A Singaporean Mum

Craving tacos? This Instant Pot pork carnitas is juicy, flavour-packed, and ridiculously easy—just meat, taco seasoning, and a few aromatics for extra oomph. Dinner’s ready in no time!

The kids have been asking for nachos for the longest time, and I finally made good on my promise! But let’s be honest—nachos alone for dinner? Tempting, but not on my watch. So, what pairs perfectly with nachos? Tacos, of course! This Instant Pot pork carnitas recipe is as simple as it gets—just meat, taco seasoning mix, and your trusty Instant Pot. Of course, if you throw in some extra aromatics, the flavour only gets better. Here’s my take on delicious, tender, and flavour-packed pork carnitas!

Here’s how I do it!

Ingredients (Serves 4–6):

1 kg pork shoulder, cut into 2–3 inch chunks

1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix

1 tbsp Paprika

1 onion, roughly chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup chicken broth

2 tbsp vegetable oil

Optional toppings for tacos:

Chopped cilantro

Thinly sliced onions

Diced tomatoes

Taco shells or Tortilla wrap

Method

1. Sear the pork

• Turn Instant Pot to Sauté.

• Add oil, sear pork chunks on all sides until lightly browned.

• Remove and set aside.

2. Deglaze the pot

• Add onion and garlic, saute until fragrant.

• Add in Taco Seasoning Mix, a tbsp of ground paprika and chicken broth. Stir to coat.

3. Pressure cook

• Return pork to the pot.

• Seal lid, cook on High Pressure for 1 hour.

4. Release pressure

• Let the pressure release naturally.

5. Shred the pork

• Remove pork and shred with two forks.

6. Reduce the sauce

• Return shredded pork back to the Instant Pot.
• Turn Instant Pot back to Sauté, cook for 5–8 minutes until sauce is reduced by half.

• Taste, add salt if necessary.

• If you prefer a drier texture, transfer the meat to a separate wok and pan-fry until lightly crisp.

6. Serve

• Serve in taco shells (baked 180ºC for 2-3 mins to crisp up) or tortilla wrap with your favourite toppings.

If tacos or tortillas aren’t your thing, turn this into a burger instead! Stay tuned—burger recipe coming next on the blog!