These instant pot paleo and keto carnitas are the speedy (and easy!) version of this stellar Mexican dish. Ridiculously tasty and tender for the ultimate tacos!

(Instant Pot!) Paleo & Keto Carnitas

i.e. Speedy!

You might not know this, but traditional Mexican carnitas are pork slow-fried in lard. But let’s face it, this is not the easiest process for the average home cook! So I’ll leave those for the taquerias, and use our instant pot to make us some (ultra speedy!) and ridiculously tender and tasty carnitas.

And if you haven’t got an instant pot yet (I got mine for Christmas and have fallen head over heels in love!), you can also use your slow cooker. Just omit the water and cook on low for 6 hours.

But whatever you do, I cannot recommend whipping up a batch of our (15 min!) keto tortillas enough. A true match made in heaven!

My Top Tips

I cannot recommend enough that you take the time to sear the meat, rather than just adding everything together to your instant pot (or slow cooker).

These extra 5-10 minutes of prep will give you 100000x more flavor, so repeat after me: sear your meats!

Another great tip I learned from a mom’s friend is to squeeze an orange and add the actual orange in to the mix. It’s a bit more subtle than orange zest, but gives you just the right amount of tang!

Serving Suggestions

Suggestion numero uno, our grain free keto tortillas. And if whole30 (or keeping it light on keto), go for a romaine lettuce taco. The freshness of the lettuce goes beautifully with the carnitas, and it’s definitely our top choice once temperatures begin to rise!

Additionally, (traditional Mexican) carnitas are garnished with a myriad of toppings. Anything from salsa verde (or roja), to minced onions, pickled jalapeños, chile habanero, fresh cilantro… i.e. you’ve got options.

Just whatever you do, don’t forget the limes!