s heat is mellowed out. After flavoring the meat while cooking, most of the jalapeno will stay behind in the liquid.
- HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE LOWER IN FAT? Remove chunks of fat from the pulled pork. Refrigerate juices in a heat-safe bowl. Once fat rises to the top and solidifies, skim it off and discard it.
- HOW MUCH FAT IS IN THE COOKED PORK? When separating out and discarding loose fat from the shredded meat, you may lose up to 1/3 of the total volume. It’s important to take this into account when planning how much meat to prepare for dinner.
- HOW TO SERVE CARNITAS? Serve it with beans, rice, salsa and tortillas. Serve carnitas tacos with chopped onion, cilantro, and slices of lime. Make carnitas burritos, chimichangas, tostadas or enchiladas.
- HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER CARNITAS? In the refrigerator, store the shredded meat and juices in separate air-tight containers. Pork carnitas will stay fresh for up to four days.
- CAN PULLED PORK BE FROZEN? Yes! It’s the perfect make-ahead recipe and freezer meal! After the meat has cooled, place it in a freezer bag with excess air pressed out. Store juices in separate freezer bags. Pulled pork can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw carnitas overnight in the refrigerator.
MORE COOKING METHODS FOR PORK CARNITAS
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CARNITAS: Crock Pot carnitas are easy to make! Follow the above recipe. But instead of using an Instant Pot, use a large slow cooker. Cook meat on low 8-10 hours OR on high 5-6 hours, until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
OVEN METHOD FOR CRISPY PORK CARNITAS:
- Preheat oven to 275 °F. Remove fat from pork. Roughly chop fat. Cut meat into 2-inch cubes. Rub all pieces with spice mix. Place pieces in a 9X13 baking dish. Pour Coca-Cola and citrus juices over meat. Sprinkle onion, jalapenos and garlic over the top. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 3-1/2 hours or until pork is fork-tender. Transfer meat to a plate and shred it. Reserve liquid. Preheat broiler. Arrange shredded meat on a baking tray. Drizzle it with some of the reserved juices. Broil 3 minutes. Drizzle more juices on top. Broil another 3-5 minutes, or until crispy.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 80 Minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
CRISPY PORK CARNITAS > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Have you been craving authentic Mexican food? Would you like to make a batch of this delicious pulled pork? In the comments below, share your favorite ways to enjoy carnitas!
5 stars!
Your pork sliders are what introduced me to eating pork (I ate chicken and beef only before), so now that I am trying a whole new world with pork, I had to come back to my new favorite recipe site to find another! This recipe was another hit! I made this for a dinner party at our house last weekend and our friends are still talking about it so I thought I would come back here and let you know how much we enjoyed it. Thank you for another great meal!
Julia, this made me laugh and smile. I’m so happy you loved the recipe, and you’re now willing to widen your eating horizons. I hope you try more recipes you find here on the blog.
I have never made these before. It is great how many things you can make in the Instant pot and how quickly everything is cooked.
I’ve never made carnitas before. This sounds like a great recipe. I think this would be good for when we have guests over.
I love carnitas. I make them a lot but now I want to add more of these citrus flavors you have plus the coca cola.
The recipe looks incredibly delicious! I don’t eat pork but I bet pork eaters are going to love this!
I was just thinking what type of pork recipe to cook. This has got to taste really really good. Super keen of giving this one a try over the weekend maybe.
Wow, what an amazing dish you have here. I would actually prefer this spicy. Pretty sure this has explosive and amazing flavors.
THESE look amazingly flavorful! I am not even a pork eater but I would totally try these!
This looks so yummy and savory. Looking forward to making this for my family. I know my son is going to love it.
Oh, yeah, I would love to have these on my table. I love the crispy edges, that texture would really make this dish pop.
Your photography is amazing and am loving this Instant Pot recipe. Thank you for sharing all these handy tips.
I’ve only tried carnitas once but I loved them. I’m pinning this so that I can make them for myself.
First time adding coca cola to cook carnitas and didn’t disappoint. Made this today. It is so good. If you love Mexican dishes, you need to try this. :)
Yes! These carnitas are one of my favorites to make. They go so well with many recipes.
I have everything on hand that I need to make these carnitas! I can’t wait to have them for dinner this week!
We love carnitas and eat them often but I haven’t tried cooking them in my pressure cooker. What a great and quick way to have one of our favorite meals.
I know I’d love these! I’ve always been a fan of carnitas. I’ll have to make this for dinner one night.
This recipe came right on time! Taco Tuesday just got real tasty!! I always need delicious, easy meals in my busy schedule – thank you for this great post!
Oh man that looks so delicious ! And it took me back to when my mom made it for my brothers and I . Got to make it for my family one day.
Those carnitas look amazing and the meat so tender from the instant pot. I know anyone who loves pork will use this recipe for company or a big game.
Oh my goodness these are the best carnitas ever!! I love pork everything and I love that you finally shared your recipe and secrets for how you make them. Thank you!