Instant Pot® Crispy Chicken Carnitas

Description

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!

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Combine cumin
  2. chili powder
  3. oregano
  4. salt
  5. and pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle over chicken breasts on both sides.
  6. Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sear chicken breasts
  7. 1 to 2 minutes per side
  8. working in batches so chicken sears rather than steams. Transfer chicken to a plate.
  9. Add garlic and onion to the hot cooker; cook and stir until browned evenly on all sides
  10. about 2 minutes. Return chicken to the pressure cooker along with lime juice
  11. chicken broth
  12. cilantro
  13. chipotle pepper with 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  14. orange zest and juice
  15. and bay leaf. Close and lock the lid. Set timer for 8 to 10 minutes
  16. depending on size of chicken breasts.
  17. Meanwhile
  18. combine mayonnaise
  19. milk
  20. chipotle pepper and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  21. salt
  22. and garlic powder to an electric blender. Blend chipotle sauce until smooth.
  23. Release pressure from the cooker using the natural-release method according to manufacturer’s instructions
  24. 10 to 40 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
  25. Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven’s broiler.
  26. 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.
  27. 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
  28. 5 to 7 minutes more. Serve with chipotle sauce.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

Servings: 10

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