My picky son is OBSESSED with these Instant Pot Carnitas and truth be told he is pretty into that Piñata Apple Salsa too! It isn't often that I hit one out of the park these days with him, but this one is a home run. Honestly, some days it feels like I spend more time trying to get him to eat than I do cooking. It's SO frustrating!
{{ These Easy Instant Pot Carnitas and Piñata Apple Salsa were made in partnership with Stemilt ! We received compensation and product in exchange for it. Opinions are always our own. If we don’t love it, you don’t hear about it. Thanks for your continued support!}}
There is one dish though that he is always down for - carnitas!
Like, we're talking 3 sides of carnitas in a Chipotle DIY taco kit! ( Just in case you don't know what that is, it's a whole lot.) Anyways, seeing as though my wallet/food blogger pride can't handle hitting up our local Mexican fast food chain 3-4 times a week I decided I better learn how to make them.
Upon my first trip down the Google rabbit hole I realized that traditional carnitas took WAY too much time for me.
I just don't have 3-6 hours to wait for carnitas to cook in the oven and I imagine you don't either! So, I devised a time saving plan using my trusty Instant Pot to cook the meat to perfection and then I shred it, toss it with some of the cooking liquid and spread it into an even layer on a sheet pan. A quick 5-8 minute stint under the broiler creates irresistible crispy carnitas that are still moist ad tender on the inside.
In case you missed the memo from The Brady Bunch all those years ago, pork and apples are a match made in heaven!
While Alice opted for pork chops and applesauce for the Brady kids, I am opting for a fresh apple salsa for our carnitas. I ultimately decided to go with Stemilt Piñata apples for my salsa because I love their sweet and tart taste and long-lasting pineapple finish. It's just the perfect match for those savory Instant Pot Carnitas!
READY FOR THE RECIPE? CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE STEMILT SITE WHERE THE RECIPE IS FEATURED!
Now that you’ve got your meaty main dish recipe with these Instant Pot Carnitas, here are 3 of my favorite vegetarian dishes from our site to pair with it for a Mexican inspired feast that every type of eater at our table is happy about!
Crave Worthy Breakfast Tostadas || I am ALL about crossover recipes. Just like crossover music blurs the lines of country and pop, crossover recipes blur the lines of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These tostadas are a great choice morning, noon, or night and are made even better with the addition of our Easy Instant Pot Carnitas!
Grilled Mexican Street Corn Pizza || This 1 recipe already combines two of my favorite eats on the planet to make one incredibly delicious summer treat, Grilled Mexican Street Corn Pizza! Sprinkling on some of these Easy Instant Pot Carnitas would only elevate this recipe even more.
Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Salad || Breakfast salads are all the rage these days and its not hard to see why! While we love the vegetarian base of this particular breakfast salad a scattering of Instant Pot Carnitas over the top would take this salad to the next level.
Have leftovers?! Here are a few of our favorite ways to eat up these Easy Instant Pot Carnitas:
If you’ve tried this Easy Instant Pot Carnitas and Piñata Apple Salsa Recipe, I would be so grateful if you would rate it. Let me know what you think in the comments below. I just love hearing from you, and your reviews and comments really help others that visit This Mess is Ours!
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What are the health benefits of apples?
The apple, especially with the skin left on, is packed with necessary nutrients that reduce risks of heart disease and diabetes and improve gut heath. The high fiber and water content in apples can also help with weight loss because they are so filling.
Click here more information about the health benefits of apples.
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