
Carnitas Dutch Oven Recipe
User Reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
2 hrs
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Total Time
2 hrs 10 mins
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Servings
12 servings
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Calories
227 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Dinner

Carnitas Dutch Oven Recipe
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Carnitas are seasoned, tender, caramelized, shredded pork. I'm going to break down how to make carnitas in the oven, crockpot, and Instant Pot.
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Ingredients
- 4 pounds boneless pork butt or shoulder cut into 4 pieces
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or any other high smoke point oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups low sodium beef stock
- 2 whole oranges juiced
- 1 whole lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 whole onion chopped
- 5 whole garlic cloves chopped
- 1 whole Jalapeño chopped (seeds and ribs removed for less heat)
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Instructions
Oven Method
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Season all sides of the pork with your kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the avocado oil.
- Once the avocado oil has heated through and become shimmery, sear each side of the pork. You are only searing the outside, not cooking through. Each side will only need about 1 minute.
- Turn the heat down to low and remove the pork from the Dutch oven. Pour in the beef stock. De-glaze the pot by scraping the bits off the bottom and stir them into the stock.
- When the pot has de-glazed completely, add in the orange juice, lime juice, ground cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, and ground coriander. Stir to combine.
- Add the pork back to the dutch oven and bring to a simmer uncovered.
- Place the onion, garlic, and jalapeno on top of the pork. You do not need to stir it in. Place the lid on the pot and bake in the oven for 2 hours.
- Remove the pot from the oven. Turn on the broiler.
- Remove the pork from the pot and place it on a baking sheet and shred it.
- Strain the liquid that is left in the pot to remove the fat. You can also spoon it out if you prefer.
- Place the pot on the stove (with only the cooking liquid remaining inside) and boil until it begins to thicken about 20 minutes.
- Mix the liquid with the meat on the baking sheet. Spread out evenly and broil for 3-5 minutes, just until the edges are crispy. You only want the edges crispy, not the entire piece.
- Remove from the broiler and serve it your favorite way!
Slow Cooker Method
- Season all sides of the pork with your kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- In a frying pan over medium-high heat, add the avocado oil.
- Once the avocado oil has heated through and become shimmery, sear each side of the pork. You are only searing the outside, not cooking through. Each side will only need about 1 minute.
- Turn the heat down to low and remove the pork from the frying pan. Pour in the beef stock. De-glaze the pan by scraping the bits off the bottom and stir them into the stock.
- When the pan has de-glazed completely, pour the stock into the crockpot. Add in the orange juice, lime juice, ground cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, and ground coriander. Stir to combine.
- Add the pork to the crockpot.
- Place the onion, garlic, and jalapeno on top of the pork. You do not need to stir it in. Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours. I do not recommend cooking on high.
- Once cooked, preheat the broiler.
- Remove the pork from the crockpot and place it on a baking sheet and shred it.
- Strain the liquid that is left in the crockpot to remove the fat. You can also spoon it out if you prefer.
- Pour the cooking liquid into a saucepan and boil until it begins to thicken about 20 minutes.
- Mix the liquid with the meat on the baking sheet. Spread out evenly and broil for 3-5 minutes, just until the edges are crispy. You only want the edges crispy, not the entire piece.
- Remove from the broiler and serve it your favorite way!
Instant Pot Method
- Turn the Instant Pot on to the SAUTE function.
- Season all sides of the pork with your kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- Add the avocado oil to the Instant Pot.
- Once the avocado oil has heated through and become shimmery, sear each side of the pork. You are only searing the outside, not cooking through. Each side will only need about 1 minute.
- Press CANCEL and remove the pork from the Instant Pot. Pour in the beef stock. De-glaze the pot by scraping the bits off the bottom and stir them into the stock.
- When the pot has de-glazed completely, add in the orange juice, lime juice, ground cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, and ground coriander. Stir to combine.
- Add the pork back to the Instant Pot.
- Place the onion, garlic, and jalapeno on top of the pork. You do not need to stir it in. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to SEALING.
- Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 1 hour.
- QUICK RELEASE the pressure.
- Remove the pork from the pot and place it on a baking sheet and shred it.
- Strain the liquid that is left in the pot to remove the fat. You can also spoon it out if you prefer.
- Turn the SAUTE function back on the Instant Pot with only the cooking liquid remaining inside. Boil until it begins to thicken, about 10-15 minutes.
- Mix the liquid with the meat on the baking sheet. Spread out evenly and broil for 3-5 minutes, just until the edges are crispy. You only want the edges crispy, not the entire piece.
- Remove from the broiler and serve it your favorite way!
Equipments used:
Notes
- My favorite way to make them that I feel yields the best results is in the oven.
- Do not skip the broiling steps. This is what makes them carnitas instead of just pulled pork.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1serving
Calories
227kcal
(11%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
35g
(70%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
83mg
(28%)
Sodium
482mg
(20%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 227 kcal
% Daily Value*
Serving | 1serving | |
Calories | 227kcal | 11% |
Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
Protein | 35g | 70% |
Fat | 9g | 14% |
Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol | 83mg | 28% |
Sodium | 482mg | 20% |
Fiber | 1g | 4% |
Sugar | 1g | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
15 reviews
Excellent
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