I usually buy a large container of McCormick's taco seasonings mix for tacos, beanless turkey chili (recipe here) and this "cheater" Carnitas recipe.
And now that I have an instant pot, this carnitas recipe is even easier.
Just rub McCormick's seasonings onto pieces of boneless pork butt, and let it cook under high pressure for 1 hour in the instant pot. No instant pot? No problem. Just let it cook in a crock pot for 5 to 6 hours until the pork can easily be shredded with two forks.
And for extra deliciousness, place the shredded pork in a broiler safe pan and broil for a few minutes to get some caramelization and crispy bits. Mmmmmm!
These carnitas are great served inside crispy taco shells, flour tortillas, or chips, with condiments of your choice. I included a recipe for a spicy garlicky sour cream sauce that I like to eat the carnitas with, but use whatever favorite condiments you like.
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| Taco Seasonings--Costco Size! |
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| Add spices and place pork in instant pot |
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| High Pressure 1 hr |
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| Shred with 2 forks |
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| Separate out the fat and discard fat. Pour juice over carnitas. Optional: Place shredded pork under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up |
Yields 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 4 lbs pork butt cut into 3 equal pieces
- ¾ c McCormicks’s taco seasoning mix
- ½ c water
Ingredients for spicy garlicky sour cream sauce:
- half a green bell pepper
- 1 c cilantro leaves
- 1 t spicy paprika (more if you like really spicy)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 T lemon juice
- 1 T dried chopped onions
- 1 c sour cream
- salt and pepper to taste
Procedures for carnitas:
1. Add ½ c water to the instant pot.
2. Cut pork butt into 3 equal pieces and rub all the pieces with the McCormick’s taco seasonings.
3. Place seasoned pork pieces in the instant pot.
4. Close the lid, turn vent to seal and set instant pot to cook under high pressure for 1 hour. Natural release 15 min.
5. When instant pot timer is up and pork is ready, transfer the pork to a bowl. Shred the pork with 2 forks.
6. Concentrate the remaining liquid in the instant pot to about half the volume by using the saute function. This should take about 15 minutes and leave you with about ½ c to ¾ c of liquid. Pour the liquid into a fat separator and discard the fat. Pour the liquid over the shredded pork. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
7. Optional: Place the shredded pork in a broiler safe pan and broil under high for several minutes to get some caramelization and crispy bits of pork.
8. Serve the carnitas in taco shells, flour tortillas, or with chips, and condiments of your choice.
Procedures for spicy garlicky sour cream sauce:
1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Taste and adjust salt to your taste. Store in fridge until ready to use.