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4.93 from 280 votes

Crispy Chicken Carnitas (Pressure Cooker)

Chicken carnitas made in the pressure cooker so they're quick and easy! We crisp them up in the broiler and they are perfect to meal prep and enjoy for the week!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: 30 Minute Meals, Chicken, instant pot
Servings: 6
Calories: 391kcal
Author: Marzia

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder such as ancho or chipotle
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano preferably Mexican oregano
  • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup orange juice plus the zest of 1 orange
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 5 cloves garlic pressed or chopped
  • 1 yellow onion quartered
  • 1-2 chipotle pepper 1-2 tablespoons adobo sauce
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ bunch of cilantro stems included
  • 2 tablespoons oil plus more

For the Chipotle Sauce:

  • ½ cup mayo
  • 1 tablespoon milk or nondairy milk
  • 1-2 chipotle peppers + 1 tablespoons adobo sauce
  • pinch kosher salt
  • pinch garlic powder

Instructions

For the chicken:

  • Combine the cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt and pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle the seasons over the chicken breasts on both sides.
  • Heat the instant pot on the sauté setting. Add a quick swish of oil and sear the chicken breasts on both sides for a minute on each side. Do this in batches so the chicken sears rather than steaming. Remove the chicken to a plate. Add the onions and pressed garlic, let cook 2 minutes flipping as needed to brown all sides evenly.
  • Add the chicken back into the pressure cooker along with the orange zest, orange juice, lime juice, chicken broth, whole chipotle pepper(s), adobo sauce, bay leaf, and cilantro. Cover the instant pot and  let pressure cook on the 'chicken' setting for 8-10 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breast. Prepare the chipotle sauce while you wait for the chicken to cook. Allow the pressure to release naturally or turn to the 'vent' setting. Allow it to vent completely before removing the lid.
  • Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to the 'broiler' setting. Remove the chicken breast to a clean surface and shred the chicken using 2 forks. Place in a large bowl and drizzle ¼ cup of  cooking liquid over the shredded chicken and toss to coat. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over the surface of a baking sheet. Add the chicken and drizzle the second tablespoon of oil on top. Stir to coat evenly.
  • Broil the chicken for 10-12 minutes stopping half way to toss the chicken and drizzle another 1-2 tablespoons of cooking liquid. Rotate the pan for even broiling.

For the Chipotle Sauce:

  • While the chicken is pressure cooking, add the sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Notes

  • Leftover chipotle peppers/adobo sauce can be kept in a zip-top bag in the freezer!

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 24g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g
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