Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas (2024)

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These crispydelicious pork carnitas are made in the Ninja Foodi in less than 1 hour. Pressure cook them to tender and crisp them up all in one device.

Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas (1)

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I recently became the owner of a Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker with Air Crisper. What’s that you ask? It’s a magical device that Ninja has bestowed upon us. It’s a pressure cooker. It’s an air fryer. It’s a pressure cooker and an air fryer all combined in one device.

I’ll be doing a full and thorough review on the Ninja Foodie soon. Until then, I’ve been testing it out on different recipes to see if it really works as expected.

I’ve made the following so far….

  1. Chicken Wings from frozen
  2. Chicken pot pie
  3. A whole roasted chicken (twice)
  4. And this pork carnita recipe

All of these have turned out wonderful. I wanted to go ahead and post this pork carnita recipe as it was one of my main determining factors of making the purchase.

I was in the market for a second pressure cooker and this one caught my eye. I love cooking meats in my pressure cooker but sometimes I want that extra crisp. I could always use my pressure cooker and then place my meat in the air fryer or oven…but if I can get it all done in one place, then why not.

Will the Ninja Foodi replace my Instant Pot and Air Fryer?

For me personally, it won’t…but it’s staying for sure. I’m not in love with the Air Fryer basket on the Ninja Foodi as there is no long handle.

I wanted two pressure cookers anyway and my Instant Pot does a mighty good job on pressure cooking, so I’ll keep it too.

Ninja Foodi Pork Carnita Recipe

Of all the recipes I’ve made thus far, this is already one of my favorites. I love making shredded pork for multiple uses…tacos, burritos, rice bowl, sandwiches, etc.

I usually make it in a slow cooker or my pressure cooker but I always have to transfer the pork to the oven to really get it crisp. That’s an entire day of cooking…which I don’t have much time for.

Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas (2)

This Ninja Foodi method allowed me to get it all done in less than an hour.

Here’s the video of me making this recipe in full. I’ll be making some more Ninja Foodi recipes to share as well. As always, Enjoy 🙂

Looking for more Ninja Foodi Recipes? Try these out:

Ninja Foodi Shrimp Boil

Ninja Foodi Fish and Grits

Air Fryer S’mores

Ninja Foodi Zucchini Fritters

Looking for more Air Fryer Pork Recipes? Try these out:

Air Fryer Mustard Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Air Fried Jamaican Jerk Pork

Air Fried Japanese Tonkatsu (Air Fried Boneless Pork Chops)

These Carnitas are great with this Homemade Salsa Recipe.

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Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas (3)

Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas (4)

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4.90 from 57 votes

These Crispy Pork Carnitas are made in the Ninja Foodi in less than 1 hour. Pressure cook them to tender and crisp them up all in one device.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword ninja foodi recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 335kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs pork butt chopped into 2 inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 orange cut in half
  • 1 yellow onion peeled and cut in half
  • 6 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Place pork, salt, oregano, and cumin in Ninja Foodi pressure cook insert. Combine making sure the seasonings are covering the pork.

  • Take the orange and squeeze the juices over the pork. Put the squeezed orange in the insert, along with the onion, garlic cloves, and ½ cup chicken broth.

  • Cover the Ninja Foodi with the pressure cooker cover, ensuring the valve is set to seal. Set the Ninja Foodi to High Pressure and cook for 20 minutes.

  • Once the 20 minute timer is complete, do a quick release by switching the valve to vent. Once all the pressure is released, open the lid and remove the orange, onion, and garlic cloves.

  • Set the Ninja Foodi to satué and select md:hi. The liquid will begin to simmer. Allow the liquid to cook until it reduces, about 10-15 minutes.

  • Once the majority of the liquid has reduced, press stop on the Ninja Foodi and then close the Ninja Foodi Air Crisp lid.

  • Select Broil and adjust the time to 8 minutes.

  • Once complete, use the crispy delicious meat in tacos, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, etc. Top with cilantro or any of your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 838mg | Potassium: 909mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 22.9mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3.1mg

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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circ*mstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook PC carnitas? ›

Pat meat dry with paper towel. Add to pan; brown meat on all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer meat to plate. Add onion and pepper to pan; reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until vegetables are softened.

Can you cook pork in a ninja? ›

Using your Ninja Foodi to cook a pork roast is a great option and there are so many different ways you can do it. You can make a delicious air fryer pork roast simply by using the air crisp/air fry function only. You can slow cook it and then use air crisp/ air fry to crisp up the top.

How do you reheat carnitas in an air fryer? ›

It will dry out some in the refrigerator, so toss it with a few tablespoons of olive oil or lime juice before reheating. To reheat, put it back in the air fryer and cook it at 400 degrees F for 2-3 minutes until you have warm, juicy, and crispy meat.

How long does it take to make carnitas in air fryer? ›

Select the Roast function, adjust temperature to 375°F and time to 45 minutes, then press Start/Pause.

Does air fryer make meat crispy? ›

Air fryers are known for producing delicious, crispy food. Using an air fryer to cook your steak will give you a nice sear on the outside while keeping the inside juicy and tender.

What is the secret to good carnitas? ›

I've made carnitas many times using a completely different method and it turned out pretty good. But it is important to note that the traditional way to make carnitas is by slow cooking it in lard. I think it also gives it a more authentic taste. Seasoning- Salt, Mexican oregano, cumin, & black pepper.

Should you sear carnitas before cooking? ›

Step One: The trick to getting the most flavorful carnitas, is to sear the pork before allowing it to braise for hours. First, season the pork with a liberal sprinkle of salt and then sear the pork pieces on both sides until golden brown in avocado oil. Browning the meat helps to develop a rich deep flavor.

Why do you put orange juice in carnitas? ›

The orange juice in the cooking liquid provides acidity that helps break down the meat so it's extra tender and juicy.

What cannot be cooked in Ninja air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  1. Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  2. Cheesy Items. ...
  3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  4. Baked Goods. ...
  5. Greens. ...
  6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  7. Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

How do you keep carnitas from drying out? ›

For our carnitas, we want the temperature of the confit cooking fat to be about 200°F (93°C) or a little higher. At this temperature, we won't be drying out the surface of the meat cubes while we heat their centers.

Can carnitas be overcooked? ›

Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe FAQ

They cook at the same temperature over several hours either way. Can you overcook carnitas in slow cooker? Any cut of meat can become overcooked, even in the crockpot.

How to cook pre packaged carnitas? ›

Turn pressure cooker to sear and sear AdapTable Meals® Carnitas Pork Roast on both sides. Add water and then switch the pressure cooker from sear and cook for 40 minutes. Release the pressure and then shred meat.

What should you not cook in an air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  • Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Can you put raw pork in an air fryer? ›

It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

Can I cook a shoulder of pork in an air fryer? ›

Place the Pork Shoulder: Carefully place the seasoned pork shoulder in the air fryer basket. Make sure it's not overcrowded, as the hot air needs to circulate for even cooking. Cooking Time: Cook the pork shoulder for approximately 25-30 minutes per pound. This means a 3-pound pork shoulder needs around 75-90 minutes.

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