Pork Carnitas Recipe

Pork carnitas is a delicious, tender, and flavorful Mexican dish made from pork thats simmered and roasted until crispy. The result is irresistible shredded pork thats perfect for tacos, burritos, or simply served as a main dish with sides.

What Is Carnitas?

Carnitas, which means "little meats" in Spanish, is a traditional Mexican recipe made by simmering pork in seasonings and fat until its fall-apart tender. The pork is then roasted to create a crispy, golden exterior. This simple yet flavorful dish is a staple in Mexican cuisine and is often enjoyed in tacos, burritos, or with rice and beans.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into several large pieces
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth

Directions

Step 1: Gather all the ingredients and prepare them as instructed.

Step 2: Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season the pork shoulder pieces with salt and arrange them in the Dutch oven. Cook the pork until browned on all sides, which will take about 10 minutes.

Step 3: Stir in the chopped onion, crushed garlic, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 4: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the Dutch oven, and let the pork simmer for about 2 1/2 hours until it becomes very tender.

Step 5: Preheat your oven to 400F (200C). Transfer the cooked pork shoulder to a large baking sheet, reserving the cooking liquid.

Step 6: Drizzle a small amount of the cooking liquid over the pork and lightly season with salt. Place the pork in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until it is browned and crispy. Every 10 minutes, drizzle more cooking liquid over the pork to keep it moist.

Step 7: Use two forks to shred the pork as it browns. Continue baking until the desired crispiness is achieved.

Step 8: Serve the carnitas hot and enjoy! Serve it as a filling for tacos, burritos, or alongside rice and beans.

What to Serve With Carnitas

Carnitas pairs wonderfully with a variety of Mexican side dishes. Try it with:

• Quick and Easy Refried Beans
• Mexican Rice
• Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)

How to Store Carnitas

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight . Refrigerated carnitas will stay fresh for about three days, while frozen carnitas can last up to three months.

Nutrition Facts