The Best Carnitas Recipe
Super easy, 100% foolproof and juicy, delicious carnitas that might even be as good as your favorite taqueria’s.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carnitas
Servings: 12
Calories: 342kcal
- 3 lb pork shoulder/butt cubed, well marbled
- 1 medium onion chopped
- juice of 1/2 orange about 1/4 cup
- 1/2 cup coke coke zero preferred
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2 tbsp oregano Mexican preferred
- 2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 bay leaves
Cover the bottom of your instant pot with high heat oil (about 2tbsp) and preheat on saute high. Cube the pork and season with salt and pepper, keeping an eye on the instant pot to make sure it’s not smoking.
Brown 2 sides of your pork cubes, in batches if needed,
Add the rest of the ingredients and set to high pressure for 45 minutes, then quick release.
Using two forks, shred the cubes of pork completely. Transfer to a cast iron skillet or other pan. Working in batches made of a thin layer of meat about 1/2” thick, crisp for 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Once you’re done, add about 1/2 cup of the braising liquid in.
Mix it up, and you’re done. Enjoy on tacos, in burritos, or any other way you’d like!
Serving: 4oz | Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.3g | Protein: 26.7g | Fat: 24.5g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 85mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 0.8g