Instant Pot Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

Instant Pot Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

11 servings
This is the best Instant Pot Carnitas recipe! Make quick and juicy Mexican pulled pork in the pressure cooker to use in tacos, burrito bowls, taco salads, and more.

Ingredients

  • trimmed

    boneless pork shoulder blade roast, cut into 4 pieces

    2 ½ lb
  • kosher salt
    2 tsp
  • black pepper
    to taste
  • garlic

    cut into sliver

    6 cloves
  • cumin
    1 ½ tsp
  • sazon

    i used homemade

    ½ tsp
  • dry oregano
    ¼ tsp
  • reduced sodium chicken broth
    1 c
  • chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
    2
  • bay leaves
    2
  • dry adobo seasoning

    i used goya

    ¼ tsp
  • garlic powder
    ½ tsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Season pork with salt and pepper.

  2. 2

    Press saute on the instant pot, spray with oil and brown the pork on all sides for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

  3. 3

    Using a sharp knife, insert blade into pork about 1-inch deep, and insert the garlic slivers, you’ll want to do this all over.

  4. 4

    Season pork with cumin, sazon, oregano, adobo and garlic powder all over.

  5. 5

    Pour chicken broth, add chipotle peppers and stir, add bay leaves and place pork in the Instant Pot, cover and cook using the pressure cooker setting on high pressure for 80 minutes.

  6. 6

    When the pressure releases, shred pork using two forks and combine well with the juices that accumalated at the bottom.

  7. 7

    Remove bay leaves and adjust cumin and add adobo and mix well.

Instant Pot Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

Instant Pot Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

100 min11 servings160 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving incredibly tender, juicy Mexican pulled pork without hours of simmering? This Instant Pot Carnitas recipe makes quick and flavorful carnitas right in your pressure cooker, delivering authentic taste with ease.

This recipe works by leveraging the power of the Instant Pot to transform humble pork shoulder into succulent, fall-apart perfection in a fraction of the traditional time. The blend of rich spices—cumin, sazon, dry oregano, and a touch of dry adobo seasoning—infuses the pork deeply as it cooks, creating layers of savory flavor. Adding chipotle peppers in adobo sauce brings a smoky, complex heat that truly makes this Mexican pulled pork shine.

What you can expect is wonderfully juicy, shreddable pork, robust with an aromatic spice blend and a pleasant kick from the chipotles. The texture is melt-in-your-mouth tender, perfect for soaking up all the savory broth it cooks in. Each bite is packed with that authentic, hearty flavor that makes carnitas a beloved dish, yet it’s surprisingly straightforward to achieve at home.

Customization & Serving

This versatile carnitas recipe allows for easy adjustments. You can modify the spice level by adding more or fewer chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, depending on your preference for heat. While the recipe uses a specific sazon blend, feel free to use your favorite store-bought or homemade version. Pork shoulder is ideal for its rich flavor and fat content, ensuring the best texture.

Serve this delicious Mexican pulled pork in warm tortillas for classic carnitas tacos, over fluffy rice for a satisfying burrito bowl, or atop a crisp salad for a lighter, flavor-packed meal.

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