
There are a lot of Pulled Pork Carnitas recipes around, but I created the easiest Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas recipe. It’s based off this excellent one that my friend Prudence made and recommended. But since I can’t follow a recipe to save my life, and her recipe had several ingredients high in sugars, I had to modify it quite a bit to keep these carnitas low carb .

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas | Easy Pork Carnitas
If you, unlike me, do not collect chile powders for fun, I’m sure you could use just regular red chile powder in these Pulled Pork Carnitas and it will taste great.
If you’d like to use orange juice or broth for the liquid, feel free. However, the orange juice will increase the carbs per serving . I was in a hurry (I was putting this together while on a work-related call, so I wasn’t wanting to spend too much time on it).
Herein lies the difference between those who blog for a living vs people like me who cook to feed the family while trying to make a living. Short cuts abound in my world.
I also cut the meat up into large bite-size chunks because I wanted it to cook relatively quickly, and since it was going to be shredded anyway, I didn’t think it would matter.
What Makes These Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas So Amazing?
- Easy. Throw some veggies and a pork butt in your Instant Pot and cook.
- Low Carb . Only 4 carbs per serving (not including the tortillas)
- Delicious. Packed with flavor.
- Authentic. Seasoned with traditional Mexican spices for an authentic dish.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas
Looking to kick the deliciousness up a notch? Whip up some of my Air Fried Tomatillo Salsa and put it on top of your pork carnitas ! It’ll add some great heat and flavor to really elevate the dish!

Another great way to dress your Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas is with this creamy Avocado Tomatillo Salsa ! It’s easy, spicy, and delightfully low carb.

Tips And Tricks For This Carnita Recipe
Let me tell you something: DO NOT SKIP the browning step in this pork carnitas recipe . I know it sounds like a pain, but it’s the difference between delicious boiled meat and carnitas. If they’re not crispy, they’re not carnitas. Just notice the difference between the boiled pork and the finished product. That’s all due to the crisping.
By the way, this recipe freezes quite well in case you have leftovers or are the meal planning type.
Are Pulled Pork Carnitas Healthy?
This authentic carnitas recipe uses pork that is high in protein . I used low carb ingredients to keep it healthy for people watching their carb intake or living a Ketogenic lifestyle. If you add in delicious veggies to round out the recipe, you can bet it’s a healthy carnitas recipe .
How To Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas
Don’t be intimidated by this Pulled Pork Carnitas recipe! Here are the simple steps to making them perfectly every time:
- Place sliced vegetables in the bottom of the pot to help them release water when the meat is cooking.
- Mix together the pork with all the spices and the lemon juice.
- Place pork on top of the onions and garlic.
- Put water into your bowl and rinse it out to get the last of the spices, and pour this water onto the pork.
- Set your Instant Pot to Meat setting or high pressure.
- When it’s done use natural release.
- Remove the pork, take it out of the water.
- Leave the pot on Saute and reduce the remaining water/sauce in there while you finish the next steps.
- Put the coconut oil in a hot cast iron pan.
- Lay the shredded meat in a flat layer and let it brown undisturbed.
- When it’s partially brown, stir it and keep cooking until it’s crispy in parts.
- Once it’s well crisped, put in a little of the concentrated broth. Your skillet should be hot enough that most of it just dissolves, leaving behind the flavor.
- Serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or low carb tortillas, or eat plain.
Want More Pork Recipes?
- Pulled Pork - loaded with delicious Mexican flavor.
- Pork Carnitas - Make these in your Instant Pot .
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork - tacos seasoned with Indian spices.
- Smoked Mexican Pork Shoulder - lovely smoked flavors.
- Pressure Cooker Carne Adovada - a low carb delight.
- Schezuan Pork Soup - Sichuan cuisine made at home.
- Chile Verde - a quick and easy pork recipe.
- Instant Pot Pork Stew - a hearty low carb soup .

Pulled Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
Vegetables
- ▢ 1 ( 1 ) Onion , sliced
- ▢ 4 cloves ( 4 cloves ) Garlic , sliced
Mix Together
- ▢ 1 pound ( 453.59 g ) pork butt, , cut into cubes and visible fat removed
- ▢ 1 ( 1 ) Lemon , juiced
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Ancho Chile Powder
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Chipotle Chile Powder
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Smoked Paprika
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ( 0.5 teaspoon ) Dried Oregano
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ( 0.5 teaspoon ) Ground Cumin
- ▢ 1-2 teaspoons ( 1 teaspoons ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Black Pepper
Add to Instant Pot
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 125 g ) Water
For Frying
- ▢ 1-2 tablespoons ( 1 tablespoons ) Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Place sliced vegetables in the bottom of the pot to help them release water when the meat is cooking.
- In a bowl, mix together the pork with all the spices and the lemon juice.
- Place pork on top of the onions and garlic.
- Put 1/2 cup of water into your bowl and rinse it out to get the last of the spices, and pour this water onto the pork.
- Set your Instant Pot to Meat setting, or high pressure for 35 minutes.
- When it’s done use natural release.
- Remove the pork, take it out of the water which may be somewhat salty.
- Leave the pot on Saute and reduce the remaining water/sauce in there while you finish the next steps.
- Put the coconut oil in a hot cast iron pan. If you wanted, you could also fish out the pork fat that is cooked, and set that to render. I did both and it was yummy.
- Lay the shredded meat in a flat layer and let it brown undisturbed.
- When it’s partially brown, stir it and keep cooking until it’s crispy in parts.
- Once it’s well crisped, put in a little of the concentrated broth. Your skillet should be hot enough that most of it just dissolves, leaving behind the flavor. I used almost all of my broth, small portiojns at a time to flavor the meat.
- Serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream or low carb tortillas, or eat plain.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally Published March 29, 2017
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .

There are a lot of Pulled Pork Carnitas recipes around, but I created the easiest Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas recipe. It’s based off this excellent one that my friend Prudence made and recommended. But since I can’t follow a recipe to save my life, and her recipe had several ingredients high in sugars, I had to modify it quite a bit to keep these carnitas low carb .

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas | Easy Pork Carnitas
If you, unlike me, do not collect chile powders for fun, I’m sure you could use just regular red chile powder in these Pulled Pork Carnitas and it will taste great.
If you’d like to use orange juice or broth for the liquid, feel free. However, the orange juice will increase the carbs per serving . I was in a hurry (I was putting this together while on a work-related call, so I wasn’t wanting to spend too much time on it).
Herein lies the difference between those who blog for a living vs people like me who cook to feed the family while trying to make a living. Short cuts abound in my world.
I also cut the meat up into large bite-size chunks because I wanted it to cook relatively quickly, and since it was going to be shredded anyway, I didn’t think it would matter.
What Makes These Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas So Amazing?
- Easy. Throw some veggies and a pork butt in your Instant Pot and cook.
- Low Carb . Only 4 carbs per serving (not including the tortillas)
- Delicious. Packed with flavor.
- Authentic. Seasoned with traditional Mexican spices for an authentic dish.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas
Looking to kick the deliciousness up a notch? Whip up some of my Air Fried Tomatillo Salsa and put it on top of your pork carnitas ! It’ll add some great heat and flavor to really elevate the dish!

Another great way to dress your Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas is with this creamy Avocado Tomatillo Salsa ! It’s easy, spicy, and delightfully low carb.

Tips And Tricks For This Carnita Recipe
Let me tell you something: DO NOT SKIP the browning step in this pork carnitas recipe . I know it sounds like a pain, but it’s the difference between delicious boiled meat and carnitas. If they’re not crispy, they’re not carnitas. Just notice the difference between the boiled pork and the finished product. That’s all due to the crisping.
By the way, this recipe freezes quite well in case you have leftovers or are the meal planning type.
Are Pulled Pork Carnitas Healthy?
This authentic carnitas recipe uses pork that is high in protein . I used low carb ingredients to keep it healthy for people watching their carb intake or living a Ketogenic lifestyle. If you add in delicious veggies to round out the recipe, you can bet it’s a healthy carnitas recipe .
How To Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas
Don’t be intimidated by this Pulled Pork Carnitas recipe! Here are the simple steps to making them perfectly every time:
- Place sliced vegetables in the bottom of the pot to help them release water when the meat is cooking.
- Mix together the pork with all the spices and the lemon juice.
- Place pork on top of the onions and garlic.
- Put water into your bowl and rinse it out to get the last of the spices, and pour this water onto the pork.
- Set your Instant Pot to Meat setting or high pressure.
- When it’s done use natural release.
- Remove the pork, take it out of the water.
- Leave the pot on Saute and reduce the remaining water/sauce in there while you finish the next steps.
- Put the coconut oil in a hot cast iron pan.
- Lay the shredded meat in a flat layer and let it brown undisturbed.
- When it’s partially brown, stir it and keep cooking until it’s crispy in parts.
- Once it’s well crisped, put in a little of the concentrated broth. Your skillet should be hot enough that most of it just dissolves, leaving behind the flavor.
- Serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or low carb tortillas, or eat plain.
Want More Pork Recipes?
- Pulled Pork - loaded with delicious Mexican flavor.
- Pork Carnitas - Make these in your Instant Pot .
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork - tacos seasoned with Indian spices.
- Smoked Mexican Pork Shoulder - lovely smoked flavors.
- Pressure Cooker Carne Adovada - a low carb delight.
- Schezuan Pork Soup - Sichuan cuisine made at home.
- Chile Verde - a quick and easy pork recipe.
- Instant Pot Pork Stew - a hearty low carb soup .

Pulled Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
Vegetables
- ▢ 1 ( 1 ) Onion , sliced
- ▢ 4 cloves ( 4 cloves ) Garlic , sliced
Mix Together
- ▢ 1 pound ( 453.59 g ) pork butt, , cut into cubes and visible fat removed
- ▢ 1 ( 1 ) Lemon , juiced
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Ancho Chile Powder
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Chipotle Chile Powder
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Smoked Paprika
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ( 0.5 teaspoon ) Dried Oregano
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ( 0.5 teaspoon ) Ground Cumin
- ▢ 1-2 teaspoons ( 1 teaspoons ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Black Pepper
Add to Instant Pot
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 125 g ) Water
For Frying
- ▢ 1-2 tablespoons ( 1 tablespoons ) Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Place sliced vegetables in the bottom of the pot to help them release water when the meat is cooking.
- In a bowl, mix together the pork with all the spices and the lemon juice.
- Place pork on top of the onions and garlic.
- Put 1/2 cup of water into your bowl and rinse it out to get the last of the spices, and pour this water onto the pork.
- Set your Instant Pot to Meat setting, or high pressure for 35 minutes.
- When it’s done use natural release.
- Remove the pork, take it out of the water which may be somewhat salty.
- Leave the pot on Saute and reduce the remaining water/sauce in there while you finish the next steps.
- Put the coconut oil in a hot cast iron pan. If you wanted, you could also fish out the pork fat that is cooked, and set that to render. I did both and it was yummy.
- Lay the shredded meat in a flat layer and let it brown undisturbed.
- When it’s partially brown, stir it and keep cooking until it’s crispy in parts.
- Once it’s well crisped, put in a little of the concentrated broth. Your skillet should be hot enough that most of it just dissolves, leaving behind the flavor. I used almost all of my broth, small portiojns at a time to flavor the meat.
- Serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream or low carb tortillas, or eat plain.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally Published March 29, 2017
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .

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Pulled Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 Onion sliced
- 4 cloves Garlic sliced
Mix Together
- 1 pound pork butt, cut into cubes and visible fat removed
- 1 Lemon juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon Ancho Chile Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Chipotle Chile Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1-2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Add to Instant Pot
- 1/2 cup Water
For Frying
- 1-2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Place sliced vegetables in the bottom of the pot to help them release water when the meat is cooking.
- In a bowl, mix together the pork with all the spices and the lemon juice.
- Place pork on top of the onions and garlic.
- Put 1/2 cup of water into your bowl and rinse it out to get the last of the spices, and pour this water onto the pork.
- Set your Instant Pot to Meat setting, or high pressure for 35 minutes.
- When it’s done use natural release.
- Remove the pork, take it out of the water which may be somewhat salty.
- Leave the pot on Saute and reduce the remaining water/sauce in there while you finish the next steps.
- Put the coconut oil in a hot cast iron pan. If you wanted, you could also fish out the pork fat that is cooked, and set that to render. I did both and it was yummy.
- Lay the shredded meat in a flat layer and let it brown undisturbed.
- When it’s partially brown, stir it and keep cooking until it’s crispy in parts.
- Once it’s well crisped, put in a little of the concentrated broth. Your skillet should be hot enough that most of it just dissolves, leaving behind the flavor. I used almost all of my broth, small portiojns at a time to flavor the meat.
- Serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream or low carb tortillas, or eat plain.
Pulled Pork Carnitas https://twosleevers.com/pulled-pork-carnitas/
Spicy Noodles are a quick and easy comforting main course or side dish that packs a punch of flavor and heat. With intense chili and garlic notes that tantalize your tastebuds, you’ll be reaching for this dish again and again.

Why You’re Going To Love These Chili Garlic Noodles
- Fast. Enjoy a delicious and filling dish in under 30 minutes .
- Easy. Saute the aromatics and veggies, cook the pasta, toss in the sauce, and serve.
- Flavorful. These ingredients create a complex flavor profile that is sweet, savory, spicy, and loaded with umami goodness.
- Vegetarian. A great vegetarian main course or side dish .
- Versatile. Switch up the veggies or spice level for a spicy noodle dish that is perfect for you and your family.
Are Spicy Noodles Healthy?
I’ve said it many times, but what is considered healthy for one person may not be beneficial for another. The vital thing to consider before indulging in any meal is if it fits into your dietary lifestyle.
These noodles are loaded with veggies, antioxidants from the sesame oil, and peppers that can improve digestion and metabolism.
How Spicy Are These Spicy Noodles?
I’ll be honest, my tolerance for heat is pretty high. Any dish I create can almost always be made better with a touch more heat, but I know not everyone will agree with me.
I wanted to make these Chili Garlic noodles walk the line between knock your socks off spicy and making your top lip sweat. I’ll give you some tips below to dial the heat level up and down to make them perfect for your palate.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Spaghetti Noodles - you can also substitute your favorite low carb pasta in this recipe for a spicy and low carb option.
- Soy Sauce - For a pop of umami taste.
- Sesame Oil - Adds a toasted flavor to the dish.
- Vegetable Oil - Prevents the noodles from sticking together while they are cooking.
- Chili Garlic Sauce - this gives the majority of the heat to the dish.
- Bell Peppers - Add a variety to give some color to the dish and provides a touch of sweetness.
- Garlic - You can’t have Chili Garlic noodles without the garlic.
- Onion - Adds a layer of natural sweetness.
- Chicken Broth - to add depth of flavor to the noodles while cooking.
- Sesame Seeds - For garnish and another element of texture.
How To Make Spicy Noodles
What’s not to love about a one-pot dish? These Chili Garlic Noodles are made all in one pot and ready in a flash. Just follow the steps below for a meal that is just as easy to clean up as it is to make:
- Turn your Instant Pot to saute and wait for it to get hot. Place sesame oil, garlic, diced onion, and peppers in the hot oil and cook until the garlic and onion are translucent.
- Use chicken broth to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Place chili garlic paste and soy sauce into the broth. Add the noodles (broken in half lengthwise to fit) to the Instant Pot liner, ensuring that you use a criss-cross pattern to prevent sticking.
- Push the noodles into the broth and add a small amount of vegetable oil on top. DO NOT STIR.
- Place the Instant Pot lid on the Pot and cook under high pressure.
- When the cooking time is complete, quickly release the pressure and remove the lid.
- Allow the noodles to rest for a few minutes to give the sauce a chance to thicken. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Variations
I like to think of recipes as a building block I provide for you all to create something even more delicious with your imagination. These noodles are the perfect base for so many different possibilities.
If you’re wanting to kick up your noodle game a little, here are some different ways to try them:
- Add protein. If you want to bulk up the recipe with some protein, add any variety of pre-cooked meat or plant protein.
- Load it with veggies. Not a fan of eating a huge plate of pasta? Toss in some of your favorite steamed veggies to make the meal more filling without loading up on carbs.
- Sweeten it up. Love the combo of sweet and spicy? Add in some Hoisin sauce or a sprinkle of sugar to offset some of the heat.
- Make it crispy. If you want spicy noodles that remind you of a hibachi-style dish, remove the pasta from the Instant Pot liner after it is cooked. Make sure there is no debris in the liner, press saute, and then add a small amount of vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, place a portion of the noodles in the oil and toss them in the hot oil until they are slightly crispy on the edges.
What Do You Eat With Them?
What you choose to eat with these Chili Garlic Noodles all depends on if you’re planning on using them as a main course or a side dish. Here are some of my favorite sides and additions to serve alongside them no matter what capacity you intend on serving them in:
- Crab Rangoon
- Egg Rolls
- Gyoza
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Sesame Ginger Broccoli
How Long Do They Last?
Pasta is one of the most resilient foods to make if you’re looking for something to make for meal prep or double a recipe for leftovers. Not only does it maintain its texture well, but it also has a tendency to continue to absorb flavor the longer it rests.
For the best bite, try to enjoy these Spicy Noodles within 4-5 days of preparing them.
Want More Delicious Pasta Recipes?
- Instant Pot Eggplant Pasta
- Mushroom Mascarpone Pasta
- Haluski
- Vegetarian Mushroom Pasta
- Garlic Noodles

If you love these Spicy Noodles as much as we do, share the recipe with your friends on Facebook and Instagram so your spice-loving friends can also try them! Don’t forget to Pin the recipe so you can make them again soon.

Spicy Noodles | Instant Pot Chili Garlic Noodles
Ingredients
- ▢ 16 oz dried spaghetti
- ▢ 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- ▢ 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
- ▢ 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- ▢ 3 tbsp chili garlic sauce
- ▢ 1 cup diced mixed bell peppers
- ▢ 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
- ▢ 1/4 cup diced onion
- ▢ 2 cups Chicken Broth
- ▢ 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot to saute and wait for it to get hot. Place sesame oil, garlic, diced onion, and peppers in the hot oil and cook until the garlic and onion are translucent. This should take about 2 minutes.
- Use chicken broth to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Place chili garlic paste and soy sauce into the broth. Add the noodles (broken in half lengthwise to fit) to the Instant Pot liner, ensuring that you use a criss-cross pattern to prevent sticking.
- Push the noodles into the broth and add a small amount of vegetable oil on top. DO NOT STIR.
- Place the Instant Pot lid on the Pot and cook under high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When the cooking time is complete, quickly release the pressure and remove the lid.
- Allow the noodles to rest for a few minutes to give the sauce a chance to thicken. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
