Keto Instant Pot Carnitas
Instant pot Mexican inspired pulled pork made in the instant pot, then broiled to get crispy and caramelized. The most delicious carnitas you’ll ever have!
I must insist you stop everything you’re doing and add this keto instant pot carnitas to your dinner menu ASAP. It is SO GOOD!
Even better? It makes a ton so you’ll have leftovers you can use for meal prep lunches!
Crispy Keto Instant Pot Carnitas
I’ve updated my slow cooker carnitas to work in the instant pot, and I love them even more!
The secret to these amazing carnitas is to broil them after they’re done cooking in the instant pot. This will get them crispy, and help caramelize the fat. The flavor is out of this world!
Ingredients
The amazing flavor is thanks to high quality pork butt. I get my humanely raised hormone + antibiotic free pork butt from ButcherBox (which I highly recommend!). An animal stores any toxins in it’s fat. Pork butt has a high amount of fat, so it’s important to get the highest quality pork.
To add even more flavor, I cook the pork butt with a mojo sauce of onions, orange juice, lime juice, chicken stock, + oregano. After it’s done cooking in the instant pot, I spoon some of the cooking juices over the shredded carnitas before broiling. This keeps the meat juicy and flavorful.
Serving
To serve, I love a delicious carnitas bowl with fajita veggies, cauliflower rice, salsa, guacamole and fresh cilantro.
This makes enough for 8 servings, so you can meal prep your leftover carnitas for lunches for the week!
Did you love this recipe? Thank you! Please give this recipe a star rating and leave a review below. I respond to every one! Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Tag me if you try a recipe!
Keto Instant Pot Carnitas
Ingredients
- 4 pound boneless pork butt, cut into 2" chunks
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- juice from 1 large orange
- juice from 3 limes
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Equipment
Instructions
- In your instant pot, add cubed pork butt + raw onion. Pour over the chicken stock, orange juice, lime juice, oregano, salt, pepper + bay leaves. Stir to combine. Close with the lid, and make sure the vent is at SEALING.
- Close with the lid, and make sure the vent is at SEALING. Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 35 minutes. Will take about 10-15 minutes to reach pressure, then it will start counting down from 35. After the 35 minutes is up, do a QUICK RELEASE, where you move the valve to VENTING to release all the steam. Once all the steam is gone and the float valve has dropped, you can safely open the instant pot.
- Set your oven to BROIL.
- Gently remove all the carnitas and cooked onions, transferring them to a rimmed baking sheet. Shred the carnitas using 2 forks. Pour 1 a cup of the cooking liquid from the instant pot over the carnitas.
- BROIL the carnitas for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and toss. Keep broiling in 5 minute increments until you reach your desired level of crispiness. I love to do it for 15 minutes total of broiling time.
- Serve warm topped with chopped cilantro. Delicious in burrito/taco bowls with fajita veggies, cauliflower rice, guacamole + salsa. Can also serve as tacos or as a salad.
- Will keep in an airtight container for 5 days, or frozen for 6 months.
- See the Recipe Notes below for more tips, FAQ's and ingredient substitutions.
168 Comments on “Keto Instant Pot Carnitas”
Great carnitas recipe! I’ve found slow cooking is the key for ultimate tenderness. Similar to how the Dinosaur Game keeps running smoothly despite obstacles, a low and slow approach ensures perfect carnitas. Definitely agree on the oven crisping – it’s essential! Freezing before broiling is a smart tip too. Thanks for sharing!
Super easy and tasty!
Thank you, Kendra!
I have been making this recipe since your original version which included cumin and bay leaves. For some reason I feel like it also included garlic, but I no longer see those variations on there. I understand the need to adapt and modify your recipes. But is there a way that you could add notes for the old recipe back in here? I wish I would’ve written it down Back then instead of relying on the Internet. The original recipe was our families favorite. I am not the biggest fan of the new modifications, unless you are needing to take down the flavor. Thank you as always for one of our favorite instant pot meals.
I could be wrong, but it looks like you may be able to copy the spices from her slow cooker version over to this one if you enjoyed it better with those spices included! just probably keep the liquids the same. i’m no expert, just trying to help and noticed those ingredients are in her slow cooker version!
Yes! Good tip! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so honored you’ve been making this recipe for that long!
Yes, I used to include 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of cumin and a bay leaf. But one time I made it without these ingredients and couldn’t taste any difference at all, so I simplified the recipe even further. You can still add the garlic cloves, cumin and bay leaf if that’s how you prefer it!
HUUUUGE hit!! Smelled amazing while it was cooking. And my 15 year old came home from school yesterday and literally ate every last drop that was left. Two thumbs up and will definitely be making this again!!!
Yea! I love this so much! It’s such a compliment when the kids like it too right?? Thanks Nichole!
There is a note to discard bay leaves but I don’t see them on the recipe list? Hoping it turns out ok because I didn’t add them lol
Sorry for the confusion! This recipe used to call for bay leaves, but after cooking it one time when I was out I couldn’t taste any difference. So I’ve simplified the recipe even more and no longer call for the bay leaves. But it’s fine if you added them!
Thanks for letting me know about missing it in the instructions. I’ve removed it so it will make more sense.
This is on repeat in our house! My boyfriend says it’s so authentic. Thanks for an easy recipe that is so versatile. Just recommended it to my Whole30 group! Hoping they can follow you for more fabulous recipes! Thank you so much!
Hi! Wow, this is such a compliment! I am so glad you both loved this recipe and I appreciate your commenting here to tell me! Means so much!
Cumin is listed in your directions, but the amount is not listed in the ingredients. I made this without it & it was delicious, but I’d like to know how much cumin to add. Thank you.
I used to add it but now I find in unnecessary. But if you want to add it in you can use 2 teaspoons!
So glad you liked it!
So easy and delicious! Everybody enjoyed. I’m really happy there are leftovers too :)
Love this, Lauren! I am so glad it was such a hit (& leftovers for you, woo hoo!)
How much cumin?
That is my question too! I made this before and it is really good- but I love cumin!
You can add 2 teaspoons of cumin, but I’ve started skipping the cumin. I don’t find it necessary.
You can add 2 teaspoons of cumin, but I’ve started skipping the cumin. I don’t find it necessary.
Absolutely delicious and super easy to make! I sprinkled a little salt on it while it broiled too to add to the taste. I will most definitely be making this again! Thank you for such a great recipe!
This makes me so happy! I am so glad you liked this recipe and I love the idea of sprinkling the salt before broiling- a brilliant way to bring out more flavor!
SO MUCH YUM! The broiling at the end was key to making the carnitas soooo good and restaurant-like. Thank you!
Love this! The broiling makes it SO perfect right?! So glad you liked it, Natalie!
Made this for the 3rd time tonight and just had to let you know how much my family & I love this recipe! Even my daughter who doesn’t usually like pork will eat it! I can’t tell you how many people I have recommended this recipe to, especially as a started recipe when using the instapot. Thank you again for all your amazing recipes & all the time & love you put into them!
Oh Jenn you are so sweet! Thank you so much! So glad to hear that your whole family loves this recipe, and so appreciate you sharing it with your friends!
Amazing!! Would love more instant pot recipes. Thanks for going into detail on how to use it, first time user here and liked how easy it was 😊
Hi Olya! Awesome, I am so glad it was easy for you! I hope you love your Instant Pot! I have a ton of recipes on my blog. Go to the search bar on my blog and type in “Instant Pot” and a ton will pop up for you!
These are a family favorite! My kids requested these for Christmas dinner this year. So we’re having a Carnitas Christmas! So easy. So delicious. So perfect. Thank you for this one! 🤍
Kelly! This is so fun! I hope you had the loveliest Carnitas Christmas dinner!
Delicious and so flavorful!
Thank you, Amanda!
So easy and so yummy!
Thanks, Alicia! I am so glad you liked it!
Fabulous recipe, and like all of your recipes it turns out PERFECT! Adults and kid loved it. I used pork loin as that was all I could find, but it worked great! Didn’t crisp up as much as the pork butt would have, but did get crispy nonetheless! This is a great recipe to add to our monthly rotation! Thank you!
Aww, Cara, you are always so wonderful! I am so glad you liked it! This is one of my FAVORITES too!
The instructions were easy to follow and the meat was juicy and tender. Highly recommend this recipe, especially if you are new to using your instant pot and need a simple recipe to start with. Love that we have enough leftover to freeze for another week. Definitely going to be in our regular rotation of meal options.
Oh this makes me so happy! This is one of my very favorite recipes! So so glad you found it helpful.
Made tonight for the first time, it was so good! My husband loved it too! Definitely a must try
You are so sweet! So glad to hear you both loved this recipe!
Go make this!! I just did it for lunch and to have for the week and it’s so flavorful and delicious! Gave some to my friends and they loved it too. Thanks!
I love that you made it for lunch all week and even shared with friends Michelle. Yum!