Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Salad

This content originally appeared here. Republished with permission.

Easy, delicious Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Salad, served over lettuce with cauliflower rice, pickled onions, bell peppers, corn salsa, and sliced avocado. All served together, they make an easy and completely drool-worthy Carnitas Salad that’s grain free and dairy free with simple Keto, Low Carb, Whole30 and Paleo adaptations.

Serve this for dinner on a regular weeknight or when entertaining friends – either way, it’ll be a fiesta! I’m sharing some time saving tips for making this recipe with plenty of hands-off time, that way you can focus on actually enjoying dinnertime!

And because the Instant Pot is the MVP of the kitchen, making beautiful, delicious meals in a snap… here are some more favorites: Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas, Instant Pot Mexican Vegetable Soup.

Easy Entertaining

Since our place is so friggin’ tiny cozy, and we’re all stuck at home these days, I’m looking for sources of comfort wherever I can find them. Family dinnertime is my favorite thing these days. We sit and eat and talk, and it feels almost normal, even if just for a moment.

I’ve learned that I really want to be totally present during dinner. I don’t want to end up missing out on that time with them, so I look for recipes that can be made quickly or with plenty of hands-off time.

Using my Instant Pot and AdapTable Meals Carnitas Pork Roast, it only took about 20 minutes of hands on-time (40 minutes of cook time) to make perfectly cooked, tender carnitas and an absolutely gorgeous spread! And if you ever forget to plan ahead (like I do… um, a lot), then you could cook it from frozen, you just need to add 35 minutes to the cook time.

While the pork roast was cooking, I spent a little time making quick pickled onions and corn salsa, chopping some lettuce, and sautéing the bell peppers, and I was DONE.

Ingredients

This was easily one of the most deceivingly impressive grain and dairy free dinners I’ve ever put together. Here’s what you’ll need to make it at home:

Carnitas Pork Roast: The AdapTable Meals Carnitas Pork Roast was pre-seasoned and super flavorful with Salt, Black Pepper, Thyme, Cumin, Oregano, Bay Leaves, Dried Onion, Chili Pepper, Dried Garlic, Natural Flavors, Lime Juice Concentrate, and Chipotle Pepper. There are ZERO artificial ingredients.
Vegetable Stock, Chicken Stock or Water: The Instant Pot requires liquid to create steam and get up to pressure, so be sure to use at least 1 cup of liquid if you’re using a 6 qt pressure cooker, and 1.5-2 cups if you’re using an 8 qt size.
Romaine Lettuce: Or substitute whatever lettuce you like. I think romaine holds up well to all the toppings and has good flavor.
Cauliflower Rice: I like to keep things extra simple by buying frozen cauliflower rice. You can make it ultra fast in the microwave or sauté it in a touch of oil, whatever you prefer!
Bell Peppers: I chose one red and one green, but any combination of colors will work great!

Toppings

Pickled Onions: Use my sugar-free Whole30 pickled onion recipe, or for extra oomph make pickled pineapple!
Corn Salsa: Use my Chipotle copycat Corn Salsa recipe, and OMIT if you’re making these Carnitas Keto, Low Carb, Whole30, or Paleo.
Coconut Yogurt: Or substitute sour cream if your diet permits it.
Avocado or Guacamole
Cilantro
Lime: For garnish
Ranch Dressing (optional): I felt this salad didn’t even need a dressing, but my husband loved it with a little drizzle of ranch on top! That’s the beauty of this dish – you can make it your own!

For a Whole30, Paleo, Keto, and Low Carb Option: Omit the corn salsa. That’s it! Now keep in mind, I decided to make my carnitas salad dairy free and grain free.

If you prefer other ingredients like cheese or quinoa, by all means, go ahead! Just remember that Whole30 doesn’t allow either, and grains are typically too high in carbs for Keto and Low Carb plans.

Recipe FAQ

Q. What to serve with Pork Carnitas?

Answer: Some of my favorite things to serve are what you see here, but I also think fried plantains, pico de gallo, or homemade tortilla chips would work beautifully!

Q. How long can I store leftover carnitas?

Answer: Once cooked, store the carnitas in an air tight container or bag for 3-4 days in the refrigerator and up to 4 months in the freezer.

Q. Can Icook frozen carnitas?

Answer: I’m so glad you asked! Cooking carnitas from frozen has never been easier, thanks to the Instant Pot. Go ahead and add your frozen roast and liquid to the Instant Pot, then cook on High Pressure for 75 minutes.
Just remember to use the Natural Pressure Release (NPR) so the meat doesn’t seize up. Allowing the pressure to dissipate naturally will keep the meat tender. I usually plan on NPR taking 20-25 minutes, so be sure to account for that time when you plan your schedule.

Q. How do I make carnitas in my Slow Cooker?

Answer: Like I tell my kids, abso-fruit-ly! Add the roast and liquid to your slow cooker or Crock Pot, then cook on low for 3.5 hours.