0 from 15 votes
Carnitas Recipe (Slow Cooked Mexican Pulled Pork)
This pork carnitas recipe is the ultimate Mexican pulled pork with seasoned pork shoulder cooked low and slow until fall apart tender, ready for tacos! Easy to make and delicious, the way it should be!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Servings: 12
Calories: 111 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cup pork lard or use vegetable oil
- 3-1/2 pound pork shoulder cut into chunks
- ½ onion
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice or more as desired
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 cup chopped Mexican oregano
- Zest of 1 orange
- salt and pepper to taste
TO SERVE
- corn or flour tortillas
- Salsa + Fixings (I'm using chopped onion, serranos, cilantro, lime, avocado, queso fresco, salsa verde, red chili flakes)
Instructions
- Heat the lard (or oil) in a large pot or Dutch oven to medium heat. Add the pork and onion and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to brown the meat. Reduce heat to cool slightly.
- Add the milk, water, orange juice, orange zest, herbs, and salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 hours, or until the liquid in the pot has evaporated and the pork is fork tender – lard/milk should bubble, but not boil – do not exceed 250 degrees F.
- Remove the pork and shred as desired. Discard the onion. Serve with tortillas for the best carnitas tacos ever!
Cup of Yum
FOR CRISPY PORK CARNITAS
- Heat 1 tablespoon lard or vegetable oil in a large pan to medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring, until the edges crisp as desired. You can also crisp it up in a broiler.
- Serve with tortillas for crispy carnitas tacos!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Nutritional information estimated without tortillas or toppings.
Nutrition Information
Calories
111kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
25mg
(8%)
Sodium
36mg
(2%)
Potassium
185mg
(5%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
73IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
46mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 111
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 111kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 25mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 36mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 185mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 73IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 46mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.