Instant Pot Carnitas with Citrus and Chipotle

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Tender pork carnitas cooked quickly in the Instant Pot with orange juice, lime, and smoky chipotle peppers, perfect for tacos or bowls. This Mexican-inspired Instant Pot recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, orange juice, lime juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs, cut into 2-inch chunks pork shoulder
• 1 cup, freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup, freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 peppers, minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp olive oil

The Instant Pot we’d make this in → Best Instant Pots & Electric Pressure Cookers for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat 2 tbsp olive oil until shimmering. Add 2 lbs pork shoulder chunks and brown on all sides for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally until golden.
2. Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper to the pot, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Pour in 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/2 cup water, and 2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
4. Step 4: Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 35 minutes. Once done, allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
5. Step 5: Remove pork from the pot and shred with two forks. Spread shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes until edges are crisped for traditional carnitas texture.