This post was sponsored by Smithfield as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
It’s that time of year when we are incredibly busy almost every night of the week. It’s so rough. We have a hard time getting dinner on the table but we have to! I love to save money and not eating out saves us so much money. So I have set about putting my slow cooker and my instant pot to work this month! This week I made these Instant Pot pork carnitas in less than 45 minutes and it was delicious as well as fast and easy!
I picked my Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork: Boneless Pork Shoulder Seasoned Carnitas meat up at my local Food Lion in the meat department. I thought the price was so reasonable and knew my family would love this meal. This was such an easy meal to make.
My entire house smelled amazing as it was cooking and I’m so glad we got to try this out. It took less than 30 minutes from Instant Pot to table! And the taste was delicious. Check out my Smithfield Seasoned Carnitas made in the Instant Pot recipe and make it for yourself!
Pork Carnitas in the Instant Pot Recipe
My first step was to put a cup of water in the bottom of the liner pot in the instant pot. Then I added my rack and my carnitas with a cut up onion on top. I set the Instant Pot for 40 minutes and walked away from it. While it was cooking I made tantalizing guacamole and even crisped up some stale chips. Did you know you can crisp up stale chips? You totally can. You put them on a pan and place them in the oven on 250* for 8-10 minutes. They will come out tasting as good as fresh. So remember that little dinner hack next time your chips are stale.
Note: To change this recipe to a Slow Cooker recipe simply add the ingredients and a cup of water to your slow cooker. Cook on low 4-6 hours depending on your slow cooker and the way it cooks. It will taste just as amazing I promise!
After my guacamole and chips were done I brought those to the table. Then I went back and checked on my Smithfield Seasoned Carnitas. This is how delicious they looked after I shredded them with two forks! Make sure you let the pork naturally pressure release for at least 15 minutes before venting, opening and eating.
This really needs smell o vision. Because it smells amazing. You’ll want to make these this week. One thing about carnitas is that people put this on a pan and put it in the oven to crisp up the meat. You can do that if you’d like. However I love how tender and delicious it is without putting it in the oven. So I left that part off.
I added my pork carnitas to my whole wheat tortilla and added guacamole to it. You can add salsa, sour cream, cheese whatever you like. They are delicious simply by themselves. Scrumptious is the word I was looking for. The kids and the entire house was happy that I made this quick and easy meal for dinner. You can even turn this into nachos I did a test run for you and it was just as delicious as having it as a taco. So so good!
Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork has lots of different meal ideas that can be made in 30 minutes or less. They love helping us to get Real Flavor Real Fast on the table and to get the children’s bellies full. They have other meats just like the carnitas I picked up. You can choose from loin filets, pork shoulders, tenderloins and roasts. There’s something that will make every belly happy! I love all the choices of slow-marinated and perfectly seasoned in the bag meat selections. You can choose to grill, roast, saute, slow cook or instant pot the recipe. You can choose completely ready to cook or plain where you make whatever recipe you were wanting to have! They are making my meal times so much easier.
Here’s my guacamole recipe in case you need one!!
Guacamole Ingredients
You’ll need 3 avocados
garlic cloves (2 minced or 1 tsp garlic powder)
1/2 can of tomatoes and green chilis (drained)
Chopped onion (I chop mine really small)
Directions for Guacamole Recipe
I cut my avocados in half lengthwise. Then I use a spoon to get the pit out. Once the pit is out I use the spoon to pull the avocado away from the outer shell. Using a fork I mash up the avocados. Once that’s done I add my garlic, tomatoes and chilis and onion. Mix together and enjoy! It’s so good. My kids eat my guacamole up. It’s so delicious, flavorful and good for you!
Check out my most popular recipes for the Instant Pot! Easy Instant Pot Pho, Instant Pot Lava Cakes, and Instant Pot Egg roll. Then see my must have accessories for the Instant Pot here. Join my facebook page to see all my articles and join in on the fun we have there. Don’t forget to follow me on pinterest, twitter and instagram for more diy and cooking adventures.
Paula Schuck
This couldn’t have come at a better time! I just got an Instant Pot, and I’ve been looking for recipes.
Dina
You are going to absolutely love it. I’ve had mine almost a year and am just now feeling more confident with it. But we love it for quick dinners.
Shirley Wood
This is our kind of dinner too. Your recipe sounds delicious and easy. It looks like you really got a good price on the meat at Food Lion!
Dawn Gibson-Thigpen
oh myyy. i love everything about this dish. you stole my heart when you added avacado. wow
lisa
This recipe sounds so delicious. I love anything that is fast and easy for dinner. I use my crock pot almost daily.
Sarah Bailey
Oh yum how absolutely delicious does that look <3 I would absolutely love to try this!
Jeanette
I love Carnitas! I love them anyway you can give them to me. I am definitely going to try this recipe it looks different than the other ones I have tried.
candy
When I make extra pulled pork I will have to throw together these pork carnitas. They look really good.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
This recipe for carnitas sounds absolutely incredible. I would absolutely love to try this dish. I think it would be amazing inside a taco!
Lisa Favre
I have been running into so many wonderful instant pot recipes that it’s about time I get into it as well! Love your recipe, thanks for sharing!
Dee
Yes!!! Now, I am a fan of pulled pork and Guacamole!!1 This looks so good that I am going to have to give it a try myself.
Pam
I love carnitas from my local restaurant but I haven’t made it myself. This sounds so simple and yummy.
Dina
It was so easy to make. You can do it Pam!
Chubskulit Rose
I love some good pork roast and this looks delicious. I love the idea of making guacamole.
Christina Aliperti
OMG this looks so good! I love carnitas and I can’t wait to try this simple recipe.
Mimi Green
Yummy! We have big guacamole fans in my home. I buy it fresh weekly. I’ve never tried to make it on my own. I’m going to try your recipe.
Emma Spellman
This looks right up my alley!! I will have to try it out for dinner really soon!!
Garf
I am sure I am going to love it. My kind of dinner actually.
Dana
I am definitely going to check out your guac recipe – it is my most favorite dip ever! I use it on my tacos in my Mexican rice bowls (sometimes I take a spoonful just for myself 😉
Chrishelle
My kids love pork carnitas. Smithfield is always our go to when it comes to pork. I am definitely going to use your recipe this week.