Easy Healthy Carnitas - Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

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Easy Healthy Carnitas that can be made Slow Cooker or Instant Pot that are actually good for you. Use them in tacos, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, salads, and more. These are so so good and couldn't be easier to make.

216 CAL 3g CARBS 9g FAT 29g PROTEIN
3 Comments

These easy and Healthy Carnitas can be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot and come out deliciously tender and packed with flavor every time. They make the best filling for classic carnitas tacos, burritos, rice bowls, and more. Serve them with these Slow Cooker Pinto Beans or add them to this Mexican Chopped Salad.

Carnitas are the ultimate filling when it comes to all your Mexican favorites. They are crunchy and crispy on the outside while still staying moist and tender inside. Seriously good and this version couldn't be easier to make with options for the crockpot and the Instant Pot. 

Looking for a faster option? Try these quick and easy pork tacos.

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Slow Cooker Carnitas in corn tortillas with cilantro and onion.

If you have never had carnitas before, it is like a Mexican version of pulled pork made with spices, orange juice, and lime juice. Traditionally they are cooked in a large vat of lard until the pork gets super tender and the outside gets crispy from cooking in fat.

However, as you can imagine, this isn't the healthiest option. Luckily, it is pretty easy to make a version without the lard that is still really delicious. 

The key to making carnitas at home is taking the extra step to crisp up the pork after it has cooked low and slow. This can be done in the broiler or in a cast iron skillet once the pork has finished cooking and is shredded.

Personally, I always do it in the broiler since it is fast and there is less clean up. However I know some people don't love using their broiler, so you can crisp them up in a skillet with a little oil.

What are Carnitas?

Carnitas are a traditional Mexican dish, usually made with pork shoulder that is cooked for hours in lard or cooking fat. It's addictive and delicious and something that almost everyone I know loves once they try it.

Since it is cooked in lard, it gets incredibly tender but also gets nice and crispy on the outside. Normally it is cooked with a basic spice blend and served with corn tortillas, cilantro, onions, and a spicy salsa.

Since cooking pork in a vat of lard isn't something most people want to take on, it's actually really easy to make a version at home using the Instant Pot or slow cooker that tastes just as delicious. The only catch is that you have to crisp up the pork after cooking it in the broiler or in a hot skillet. 

Instant Pot Carnitas on a baking sheet with tortillas and lime.

How to serve Carnitas?

The most traditional way to serve pork carnitas is in a taco piled high with cilantro, white onion, salsa, and plenty of lime juice. It can also be used to make burritos, rice bowls, enchiladas, nachos, and quesadillas. And around here, I love piling it high on a big green salad with black beans and corn.

Honestly, this is such a versatile protein, you can use it so many different ways. And it freezes well so don't be afraid to make a big batch and keep some in the freezer for a quick meal.

How to make Carnitas in the slow cooker? Instant Pot?

Slow Cooker carnitas couldn't be easier to make. First, you will want to trim a pork shoulder to remove extra fat and cut it into three to four large pieces. Then coat it in a spice rub using chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add some lime juice, orange juice, onion, and garlic. Then cook everything for about 8 hours on low until the pork is fork tender and easily shreds. 

To make pork carnitas in the Instant Pot, you will follow the same steps to start. When it comes to cooking, just use the meat setting and make sure it is on high pressure. Cook it for 30 minutes and then let is naturally release. Shred the pork using two forks.

Finally, to make things crispy, turn the broiler up to high and spread the carnitas out on a baking sheet. Broil for 4-6 minutes until they begin to crisp up and then toss with some of the cooking liquid to add flavor and moisture.

Can I make Carnitas with chicken?

Absolutely! You can use the recipe included here but replace the pork with chicken thighs instead. You will also need to adjust the cooking time. It will take about 4 hours in the slow cooker and about 20 minutes in the Instant Pot.

Here is a complete recipe for Chicken Carnitas.

Easy carnitas in three tacos with onion, limes, and cilantro.

What can I serve with carnitas?

There are so many different options when it comes to side dishes for carnitas. The most traditional would be to serve it with refried beans, rice, and a stack of warm corn tortillas. Then each person can assemble their own tacos with fresh cilantro, diced white onion, limes, and salsa.  Avocados or guacamole is also always on our table when Mexican food is involved.

When we are eating carnitas tacos, I almost always serve it alongside some type of corn and black bean salad since it is something we all love and it keeps things light and healthy. Usually, I will serve some lettuce wraps as an option too for people who are eating low carb, Paleo, or Whole30. 

Then I like to use the leftovers for lunches in my own Chipotle style burrito bowls and salads. I toss in beans, corn, salsa, a little bit of cheese, and some cilantro lime brown rice or cauliflower rice.

The Recipe
Carnitas in a corn tortilla with salsa, onion, and cilantro.

Easy Healthy Carnitas - Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

216 CAL 3g CARBS 9g FAT 29g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 15 Min
COOK TIME: 45 Min
TOTAL TIME: 1 Hours
3 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder blade roast, fat trimmed off
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1.5 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ancho chili powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

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Instructions

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1

Instant pot: Cut the pork into 3-4 large pieces. Add to the Instant Pot with remaining ingredients and toss until pork is well coated in the spices. Press the “Meat” setting and then press the “Pressure” button until the light on “High Pressure” turns on. Set the time to 30 minutes using the up and down arrows Cook and let the steam naturally release. It will take about 15 minutes. Carefully remove the lid and shred using two forks. For crispy carnitas, see step 3.

2

Slow Cooker: Cut the pork into 3-4 large pieces. Toss with the remaining ingredients until everything is well coated. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred with two forks.

3

For crispy carnitas, cover a baking sheet with foil. Turn the broiler on high. Spread the meat out on the baking sheet. Broil for 4-6 minutes until crispy. Toss with some of the cooking juice after broiling to add moisture back to the pork.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 6 oz.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 216
Calories from Fat 80
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g
14%
Saturated Fat 3g
15%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
0%
Cholesterol 91mg
30%
Sodium 509mg
22%
Total Carbohydrate 3g
1%
Dietary Fiber 0g
2%
Sugars 1g
Protein 29g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
3 Comments
On Easy Healthy Carnitas - Slow Cooker or Instant Pot
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Lisa V
November 21, 2022 - 16:35
Add a Rating:
5
Yum! We eat a ton of Mexican food and these are some of the best carnitas I have ever made. Easy to make and taste amazing. We had them as tacos the first night and then I used them for nachos.
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Dacia Lussier
November 10, 2018 - 09:40
So it's 213 calories per taco?
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November 10, 2018 - 09:55
The 213 calories is for a 6 oz serving of the meat. That's enough meat for 2-3 tacos depending on the size of your tortilla. Then you just need to add the calories for the tortilla you are using. Most standard corn tortillas have about 100 calories.
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