Instapot Pork Carnitas Recipe - Pulled Pork Recipe

pork shoulder

🥗Healthier: pork tenderloin

💰Cheaper: pork butt

Pork tenderloin is leaner, while pork butt is often less expensive.

lard

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Olive oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is usually cheaper.

Cut the pork shoulder into little strips and then into smaller pieces.

Remove as much meat as possible from the bone, but don't worry too much as it will fall off when cooked.

Season the meat with 2 tablespoons of black pepper, 2 tablespoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of cumin, and 1 tablespoon of dried oregano.

Pour the seasonings over the meat and mix it in using your hands.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the meat and mix well.

Let the meat sit for about 10 minutes to absorb the seasonings.

Turn on the Instant Pot and set it to sauté mode to warm it up.

Add 1/4 cup of manteca (or substitute with vegetable oil or olive oil) to the pot.

Once the manteca is melted, add the meat in batches to brown it lightly.

Remove the browned meat and continue with the rest until all is browned.

Sauté the bone for a little bit and then remove it.

Add 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice to loosen any stuck meat from the bottom of the pot.

Add 1 chopped onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot and sauté for about a minute until soft.

Add the browned meat back into the pot, starting with the bone, then the rest of the meat.

Pour in 2 cups of Dr. Pepper and the remaining orange juice (about half a cup).

Add 3 bay leaves and the juice of 2 fresh-squeezed limes.

Close the Instant Pot and cook on manual settings for 30 minutes.

Release the steam lever and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes or until no steam is coming out.

Carefully remove the lid and take out the meat, placing it on a cookie sheet.

Spread the meat evenly on the cookie sheet and remove the bone.

Broil the meat in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Take it out once to move the meat around and then place it back in for another 10 minutes.

Serve the meat in fresh homemade corn tortillas topped with cilantro, onions, and salsa.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary