Best 4 Pressure Cooker Mexican Carnitas Recipes

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**Carnitas**, succulent and tender shredded pork, is a beloved Mexican dish with origins in the state of Michoacan. This delectable dish has become a staple in Mexican cuisine and is enjoyed worldwide. Carnitas is traditionally made with pork shoulder or pork butt, slowly braised in a flavorful mixture of spices, herbs, and citrus juices until fall-apart tender. The result is a rich and savory dish that can be enjoyed in tacos, burritos, tortas, or as a main course with sides like rice and beans.

This article features a collection of pressure cooker carnitas recipes that offer a convenient and time-saving alternative to the traditional cooking method. With the help of a pressure cooker, you can achieve fall-off-the-bone carnitas in a fraction of the time, making it an ideal weeknight meal or party dish. The recipes included cater to different dietary preferences, including a classic carnitas recipe, a healthier version using leaner pork loin, and a vegetarian option made with jackfruit. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, cooking tips, and suggestions for serving, ensuring a successful and enjoyable cooking experience.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CARNITAS - PRESSURE COOKER



Carnitas - Pressure Cooker image

Savory and tender pork carnitas.

Provided by Jennifer Sierra-Quick

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 1h35m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (6 pound) pork butt roast
1 ½ tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon chile powder
½ teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more to taste
1 cup orange juice
1 onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, diced, or more to taste

Steps:

  • Trim excess fat from pork butt; cut pork into 2-inch cubes and transfer to a bowl.
  • Combine salt, oregano, cumin, black pepper, chile powder, and paprika together in a bowl. Rub pork cubes with spice mixture. Coat seasoned pork cubes lightly in olive oil; place in pressure cooker. Cover pork cubes with orange juice, onion, and garlic.
  • Place lid on pressure cooker and lock; bring to full pressure over medium heat until pork is no longer pink in the center, about 60 minutes. Let pressure come down naturally, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove pork from pressure cooker and shred meat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 154.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2.4 g, Cholesterol 42.7 mg, Fat 10.6 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 11.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 470.8 mg, Sugar 1.3 g

PRESSURE COOKER MEXICAN CARNITAS



Pressure Cooker Mexican Carnitas image

Carnitas are small pieces of crisp pork that are very popular in Mexico. The secret to this recipe is the citrus and quick frying. Be sure to drain the meat well before placing it in the oil, though, or it will splatter and pop. -Patricia Collins, Imbler, Oregon

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 55m

Yield 12-16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 boneless pork shoulder roast (3 to 4 pounds), cut into 2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
6 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 large navel oranges
1 large lemon
Canola oil or bacon drippings
16 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
Optional toppings: chopped tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, sour cream and sliced avocado

Steps:

  • Place pork in a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with garlic and cilantro. Squeeze juice from the oranges and lemon over the meat. , Lock lid; make sure vent is closed. Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high and set time for 25 minutes. When finished cooking, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick-release according to manufacturer's directions. With a slotted spoon, remove meat and drain well on paper towels. Pour cooking liquid into a glass measuring cup and let fat rise to the surface. Skim fat from surface and place in the cooker insert; discard remaining cooking liquid. , Select saute setting and adjust for high heat. Add enough canola oil or bacon drippings to measure 1/2-in. depth. When hot, add pork, in batches, and fry until dark golden brown and crisp. Remove and keep warm. Repeat with remaining pork. , Serve warm in tortillas with toppings of your choice. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pork mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Fry meat in batches as directed until crisp and brown. Serve as directed.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 391 calories, Fat 20g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 435mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 19g protein.

PRESSURE-COOKER BEEF CARNITAS



Pressure-Cooker Beef Carnitas image

I came up with this recipe while cleaning out my refrigerator and trying to figure out what I could do with a pot roast that had been in the freezer. I LOVE how easy this is.-Ann Piscitelli, Nokomis, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 16 servings plus 1/4 cup leftover spice mixture.

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 boneless beef chuck roast (3 pounds)
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
3 poblano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 jar (16 ounces) salsa
16 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
3 cups crumbled queso fresco or shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Optional toppings: Cubed avocado, sour cream and minced fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • Mix the first 9 ingredients. Cut roast in half; rub with 1/4 cup spice mixture. Cover remaining mixture and store in a cool dry place. (Mix will keep for up to 1 year.) , Select saute or browning setting on a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Adjust for medium heat; add half the oil. When oil is hot, brown one roast half on all sides. Remove; repeat with remaining beef and oil. Press cancel. Return all to pressure cooker. Place onions and peppers on meat. Top with salsa. Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 40 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes; quick-release any remaining pressure.Remove roast; shred with 2 forks. Skim fat from cooking juices. Return meat to pressure cooker; heat through. Using a slotted spoon, place 1/2 cup meat mixture on each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Add toppings of your choice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 415 calories, Fat 18g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 70mg cholesterol, Sodium 830mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 27g protein.

PRESSURE COOKER CARNITAS



Pressure Cooker Carnitas image

Perfect for taco bars! This can be easily adapted to a slow cooker, but the pressure cooker really seals in the flavor and cuts down on cooking time. All the leftover broth from the pressure cooker is packed full of flavor, great as a starter for chile verde, and freezes well. Serve carnitas with white corn tortillas, guacamole and pico.

Provided by yellowpairs ♥

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 1h30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons canola oil
3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
2 fresh poblano peppers, roughly chopped, or more to taste
3 jalapeno peppers, roughly chopped, or more to taste
1 serrano pepper, roughly chopped, or more to taste
1 large onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
2 teaspoons ground coriander
3 teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ cups beef broth

Steps:

  • Place the oil into a pressure cooker over medium-high heat. Brown the pork cubes on all sides in the hot oil, and stir in the poblano, jalapeno, and serrano peppers, onion, garlic, coriander, cumin, and beef broth. Lock the lid onto the pressure cooker, bring the cooker up to pressure, and reduce heat to keep the pressure steady.
  • Cook under medium steady pressure for 1 hour, remove the cooker from the heat, place in the sink, and run cold water over the lid of the cooker until the pressure has been released. Carefully remove the lid, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 152.7 calories, Carbohydrate 2.8 g, Cholesterol 42.6 mg, Fat 8.6 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 15.5 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 131.2 mg, Sugar 0.9 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas because it has a good amount of fat marbling, which makes it tender and flavorful when cooked slowly.
  • Use a good quality Mexican seasoning: A good Mexican seasoning blend will add lots of flavor to your carnitas. You can find pre-made Mexican seasoning blends at most grocery stores, or you can make your own using spices like chili powder, cumin, oregano, and garlic powder.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot: When browning the pork, don't overcrowd the pot. This will prevent the pork from cooking evenly and will make it more likely to stick to the pot.
  • Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender: Carnitas should be cooked until it is fall-apart tender. This will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes in a pressure cooker.
  • Shred the pork with two forks: Once the pork is cooked, shred it with two forks. This is the easiest way to shred the pork without making it too mushy.

Conclusion:

Pork carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be used in a variety of dishes, such as tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. It is also a great way to use up leftover pork. With a pressure cooker, you can make carnitas in a fraction of the time it would take to make it in a slow cooker or oven. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give pork carnitas a try. You won't be disappointed!

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