This easy Pioneer Woman Pork Carnitas recipe is perfect for a quick and flavorful meal. Tender, juicy pork is cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot, then crisped under the broiler for a delicious, savory finish. With simple ingredients like cornbread and fresh toppings, it’s a flexible and crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients Needed
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
- 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3 equal pieces
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- zest and juice of 2 limes
- zest and juice of 1 orange
- 4 jalapeño peppers (seeded and sliced),
- 2 poblano chile peppers (seeded and sliced)
- 1 onion (sliced)
- 1 (8.5 oz) box cornbread mix
- 1 cup corn kernels, plus ingredients required by cornbread mix
- Sliced radishes
- fresh cilantro
- pico de gallo
- crumbled Cotija cheese
- Cooking spray
How To Make Pork Carnitas Instant Pot
- Season the Pork: In a large bowl, mix the cayenne, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Toss the pork pieces in the seasoning until well-coated.
- Pressure Cook the Pork: Add the seasoned pork to the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken broth, lime zest and juice, and orange zest and juice. Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, carefully release the pressure manually and remove the lid.
- Shred the Pork: Using two forks, shred the pork inside the Instant Pot. Add the jalapeños, poblanos, and onion to the pot. Set the Instant Pot to sauté on high and cook for 30 minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Prepare the Cornbread: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Follow the instructions on the cornbread mix box, adding in the corn at the end. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray, pour in the cornbread batter, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool.
- Crisp the Pork: Preheat the broiler. Transfer the pork and vegetables to a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes to get a nice crisp on the pork.
- Serve: Cut the cornbread into squares. Top each square with the crispy pork mixture, then garnish with sliced radishes, cilantro, pico de gallo, and crumbled Cotija. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
Recipe Tips
- Sear the Pork First: Before cooking in the Instant Pot, searing the pork for a few minutes in a hot pan will help lock in flavor and create a nice crust on the meat.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh jalapeños, poblano peppers, and cilantro make the dish much more vibrant and flavorful compared to jarred or pre-packaged versions.
- Shred the Pork While It’s Hot: Shredding the pork while it’s still hot will make it easier to pull apart and give it the perfect texture.
- Don’t Skip the Broiling Step: Broiling the pork after it’s cooked adds a crispy texture and caramelizes the flavors, giving your carnitas the perfect finish.
- Make the Cornbread from Scratch: While the boxed mix is easy, adding your own twist with corn kernels will enhance the flavor and texture, making it extra special.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers pork carnitas instant pot in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Freeze leftovers pork carnitas instant pot in an airtight container or bag for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers pork carnitas instant pot in a skillet with a splash of broth for 5-7 minutes or microwave in short bursts until hot for 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 100g)
- Calories: 250
- Total Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 300mg
- Potassium: 330mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 30g
More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
Pioneer Woman Pork Carnitas Instant Pot
Description
This easy Pioneer Woman Pork Carnitas recipe is perfect for a quick and flavorful meal. Tender, juicy pork is cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot, then crisped under the broiler for a delicious, savory finish. With simple ingredients like cornbread and fresh toppings, it’s a flexible and crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Season the Pork: In a large bowl, mix the cayenne, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Toss the pork pieces in the seasoning until well-coated.
- Pressure Cook the Pork: Add the seasoned pork to the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken broth, lime zest and juice, and orange zest and juice. Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, carefully release the pressure manually and remove the lid.
- Shred the Pork: Using two forks, shred the pork inside the Instant Pot. Add the jalapeños, poblanos, and onion to the pot. Set the Instant Pot to sauté on high and cook for 30 minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Prepare the Cornbread: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Follow the instructions on the cornbread mix box, adding in the corn at the end. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray, pour in the cornbread batter, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool.
- Crisp the Pork: Preheat the broiler. Transfer the pork and vegetables to a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes to get a nice crisp on the pork.
- Serve: Cut the cornbread into squares. Top each square with the crispy pork mixture, then garnish with sliced radishes, cilantro, pico de gallo, and crumbled Cotija. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- Sear the Pork First: Before cooking in the Instant Pot, searing the pork for a few minutes in a hot pan will help lock in flavor and create a nice crust on the meat.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh jalapeños, poblano peppers, and cilantro make the dish much more vibrant and flavorful compared to jarred or pre-packaged versions.
- Shred the Pork While It’s Hot: Shredding the pork while it’s still hot will make it easier to pull apart and give it the perfect texture.
- Don’t Skip the Broiling Step: Broiling the pork after it’s cooked adds a crispy texture and caramelizes the flavors, giving your carnitas the perfect finish.
- Make the Cornbread from Scratch: While the boxed mix is easy, adding your own twist with corn kernels will enhance the flavor and texture, making it extra special.
Pioneer Woman Pork Carnitas Instant Pot