Instant Pot Carnitas

Instant Pot Carnitas

4 servings
These carnitas are tender and moist, and crazy easy and quick to make in the Instant Pot.

Ingredients

  • boneless pork tenderloin

    , excess fat trimmed, cubed

    2 lb
  • olive oil or avocado oil plus more for browning
    1 ½ tbsp
  • ground cumin
    1 ½ tsp
  • salt
    1 tsp
  • ground chipotle chile pepper
    1 tsp
  • black pepper
    ½ tsp
  • onion

    , peeled, quartered

    1
  • garlic cloves

    , minced

    4
  • dried oregano
    2 tsp
  • cinnamon stick
    1
  • fresh orange juice
    1 c
  • fresh lime juice
    ⅓ c

Directions

  1. 1

    Mix all rub ingredients together, minus pork tenderloin, and rub onto pork tenderloin. You can let this sit and dry marinade for up to two hours; if you have the time, I highly recommend it. Otherwise, continue on with the directions.

  2. 2

    Turn your Instant Pot on Sauté mode and add a drizzle of olive oil or avocado oil to coat the bottom of the pot. Add rubbed pork tenderloin and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides.

  3. 3

    Add all cooking juice ingredients to the Instant Pot over the browned pork. Secure lid and cook on Manual at high pressure for 15 minutes. Quick release, remove the pork and shred (or use a potato masher to shred).

  4. 4

    Preheat your broiler. Place amount of carnitas to be served on a parchment-lined baking sheet and ladle with a bit of cooking juice. Broil 5 minutes, watching so as not to burn. Serve.

Instant Pot Carnitas

Instant Pot Carnitas

31 min4 servings377 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving incredibly tender, juicy carnitas without hours of simmering? This Instant Pot Carnitas recipe delivers authentic flavor and fall-apart texture with surprising speed and minimal effort.

The Instant Pot is the true star here, transforming boneless pork tenderloin into succulent carnitas in a fraction of the traditional time. The precise blend of vibrant citrus from fresh orange juice and lime juice, warm spices like ground cumin and chipotle chile pepper, and a hint of cinnamon stick creates a deeply flavorful, aromatic pork. You'll also notice the recipe calls for additional oil for browning, a key step that can add fantastic textural contrast to the tender meat.

You can expect perfectly fork-tender pork, rich with the savory depth of garlic and dried oregano, and a subtle smoky warmth. The fresh orange and lime juices infuse the meat with a bright tang that balances the spices beautifully, creating a complex yet harmonious flavor profile. Despite its restaurant-quality results, this recipe is remarkably straightforward, making homemade carnitas achievable for any home cook, ready for tacos, burritos, or rice bowls.

Want to fine-tune the flavor? Adjust the ground chipotle chile pepper to your desired heat level, or increase the dried oregano for a more pronounced herbal note. For an even more intense citrus punch, consider adding a touch more fresh lime juice at the end. While boneless pork tenderloin is specified for its quick cooking, home cooks can experiment with slightly different spice ratios to personal taste for a truly customized dish.

These flavorful Instant Pot Carnitas are perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual gathering. Serve them in warm tortillas, over rice, or in lettuce wraps, topped with fresh cilantro, diced onion, and a squeeze of extra lime for a truly satisfying meal.

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