Instant Pot Carnitas
Instant Pot Carnitas
Quick and easy with the use of an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, this tasty pork is incredibly tender and full of flavor with just the right amount of heat. Perfect as taco filling, I love it in a Quinoa or rice bowl as well. To make it in a slow cooker - follow the recipe and cook the meat on low for 6-8 hours. YUM
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds pork shoulder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 large cloves garlic
- 3-4 large chipotle peppers in adobo sauce more or less to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cut the pork shoulder into 2" cubes. This is a beautiful pork shoulder from my friends at Hilltop Family Farms - available at the Midtown Farmer's Market
- Mix the salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and oregano in a small bowl
- Place the pork into the Instant Pot or pressure cooker and sprinkle the spice mixture on top - mix quickly
- Peel and smash the garlic cloves and add them to the pork mixture
- Grab your chipotle peppers in adobe sauce. I love these San Marcos and often buy the tiny cans at El Burrito Mercado
- Chop the chipotle peppers and sauce. Feel free to add more or less depending on how much heat you like
- Add the chipotle peppers and sauce to the Instant pot along with the chicken stock. Give the mixture a quick stir
- Set the Instant Pot on Manual to 40 minutes. Be sure the vent is set to sealed (not vent). If you are using a pressure cooker, bring it to high pressure, reduce the heat slightly and cook under high pressure for 40 minutes.
- Once the time is up, turn off the Instant Pot and let the pressure release naturally - it will take about 15 minutes
- Remove the cover and enjoy the smell while you remove the tender pork from the Instant Pot
- Place the pork on a meat board and shred with forks. It will be easy to pull apart. Try not to eat too much while you are shredding it!
- Heat some oil in your favorite cast iron pan or skillet until it's nice and hot and fry up some of the pork until it's nice and crispy. You can skip this step if you like - I love the added crunch and flavor
- Serve the pork in a bowl with quinoa or rice, pickled onions, cilantro and lime or....
- In warm tortillas with onions, sour cream and salsa. Enjoy!
