Instant Pot® Crispy Chicken Carnitas

Chicken carnitas made in the pressure cooker are quick and easy! We crisp them up in the broiler, and they are perfect to meal-prep and enjoy for the week! Serve with tortillas, diced onions, chopped cilantro, sauteed cabbage, lime wedges, and anything else you like!

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 236 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 pinch salt
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 1 pinch garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 orange, zested and juiced
• ¼ cup lime juice
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, or more to taste
• ½ bunch cilantro
• 1 yellow onion, quartered
• 5 cloves garlic, pressed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.

Step 2

Combine cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle over chicken breasts on both sides.

Step 3

Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sear chicken breasts, 1 to 2 minutes per side, working in batches so chicken sears rather than steams. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Step 4

Add garlic and onion to the hot cooker; cook and stir until browned evenly on all sides, about 2 minutes. Return chicken to the pressure cooker along with lime juice, chicken broth, cilantro, chipotle pepper with 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, orange zest and juice, and bay leaf. Close and lock the lid. Set timer for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on size of chicken breasts.

Step 5

Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, milk, chipotle pepper and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, salt, and garlic powder to an electric blender. Blend chipotle sauce until smooth.

Step 6

Release pressure from the cooker using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, 10 to 40 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.

Step 7

Transfer chicken breasts to a clean surface and reserve cooking liquid. Shred chicken meat using 2 forks. Place in a large bowl and drizzle 1/4 cup cooking liquid over chicken; toss to coat. Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil over the surface of a baking sheet. Add chicken to the sheet and drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon oil on top. Stir to coat evenly.

Step 8

Broil chicken in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Toss chicken with 1 to 2 tablespoons reserved cooking liquid and rotate the pan for even broiling. Continue broiling until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes more. Serve with chipotle sauce.