Instant Pot Carnitas Meal Prep Bowls

3.77 from 26 votes

Instant Pot Carnitas Meal Prep Bowls

Instant Pot carnitas are a quick and easy way to satisfy your craving for authentic Mexican food. Pork with crispy edges and a variety of toppings will always be a crowd-pleaser.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Natural Release35

Total Time1 5

Course: dinner, Lunch, Main Course, meal-prep

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Keyword: carnitas meal prep bowls, Instant Pot

Servings: bowls

Author: Olivia Ribas

Ingredients

For the carnitas

3 lb pork shoulder cut into 2″ chunks
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp chili
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
1 medium red onion sliced
1 cup chicken broth

For the tomato salsa

¼ cup red onion chopped
2 cups cherry tomato cut in half
½ cup cucumber diced
¼ cup jalapeno without seeds and chopped
1 tablespoon cilantro chopped (optional)
Salt and black pepper optional

For the sauté bell pepper

2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic minced
2 red bell peppers sliced
2 yellow bell peppers sliced
2 green bell pepper sliced
1 teaspoon salt and black pepper
½ tablespoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder

Instructions

For the carnitas

Click the “Sauté” setting on the Instant Pot. Add the oil and half of the pork and sear for about 1 minutes each side or until the pork is browned on all sides.
Transfer pork to a plate, and repeat with the remaining pork.
Press “Cancel” bottom on the Instant Pot.
Bring the pork to the Instant Pots and add cumin, chili, salt and black pepper, bay leaves, red onion and chicken broth.
Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 20 minutes at high pressure.
Naturally release pressure (mine took about 35 minutes).
Remove all the carnitas and transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet, discard the bay leaves and ladle some of the sauce on top.
Broil the meat for 10 minutes, stirring the pork after 5 minutes.

For the salsa

In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and toss well to combine.

For the sauté bell pepper

In a large skillet, pour olive oil and add onions, bell peppers and all the seasonings.
Stir fry for 5-10 minutes on medium heat. The time will depend on how tender you prefer your veggies to be.

Meal Prepping

Place an even amount of carnitas, sauteed bell pepper and salsa into 5 different medium glass containers. Cover with the lid and place in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Video

Notes

The nutrition facts are only for the carnitas recipe.
Naturally releasing the steam will help the meat stay moist and tender.
I like to broil the meat at the end to get it crispy but you can skip it if you prefer.
Do not skip browning the pork as it adds a ton of flavour to the overall dish.

To store: Store the leftover carnitas meal prep in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
To reheat: Reheat the carnitas in the oven or in the microwave if you're in a hurry. Make sure to reheat with the sauce so the meat stays moist.
To freeze: You can freeze this carnitas recipe in a freezer-safe bag or container for 4 months. Don't freeze the salsa or peppers as they won't keep well.

Nutrition