Pork Carnita Recipe: Easy and Delicious!

Pork carnitas is one of my families favorite recipes to have. They are a really simple recipe to make, especially if you use a slow cooker or instant pot to cook them in. You will need the following ingredients:

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Recipe:

2 - 3 pound pork loin or shoulder

2 tablespoons of oil

1 onion, sliced thin

1 jalapeno pepper, diced or sliced

2 teaspoons of chili powder

2 teaspoons of ground cumin

2 cloves of garlic

1/2 cup of orange juice

12 oz of can of lemon lime soda or citrus soda

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat a large skillet on medium high heat or put your instant pot on the saute function.

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Cut the pork into 1 inch cubes.

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Add the salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder to the pork and make sure to coat all sides with the seasonings. (You can place this pork into the refrigerator and let it marinade overnight.)

Pour the oil into the skillet or instant pot.

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Place the pork into the oil and cook until it gets golden brown on the outside. You will need to do this step in 2 - 3 batches. You are not trying to cook it through, just to brown the outsides.

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Place the pork at this point, into the crockpot if you are using this to cook it in, or into the instant pot and add the soda, orange juice, onions and jalapenos.

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Cook the pork on high in the slow cooker for 4 - 6 hours or on low for 6 - 8 hours. If you are using the instant pot cook on the manual setting for 25 minutes. Let is do a slow release for at least 10 minutes.

If you want these carnitas to have crispy edges just place the cooked pork onto a sheet pan and place it into the oven on broil until the pork gets those nice browned edges on it. This step is not a must. Honestly, sometimes I do this and sometimes I don't. Enjoy!

Pork CarnitasPhoto bySheree

Note: You can use as many hot peppers as you wish to use. It will be according to how spicy you want this recipe.

I like to serve this with some small tortillas with some cheese, sour cream, wedge of lime, and salsa.