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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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 circumstances 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 to 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.

How long does it take to cook a pork roast in the Ninja Foodi? ›

The cooking time for a pork roast in the Ninja Foodi will vary depending on the size and thickness of the meat. As a general guideline, plan for around 20 minutes of pressure cooking per pound of pork roast.

How to store carnitas for next day? ›

TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover carnitas in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. TO REHEAT: Rewarm carnitas on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.

How to make crispy in air fryer? ›

However, a small amount of oil is usually necessary to achieve a crispy texture. A drizzle or a quick oil spray is all you need for restaurant-quality fries and golden brown fried chicken, while other foods don't need any oil, like pizza or leftovers you might reheat.

What is the difference between pulled pork and carnitas? ›

Pulled Pork. Both carnitas and pulled pork are cooked slowly for several hours, and great to make in the slow cooker or instant pot. Unlike pulled pork, however, carnitas are finished by roasting the meat in the oven until browned and crisp.

Why do you add milk to carnitas? ›

Adding the oranges is very much like braising pork Cuban-style for the traditional cubano sandwich. The milk acts as a tenderizer, a secret I learned while growing up watching dad make his carnitas which, by the way, were always exceptionally tender.

Can you overcook pork carnitas? ›

Any cut of meat can become overcooked, even in the crockpot. Avoid cooking this pork carnitas recipe for longer than the times listed below, or the meat will end up tough and chewy.

What temperature to fry carnitas? ›

Heat over medium-high heat until the lard or oil reaches about 275 degrees. Carefully lower in the pieces of pork, but none of the juice that may have collected around them. (Add the bacon, if you're using it.)

What is the best way to cook pork in the Ninja? ›

Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of the Ninja Foodi. Place the pork roast on the reversible rack in the low position and lower the rack into the inner pot. Put the pressure lid on and turn the valve to seal. Set the pressure on high for 15 minutes and press start.

How to cook pork in air fryer Ninja Foodi? ›

Place it in the basket of the Ninja Foodi or Air Fryer. Coat with cooking oil spray of your choice (Grapeseed, Coconut, Etc.). Cook at 390*F for 20 minutes using the Air Crisp function of the Ninja Foodi or until the internal temperature reaches at least 145*F. Serve with cooked brown gravy.

How to add more flavor to carnitas? ›

Carnitas seasoning – rub pork with a simple spice mix of oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Flavour for cooking – top pork in slow cooker with onion, garlic and jalapeño, then pour over orange juice (the secret ingredient!).

How do you reheat crispy pork carnitas? ›

It's simplest and easiest to use the microwave to reheat small batches. If you want to retain more crispiness, you can spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and cook the Carnitas in a skillet over medium heat until warmed.

How do you keep pork carnitas moist? ›

In Mexico, pork shoulder is slowly cooked in a big pot of lard, making it tender, moist, and rich. To make our recipe a little more home-friendly, we slowly cook our pork with a few aromatics and a few tablespoons of oil to keep it moist and tender. I use my oven to make carnitas.

What temperature do you fry carnitas? ›

Heat over medium-high heat until the lard or oil reaches about 275 degrees. Carefully lower in the pieces of pork, but none of the juice that may have collected around them. (Add the bacon, if you're using it.) Adjust the heat to between medium and medium-low.

How long to cook in air fryer? ›

To cook fresh food in an air fryer, Jenny suggests subtracting 20°C from the typical oven temperature and reducing the oven cooking time by 20-25%. For example, if the oven instruction calls for cooking at 180°C for 25 minutes, set your air fryer to 160°C for 20 minutes.

Can you cook a piece of pork in the air fryer? ›

Place the pork in the air fryer basket and spray with Olive oil spray. Set timer for 25 minutes and cook until the rind crackles. Reduce temperature to 160°C. Set timer for 30 minutes and cook until pork is tender and cooked through (see note).

How long does it take to cook a piece of pork in the air fryer? ›

The cooking time will depend on the size of your pork and the wattage of your air fryer. You should estimate 25 minutes per lb (450g). For a boneless pork shoulder or leg joint weighing about 1-2 kg, cook it for 50 to 1 hour, 20 minutes at 320F/160C, and 15-30 minutes at 400F/200C to get that crunchy crackling.

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