Description
This recipe for The Best Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas offers tender, flavorful shredded chicken with a perfect balance of spices and citrus, finished with a crispy broil for authentic Mexican-style carnitas. Perfect for taco bowls, nachos, or taco nights, this dish combines the convenience of an Instant Pot with a quick broil finish to achieve a mouthwatering texture and taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 ½ lbs chicken thighs (4 large boneless and skinless thighs)
- ½ tbsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tbsp oregano
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp kosher salt (or more to taste)
Cooking Liquids and Aromatics
- 4 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 6 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- ¼ cup orange juice (no pulp, freshly squeezed if possible)
- ¼ cup lime juice
To Serve
- ½ cup cilantro (freshly chopped for serving)
- 1 lime (cut into wedges for serving)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry using paper towels. In a small bowl, combine ground cumin, chili powder, oregano, kosher salt, and garlic powder. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs to ensure full flavor coverage.
- Sear the Chicken: Set the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Working in batches of one or two chicken thighs, sear each side for 1 minute until lightly browned. Transfer the seared thighs to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the Instant Pot. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until they become soft and golden brown. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 20 seconds to release aromatic flavors.
- Deglaze the Pot and Add Liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Then add the orange juice and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Pressure Cook the Chicken: Return the chicken thighs to the pot, placing them into the liquid. Turn off the Sauté mode, secure the lid, and set the Instant Pot to the ‘Chicken’ pressure cook setting for 10 minutes. When cooking completes, carefully release the pressure using the vent setting and wait until all pressure is released before opening the lid.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken thighs from the pot and place them on a clean cutting board or surface. Using two forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Coat the Chicken with Juices: Transfer the shredded chicken to a large bowl. Drizzle about ¼ cup of the reserved cooking liquid over the chicken and toss well to coat evenly, adding moisture and flavor.
- Prepare for Broiling: Preheat your oven broiler and position a rack in the center. Lightly oil a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread the shredded chicken evenly on the baking sheet and drizzle an additional tablespoon of olive oil on top. Toss the chicken on the baking sheet to coat evenly with oil.
- Broil the Chicken: Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 10 to 12 minutes, tossing the chicken halfway through cooking. While tossing, drizzle another 1 to 2 tablespoons of cooking liquid over the chicken to keep it moist. Rotate the pan as needed for even broiling until edges become crisp and caramelized.
- Serve: Remove the crispy carnitas from the oven and top with freshly chopped cilantro and lime wedges. Serve with taco bowls featuring your favorite toppings such as lettuce, pickled onions, or in taco shells for a festive taco night. Also excellent as a topping for nachos or alongside chips.
Notes
- For best flavor, use freshly squeezed orange and lime juices.
- Adjust salt levels according to your preference or dietary needs.
- The broiling step adds the signature crispy edges typical of carnitas; do not skip.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicy, tender carnitas.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Chicken Carnitas, Instant Pot Chicken, Mexican Chicken, Homemade Carnitas, Easy Chicken Tacos
