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Tender Instant Pot Pulled Pork Tacos

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A quick and easy recipe for tender, juicy pulled pork made in the Instant Pot, perfect for flavorful weeknight tacos with simple pantry ingredients and fresh toppings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 lbs pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (120 ml)
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup chicken broth (240 ml)
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 12–16 small corn or flour tortillas
  • Fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Lime wedges (optional)
  • Sliced radishes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat off the pork shoulder and cut into 3-4 large chunks (about 1.5-2 inches each).
  2. In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Toss the pork chunks in this spice rub until evenly coated.
  3. Set Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat olive oil until shimmering. Sear pork pieces for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown (optional but recommended).
  4. Remove pork and set aside. Add diced onion and garlic to the pot and sauté until fragrant and softened, about 3 minutes. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
  5. Pour in orange juice, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth. Stir in chopped chipotle peppers. Return pork to the pot, nestling it in the liquid.
  6. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set to manual high pressure for 60 minutes. Once done, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes before quick-releasing any remaining steam.
  7. Carefully remove pork chunks and shred with two forks. Return shredded meat to the pot and stir to coat with juices. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  8. Warm tortillas on a dry skillet or wrap in foil and warm in the oven for a few minutes.
  9. Assemble tacos by piling shredded pork onto tortillas and topping with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and sliced radishes or your favorite toppings. Serve immediately.

Notes

Searing the pork before pressure cooking adds flavor but can be skipped if short on time. Use natural pressure release to keep pork tender and juicy. If sauce is too thin after shredding, simmer on sauté mode to thicken. Warm tortillas just before serving to keep them soft. Adjust chipotle peppers for desired heat level.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork, Instant Pot, tacos, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Mexican, pork shoulder, pressure cooker, smoky, spicy

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/tender-instant-pot-pulled-pork-tacos-recipe-for-easy-weeknight-dinners/