Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas Tacos
Aug 03, 2020, Updated Apr 22, 2024
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Get ready for a flavor fiesta with these Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas Tacos! Prepared with tender and crispy chicken marinated in a zesty citrus sauce and seasoned with a mix of delicious spices, it’s all made super easy in the Instant Pot!
Carnitas tacos, a beloved comfort food classic, are now a breeze to whip up. While chicken carnitas typically take their sweet time to cook slowly to create a juicy and tender masterpiece, imagine having the same luscious taste but in a fraction of the time! Enter my Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas Tacos recipe – it is your soon-to-be favorite ally for quick and fantastic Taco Tuesday dinners.
What Are Carnitas?
Carnitas is a savory Mexican dish that involves a two-step cooking process: braising pork until it’s tender and then cooking it quickly over high heat for that irresistible crispy exterior. In Spanish, “carnitas” means “little meats”. You can serve carnitas over nachos, rice, salads, make carnitas tacos, or any other way you’d like. However, in this recipe, we will use chicken, not pork. If you take a few minutes to broil the chicken in the oven, you’ll get the most crisp and delicious shredded meat you’ve ever tasted!
Chicken Carnitas Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts/Thighs are cooked until tender and shredded to fill the tacos.
- Ground Cumin adds a warm flavor to the chicken.
- Oregano enhances the chicken’s flavor.
- Salt & Pepper
- Chili Powder gives a spicy touch to the carnitas.
- Olive Oil is used for sautéing and browning the chicken and onions.
- Yellow Onion & Garlic add a savory sweetness to the overall flavor.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth/Beer deglazes the pot and adds moisture for cooking the chicken.
- Orange Juice infuses the chicken with a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Lime Juice adds zest and acidity to balance the rich flavors.
- Low Carb Flour Tortillas can be used to wrap the chicken carnitas filling.
- Fresh Chopped Cilantro is used as a garnish to add an herbal touch to the tacos.
How to Make Chicken Carnitas in the Instant Pot
- Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and rub them with a blend of cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Use the Saute function on the Instant Pot to heat the olive oil and brown the chicken in batches. Take the chicken out of the Instant Pot and set aside.
- Cook the Aromatics and Deglaze: Sauté the onions and garlic in the Instant Pot, adding more oil if necessary. Use the chicken broth to deglaze the pot, stir in orange and lime juices, and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken back into the Instant Pot.
- Pressure Cook: Seal and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on High for 10 minutes, then allow for a Natural Pressure Release.
- Set Oven to Broil: Preheat your oven to broil and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the instant pot and shred it on a cutting board.
- Broil: Transfer the shredded chicken to the baking sheet, add a 1/4 cup of the liquid from the instant pot, stir to combine, and broil for 5 minutes; stir again and broil it for 5 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
How To Serve Chicken Carnitas
- In Quesadillas: Make an authentic Mexican quesadilla with your favorite kind of cheese and these carnitas.
- Over Nachos: Serve your carnitas over nachos to make an appetizer more filling, savory, and irresistible.
- In a Salad: These carnitas will go wonderfully with your favorite leafy greens!
- Over Rice: Serve chicken carnitas over rice and with a side of beans. You could also serve carnitas over this flavor packed Coconut Lime Cauliflower Rice!
- In Tacos: Warm your tortillas, then load them up with chicken carnitas and top it all off with your favorite fixings. I personally love to use salsa fresca, diced avocado, onions, some lettuce, and maybe even a sprinkle of cheese.
Storage
- Store leftover carnitas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. To store them long-term, freeze them for up to 3 months.
- I recommend reheating your carnitas on the stove. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until your carnitas are hot. It should take around 10-15 minutes.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
- Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry
- Instant Pot Pork Loin
- Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
ENJOY!
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Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas
You'll be amazed at the speed and ease of making these Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas Tacos. It’s the ultimate shortcut to crispy, delicious carnitas flavored with lime, spices, garlic, and orange juice.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts,, or you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt,, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper,, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon chili powder,, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, , divided
- 1 small yellow onion,, diced
- 6 cloves garlic,, minced
- ⅓ cup low sodium chicken broth,, or beer
- ¼ cup orange juice,, no pulp, freshly squeezed if possible
- ¼ cup lime juice
- low carb flour tortillas,, for serving
- fresh chopped cilantro,, for serving
Instructions
- Lightly pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken breasts.
- Press the Saute function on the Instant Pot and add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken breasts to the heated olive oil and brown on both sides. You will have to do this in batches; do not try to sear all chicken breasts at once. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Add the diced onions to the Instant Pot; if needed, add the rest of the olive oil. Cook the onions for 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds.
- Stir in the chicken broth and deglaze the bottom of the Pot while stirring. Add in the orange juice and lime juice; bring to a simmer.
- Return the chicken to the Instant Pot. Cover and set to Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes (12 minutes for chicken thighs). Then, do a Natural Pressure Release.
- Remove the lid and transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Shred the chicken.
- Set your oven to BROIL and line a baking sheet with foil; lightly grease it with cooking spray.
- Once the chicken is shredded, spread it out on the baking sheet.
- Remove ¼ cup of the liquid from the Instant Pot and add it to the chicken; stir to combine.
- Broil the chicken for 5 minutes; stir. Continue to broil for 5 more minutes.
- Remove from oven and let stand for a few minutes before serving in tacos, quesadillas, over nachos, etc.
Notes
- Chicken Variety: Feel free to use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, but you’ll have to cook them a couple of minutes longer.
- Spices: Don’t hesitate to tweak the spice mix to suit your taste. Adding a touch of smoked paprika or chipotle can elevate the flavor.
- Rest: Allow the chicken to rest a bit before shredding; it helps retain the juices.
- Broiling: Don’t skip the broiling step if you like crispy meat.
- Toppings: Offer toppings like sliced avocados, pico de gallo, sour cream, or cheese to customize the tacos.
- Tortillas: Warm the tortillas before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It makes an excellent filling for quesadillas or topping for salads the next day.
Nutrition
Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 430mg | Potassium: 500mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Did you make a recipe? Leave a rating
I have made this recipe many times and it is awesome. I am planning on burrito bowls for my sons open house grad party and he wants chicken. I am debating between this and a honey lime/green salsa recipe that has more sauce. I will need to make a week or more in advance and freeze and reheat as we anticipate 200-300 guests. Do you think I am better off making the chicken with a sauce? I have never tried freezing and reheating this…..
Hi!
Wow, cooking for that many people is quite the endeavor! Kudos to you for taking on the challenge. 🙌
I’ve successfully frozen this recipe for 2 to 3 months without any issues. To add a refreshing zing after reheating, I recommend squeezing plenty of fresh lime juice and a splash of orange juice over the chicken to give it that burst of fresh flavor.
Best of luck with your son’s grad party, and congratulations to him! I’m sure whichever recipe you choose will be a hit!
Can this recipe be adapted for the slow cooker?
Absolutely, this recipe can be adapted for a slow cooker. Just set it to Low and let it cook for about 4 hours, or if you’re short on time, you can cook it on High for approximately 2 to 3 hours. You can sauté the chicken in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.
I used thighs and am a big fan! Easy and delicious recipe. Thanks
Set broil on high or low? It seems like high would burn the chicken.
If I double the recipe, do I double the liquid?
They were so good!
Hi!
Yes, you can double the liquid, but just make sure you don’t go beyond the fill line (MAX line) with the ingredients. Also, don’t double the cooking time because the IP will just adjust itself and will take a little longer to come to pressure.
Can you add a can of corn in it? I see it in the picture but not in the recipe
I added the corn to the tacos, but I didn’t cook it with the chicken.
Can this be cooked in the crockpot?
These were A.M.A.Z.I.NG.!!! I sautéed the chicken breasts on high for 5 minutes each side. Instead of broiling them, I put the Instant Pot on saute mode and let the juices dry out after I shredded the chicken. Did 12 minutes pressure cook instead of 10. I made keto tortilla wrappers and served this with slices of cucumber, homemade pico de gallo, homemade keto picked red onions, crumbly white cheese, and cilantro. SOOOO GOOD! Did not feel like I was on a diet at all. Thank you for this amazing recipe.
I meant *slices of AVOCADO
Thank you so much! I am very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I do not have an instapot. How else could I cook this? It sounds delish!!!
You can use any pressure cooker. If you don’t have one then when you are done with the sautée then finish this dish in a large pot. You will need to add more liquid and cook longer. A pressure cooker or insta pot just cooks things faster. Cook until tender enough to shred. Watch the liquid though.
The BEST chicken carnitas ever!! So easy to make and so quick too!!! A new regular to our instant pot rotation !!!
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂