Crispy Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooked Pulled Pork)

Make Crispy Carnitas at home to use for tacos, rice bowls, or taco salads! This delicious slow cooked pork has vibrant flavors of citrus, garlic, and spices, and is crisped in the broiler to concentrate the flavors prior to serving. Your family will be hooked on this flavorful, tender pork!

Love making tacos at home? You’ll also love these Birria Tacos and these Spicy Shrimp Tacos.

Mouthwatering Pork Recipe, for Tacos & More!

This easy Instant Pot Carnitas recipe will rival your favorite taco stand! The recipe comes together in about 10 minutes, then cooks in the Instant Pot until it falls apart. The flavors are concentrated when the pork is put under the broiler to crisp up the edges.

No Instant Pot? No worries! This recipe is easily made with a crockpot, or in the oven with a Dutch Oven. Instructions for all 3 cooking methods are included.

I love Instant Pot recipes because they require very little planning ahead! The pork sirloin roasts in this recipe are cut in large chunks, browned using the saute setting, and then pressure cooked for about 40 minutes.

The marinade is a flavorful combo of orange juice, lime juice, garlic, and some spices. It’s so simple, and the result is restaurant quality. After making this the first time, it became a staple for my meal prep!

The last step is to shred the pork, and put it under the broiler until the tips of the meat get a crispy texture. This is optional, but it’s what takes this recipe from really good, to over-the-top amazing!

What is Carnitas?

Carnitas literally translates to “little meats,” and is a Mexican pulled pork recipe from Michoacán. Authentic Carnitas is made by slow cooking a pork roast in lard with citrus, spices, and garlic. Once the meat is tender, it’s pulled apart, and they fried in a skillet until it’s crisp.

This easy Carnitas recipe turns out just as delicious, in a fraction of the time. I use the Instant Pot as a time saver, but check the recipe card for how to make it in a Dutch Oven or Crockpot instead!

What is the best pork to use for Carnitas?

Carnitas is traditionally made with pork shoulder (sometimes called pork butt). Pork shoulder roasts are marbled with fat. When the pork roast is braised, or cooked low and slow, the fat melds into the meat, keeping it flavorful and moist.

In my experience, using a pork shoulder makes the meat more greasy than I like. If you enjoy fatty cuts of meat, use a pork shoulder.

Otherwise, any pork roast will work, my favorite being a pork sirloin roast. These are leaner than a pork shoulder, but have more fat than something like a tenderloin. A perfect balance!

When I buy pork, I look for pastured or Heritage Breed pork. These animals are provided a natural diet, and have a healthier fat profile. I order my pork from Butcher Box to ensure I am ordering the healthiest meat, that’s raised sustainably.

What You’ll Need

• Pork Sirloin Roast (about 4 lbs. I order heritage breed pork from Butcher Box to ensure the healthiest source!).
• Avocado Oil
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper, to taste

Carnitas Marinade

• Orange Juice (about 2 medium oranges, squeezed)
• Lime Juice
• Garlic (the more, the better!)
• Cumin
• Oregano
• Sea Salt

How to Make Carnitas

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients.

Step 2: Set the Instant Pot to Saute, and allow to heat up for about 5 minutes. Make sure it is hot before you start cooking the meat. Add the avocado oil, and then some of the pieces of pork. Do not overcrowd the pot, or they will steam instead of browning. Remove browned pork from the pot, and repeat the process with the remaining pork.

Step 3: Turn off the Instant Pot, then add in the browned pork and the sauce.

Step 4: Set the Instant Pot to Manual, and pressure cook for 40 minutes. Allow the steam to release, then remove the pork from the pot.

Step 5: Using two forks, shred the pork.

Step 6: Add pork to a large baking sheet, along with half the juice remaining in the Instant Pot.

Step 7: Broil the pork for 5 minutes, then flip it, and broil the rest for another 5 minutes, allowing it to get crispy and browned.

Step 8: Toss the browned pork with the remaining juice from the Instant Pot. Serve garnished with onions, cilantro, and lime wedges, if desired.

Storing Instant Pot Carnitas, and Frequently Asked Questions

How to store leftover Carnitas

Store leftover carnitas in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze leftover carnitas?

Pack leftover carnitas in air tight containers, and freeze up to 3 months. I love doing this in individual portions, so I can pull it out and reheat it for quick tacos or salads for lunch!

How to Cook Carnitas in the Oven with a Dutch Oven

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, or just prefer cooking in a dutch oven, Carnitas is traditionally prepared this way!

• Step 1: Heat dutch oven over medium high heat, and add the avocado oil. Add pork in several pieces at a time, browning both sides. Remove the pork from the dutch oven when it’s browned, and repeat until all pork has been browned.
• Step 2: Return the pork to the dutch oven, along with the marinade, and bake the pork at 325º F for 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Check the pork at 2 hours, and if it easily shreds, it’s ready. If it needs more time, cook for another half an hour until the pork falls apart easily.
• Follow the rest of the instructions for browning the pork under the broiler, as written in the main instructions.

How to Cook Carnitas in a Slow Cooker (Crockpot Method)

A slow cooker is a great way to make carnitas!

• Step 1: Heat a skillet over medium high heat, and add the avocado oil. Add pork in several pieces at a time, browning both sides. Remove the pork from the skillet when it’s browned, and repeat until all pork has been browned.
• Step 2: Add pork to a slow cooker, along with the marinade, and slow cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or on HIGH for 2 hours. The pork is ready when it easily shreds.
• Follow the rest of the instructions for browning the pork under the broiler, as written in the main instructions.

Can I make carnitas with chicken?

Absolutely! The marinade is delicious with chicken breasts or thighs. Follow the same instructions, except cut the cooking time to 25 minutes in the Instant Pot.

How to Serve Crispy Carnitas

This crispy, flavorful pork dish will steal the show with any meal!

Serve it as:

Carnitas Tacos (Mexican Pork Tacos)

Use corn tortillas, piled high with crispy carnitas, pico de gallo, avocado and cilantro, for simple street tacos.

Pulled Pork Enchiladas

Many Tex Mex restaurants use carnitas for an enchilada filling. Try my Enchilada Casserole or Butternut Enchiladas, using Carnitas in place of some of the fillings in those recipes. You can also make easy carnitas enchiladas by using this gluten free enchilada sauce recipe, corn tortillas, and cheddar cheese.

Carnitas Burrito Bowls (Like Carnitas at Chipotle!)

Add carnitas to rice and bean bowls (use cauliflower rice if preferred!), and serve with mango salsa and avocado. More traditionally, carnitas is served with black beans, rice, and pico de gallo.

Carnitas Taco Salads

Flavorful slow cooked meats are great for adding to taco salads! Use you favorite greens (I love romaine for this), carnitas, salsa, avocado, and chopped veggies, like carrots, cucumber, or bell peppers. The meat has so much flavor, you probably won’t need cheese or dressing!

Other Slow Cooked Meat Recipes

• Salsa Verde Chicken
• Crockpot Chicken Mole
• Birria de Res

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